The Grizzly I was a Canadian-built M4A1 Sherman tank with some modifications and was later retrofitted with Canadian Dry Pin tracks and a 17 tooth sprocket, which weren't developed until after Grizzly production ceased.
After the fall of France, it was decided the nascent Canadian armored divisions would be equipped by tanks produced in Canada. The result was the Ram cruiser tank, based on the chassis and running gear of the US M3 Lee; Rams were produced by the Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) from 1941 to 1943. The M3 was succeeded by the superior M4 Sherman. The Allies agreed to standardize on the M4, and MLW began producing the Grizzly in August 1943.
Grizzly production halted when it became apparent US production would be sufficient. Instead, MLW produced the Sexton self-propelled gun Mk II. The Sexton Mk II used the Grizzly chassis, with the upper hull modified to carry the Commonwealth standard QF 25 pounder gun. The Sexton was the Commonwealth counterpart to the US M7 Priest. A small batch of Grizzly medium tanks were fitted with an Ordnance QF 17-pounder for training but none saw action.
After the war, a number of Grizzly tanks and Sexton self-propelled guns were sold to Portugal as part of the NATO military assistance program. They were retired in the 1980s.
Contrary to popular belief, the Grizzly left the factory with the standard US 13 tooth sprocket.
The CDP tracks and 17 tooth sprocket, generally associated with the Grizzly were not developed until after Grizzly production ceased. Those, along with the heavier duty bogie units were developed for the Sexton, 25 ponder SP gun. At some later point, Grizzlies were retrofitted with the new sprocket and tracks. The CDP track, which was lighter and simpler than the standard US tracks and did not require rubber, which was scarce since the Japanese advance into Southeast Asia and the conquest of Malaya.
Some were converted into the Skink anti-aircraft tank with a turret mounting four 20 mm Polsten guns.
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Canada
In service:
1943–1945 (Canada)
1954–1980s (Portugal)
Used by:
Canada
Portugal
Wars: Second World War
Designed: 1941
Manufacturer: Montreal Locomotive Works
Produced: 1943–1944
Number built: 188
Mass: 29.91 t (30 tonnes)
Length: 19 ft (5.816 m)
Width: 2.626 m
Height: 2.997 m
Crew: 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver/hull gunner)
Armor: 75 mm
Main armament: High Velocity 75 mm M3 L/40 gun
Secondary armament: 2 × .30-06 machine gun
Engine:
Continental R-975 9-cyl radial gas
400/340 hp (298/254 kW)
Suspension: Vertical volute spring
Operational range: 193 km
Maximum speed: 24 mph (38.6 km/h)
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| Grizzly training in Canada, 1944. |
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| Grizzly with sandshields on parade. |
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| Grizzlies and Sextons under construction at Montreal Locomotive Works plant. |
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| Canadian Grizzly tank, Italy, July 1944. |
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| Grizzly in the Portuguese Army. |
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| Grizzly M4A1 Sherman tank at Base Borden Military Museum, Canada. |
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| Grizzly with the related Sexton in the background. |
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| Grizzly I Cruiser tank on display. |
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| Presentation photo of Grizzly Number 1, CT-160194, DND Number 75-988. Some items of equipment exclusive to the Grizzly version of the M4A1 can be seen here, including the stowage box (1) on the rear of the turret, the externally fitted Methyl Bromide type fire extinguishers (2), and the 5 gallon Jerry Cans (3) mounted horizontally across the upper rear of the hull. The absence of hull "appliqué" armor plates, “suggests” that Grizzly #1 had not been installed with the "Quick Fix" modification designed to protect the sponson mounted ammunition bins, and directed to be installed starting in August, 1943 on all new production Shermans assembled in the US. Note the standard 13 tooth drive sprocket (4), which indicates the use of US produced tracks. |
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| Presentation photos of Grizzly Number 1, CT-160194, DND Number 75-988. |
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| Grizzly (M4A1). |
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