In 1943 the Canadian Army had a requirement for a light tracked armoured vehicle, suitable to be carried in C-47 aircraft and CG4 gliders. Willys produced 5 pilot models of an open-top carrier with welded hull, in accordance with the Canadian specification, using the jeep engine driving the front sprockets through a Cletrac-type controlled differential. A completely revised model, the "Jeep Tank" was produced by Marmon-Herrington of Indianapolis. This model looked like a small turretless tank and had the engine mounted longitudinally at the front, with the track driving sprockets at the rear. The "Jeep Tank" was 9ft. 3in. long, 5ft.5in. wide and 4ft. high. Neither of these types were produced in quantity. Source: Olyslager Auto Library: The Jeep (see The Bookshelf). |