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Grizzly I | |
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Type | Medium tank |
Place of origin | Canada |
Service history | |
In service | 1943–1945 (Canada) 1954–1980s (Portugal) |
Used by | Canada Portugal |
Wars | World War II |
Production history | |
Designed | 1941 |
Manufacturer | Montreal Locomotive Works |
Produced | 1943–1944 |
No. built | 188 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 29.91 t (30 tonnes) |
Length | 19 ft (5.816 m) |
Width | 2.626 m (8 ft 7.4 in) |
Height | 2.997 m (9 ft 10.0 in) |
Crew | 5 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver, co-driver/hull gunner) |
Armour | 75 mm |
Main armament | 75 mm M3 L/40 gun |
Secondary armament | 2 × .30-06 M1919 Browning machine gun |
Engine | Continental R-975 9-cylinder radial gas 400/340 hp (298/254 kW) |
Suspension | Vertical volute spring |
Operational range | 193 km (120 mi) |
Maximum speed | 24 mph (39 km/h) |
The Grizzly I was a Canadian-built M4A1 Sherman tank with relatively minor modifications, primarily to stowage and pioneer tool location and adding accommodations for a Number 19 radio set. They used the same General Steel hull castings as late Pressed Steel-built M4A1(75)s, to include both the standard hull and the later ones with the armour thickened over the ammo bins. Grizzlies were originally built with US style tracks and sprockets. It was only later that they were refitted with Canadian Dry Pin (CDP) tracks, which did not require rubber.
The tank's production was stopped as it became apparent US production would be sufficient for the Allies' needs and the factory was turned over to other production. After the war, a number of Grizzly tanks were sold to Portugal as part of the NATO military assistance program; they were retired in the 1980s.