Ram II

Early-production Ram (Ram I).

Instead of waiting for redesigned M3 Mediums to be delivered by the United States (which would emerge as the M4 Sherman), the British Tank Mission collaborated with the Canadian General Staff to design a modified M3 for production in Canada. It would retain the standard M3 power train and gear, but the hull and turret would be an entirely Canadian design.

The new design was expected to use the British 6-pdr gun and mount. However, when the Canadians initially failed to acquire these guns, the first 50 vehicles would be given the 2-pdr already in production. The tanks armed with these 2-pdrs were the Ram I, while the Ram II would eventually receive the 6-pdr in time to enter production in January 1942.

The Ram's upper hull was a single large casting with the driver located on the right and a small auxiliary turret on the left, which housed a .30 caliber machine gun. A door was provided in the sponson on each side of the hull, which was intended for use with specialized equipment like depositing explosive charges to detonate minefields. The Ram's chassis could fit any of the standard M3 or M4 series tracks. The first Ram was loaned to Aberdeen for testing in July 1941, where the tank received the official designation "M4A5".

Mid-production Ram (Ram II).

A total of 1899 Ram II tanks would be produced by the end of the summer of 1943. A number of changes to the design occurred during production. Later vehicles had the rear opening on the turret removed, side door pistol ports replaced by blowers, and removing the side doors in the hull. Late production Ram IIs also eliminated the auxiliary turret in favor of a more conventional bow machine gun and used the R975 C1 engine. But by the end of 1943, sufficient quantities of the M4 Sherman became available to meet all the requirements of the Ram II, and so production was halted. While the tank was never used in combat, it provided invaluable training for Canadian troops.

Late-production Ram (Ram III) on display. Note the modified hull.

However, there were still various proposals for new designs based on the Ram II chassis, and several proposals to further upgrade the tank itself. Referred to as the Ram III, these tanks were the final production batches of the Ram II, utilizing all of the aforementioned changes made during the total Ram II production run.

Other proposals sought to install various experimental Canadian-made guns based on the 6-pdr design. One of these was the "David Gun", which was essentially a 6-pdr casing necked down to accept 2-pdr ammunition. This was a hyper velocity weapon which could punch through 149 mm of steel with APCR at a blistering 1264 m/s, compared to the 807 m/s the rounds usually left the 2-pdr Mk. X at. With the Littlejohn adapter installed, this shell velocity increased to 1550 m/s.

Image of the David Gun from ftr-wot.blogspot.com.

Another experimental weapon was the "Canuck Gun", which was basically a 6-pdr with a barrel length of 63 calibers (compared to the L/43 and L/50 of the 6-pdr Mk. III and IV, respectively). This gun could pierce about 150 mm of steel at 990 m/s with APCR. However, more advanced and powerful APDS ammunition was also tested. Both the David and Canuck guns were planned for testing on a number of tanks, including M10 tank destroyers and M4 mediums. But there's no reason these guns couldn't be fitted to the Ram II.

Image of the Canuck Gun from ftr-wot.blogspot.com.

In World Of Tanks, I would like to change the Ram II into a regular tech tree tank at Tier VI, rather than the Tier V premium it is now. With these new experimental guns, the tank is certainly more than able to punch above its weight with higher tiers. It's rather slow, but it should have an insane rate of fire with its super high-penetration, low-damage guns.

This is distinctly a Canadian tank. As part of the pan-America mini-branch, the Ram II is a bit of an odd case considering its firepower. There's really nothing else like it with its hyper-velocity options. Ironically, I think it fits best here leading into a new line of light tanks with low-velocity guns. Players who already own a Ram II (Tier V) should obviously get this new tank for free, and perhaps a full gold refund as well to compensate.

Guns: QF 6-pdr Mk. III; QF 6-pdr Mk. IV; 6/2-pdr David Gun; 6/2-pdr David Gun w/ Littlejohn; 6-pdr Canuck Gun

Engines: Continental R-975-C1 (350 hp); Continental R-975E-C2 (400 hp)

Turrets (Turret Armor (mm)): Ram Mk. II Early (76/76/64); Ram Mk. II Late (76/76/64)

Suspensions/Alternate Hulls, Total Weight (metric tons): Ram Mk. II VVSS (29.48); Ram Mk. III VVSS (29.03)

Hull Armor (mm): 89/76/64

Top Speed: 40 km/h

Crew: 5 (Driver; Gunner; Loader; Commander; Radio)



Parent: Nahuel
Children: M24 Tensa
See Also: Ram I, Ram GC

Sources:

Hunnicutt, R. P., Sherman, 1995

http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/canada/Ram_Cruiser_Tank.php

http://ftr-wot.blogspot.com/2013/04/commonwealth-uncommons.html 

http://www.ramtank.ca/ 

Also see comments below