At the beginning of the Second World War, Canada did not have an extensive manufacturing industry besides car manufacturing. Therefore, most of Canadian weapons and equipment during the war were imported from either Britain or the US.
Knives and bayonets
Model From Blade length Comments Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife 1941 18 cm Various models. Ross bayonet 1905 ? Stepped guard on early model, flat on later model. Sharpened later models were taken overseas in World War I. P1907 bayonet 1907 Used on No. 1 rifle (previously called SMLE) No. 4 MK. II bayonet 1941 8 in (200 mm) Used on No. 4 MK. I, No. 4 MK. I* and Sten MK. V M346 ? 90mm Standard issue containing a 90mm sheeps foot blade, a 40mm stab/can opener blade, a 100mm fid/ marlin spike and a lanyard bale wire loop, based on the Case Model 6353/1905. Manufactured by Case in the USA for the Canadian Military until 1948 when production moved to Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada. Markings include "Case XX Metal Stampings" on the base of the sheeps foot blade and a C with a broad arrow inside stamped on the scales (case) normally near the rivet holding the blades.British and Commonwealth Military Knives
Small arms
Pistols Model Origin AcquiredType Cartridge Variants NotesColt Model 1911 1914Semi-automatic.45 ACPModel 1911 Model 1911A1 Canada purchased some in World War I and more in World War II.Smith & Wesson Triple Lock 1917Revolver.455 Webley2nd Model Low-cost versionBrowning Hi-Power 1944Semi-automatic9×19mm ParabellumPistol No.1 Mk.1 Pistol No.2 Mk.1 Produced under license in Canada by John Inglis & CompanySmith & Wesson Model 10 1942Revolver.38-200S&W Victory Model Webley Revolver 1915Revolver.455 WebleyWebley .455 Mk.VI Obsolete, secondary sidearm Enfield No. 2 1932Revolver.38-200Mk.1 Secondary sidearm Colt Police Positive 1907Revolver.38 S&W Secondary sidearm
Submachine guns Model Origin Acquired Action Cartridge Variants Notes Thompson 1942 Blowback, "Blish Lock" .45 ACP Model 1928 Model 1928A1 M1 M1A1 Sten 1941 Blowback, Open bolt 9×19mm Parabellum Mk. II Mk. III Mk. V M50 Reising 1941 Blowback, Closed bolt .45 ACP M50 Extremely limited use, primarily by the Veterans Guard of Canada for guard duties.
Rifles Model Origin AcquiredAction Cartridge Variants Notes Lee–Enfield No.1 1916Bolt-action.303 British Mk.VII Mk.III Mk.III* Lee–Enfield No.4 1943Bolt-action.303 British Mk.VII Mk.I Mk.6* Primary service rifle. Pattern 1914 Enfield 1914Bolt-action.303 British Mk.VII For training and use by snipers. Some used Warner & Swasey Company scopes previously fitted to Ross sniper rifles. M1917 Enfield 1917Bolt-action.30-06 Springfield Limited domestic use.Ross 1910Straight pull bolt-action.303 British Mk.VII Mk.III Mk.III*For training and Veteran's Guard of Canada use only.
Grenades and grenade launchers This list is grossly incomplete, listing a small fraction of approximately 30 grenade varieties used by Canadians during World War II.
Grenade Launcher Introduced Type Weight, g comments No. 36 M MK. I cup discharger for No. 1 rifle 1915 fragmentation 765 most common hand grenade during World War II No. 68 AT grenade 1940 HEAT 894 52 mm RHA penetration No. 69 grenade 1942 high-explosive 383 bakelite case No. 73 grenade 1940 high-explosive 2000 51mm RHA penetration, used mostly for demolition No. 74 Sticky bomb 1940 HESH ~900 low-cost No. 75 AT Hawkins Mine 1942 high-explosive 1020 most common Canadian AT weapon & demolition charge during World War II No. 82 Gammon 1943 universal 1140 soft body
Flamethrowers Flamethrower, Portable, No 2 "Ack-Pack"
Machine guns
Infantry and dual-purpose machine guns Type Production Fire rate, RPM Effective rangeCartridge From: Produced Weight Comment Bren Gun (various marks) Inglis, Toronto 510 600 .303 British (7.7×56mmR) 1939 599000 10.35 kg replacement for Lewis gun Lewis gun (standard model; U.S. version; Automatic Ship's Lewis Gun) 550 800 .303 British (7.7×56mmR) or .30/06 1917 ? 13 kg occasional AA gun, limited production during World War II Vickers machine gun (various marks and models) 475 2000 .303 British (7.7×56mmR) 1912 ? 23 kg Vickers Gas Operated was standard flexible MG on aircraft early in World War II. M2HB Browning machine gun 550 1800 .50 BMG (12.7×99mm) 1921 3000000 23 kg used until present (2014) M1919A4 500 1400 .30/06 1919 5000000 14 kg In 1970s converted to 7.62 NATO
Vehicle and aircraft machine guns
Artillery
Infantry mortars Model Caliber Max. range From Produced Weight, kg fire rate, RPM Comment 2 inch Mortar (standard and airborne lightweight models) 50.8mm 460 1937 ? 4.8 8 elevated by hand M19 mortar 60mm 1790 1942 ? 9.3 8 received after M19 was rejected by US military 3 inch Mortar Mk. II 81.2mm 1463 1931 ? 50.8 15 crew of 3 M2 4.2 inch mortar 106.7mm 4023 1943 ? 151 5 prepared for chemical bombs delivery, never used
Heavy mortars & rocket launchers Land Mattress C-21 UCM -
Field artillery Model Caliber Max. range From Produced Weight, kg fire rate, RPM Comment QF 18-pounder 83.8mm 5966 1904 10469 1282 4 obsolete at start of World War II QF 25-pounder 87.6mm 12253 1940 13000 1633 7 main Canadian World War II field gun/howitzer BL 4.5 inch Medium Field Gun 114mm 18000 1938 ? 6190 2.5 built in UK by Canadian companies BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun 140mm 16550 1941 ? 5900 2 received from UK BL 60-pounder 127mm 15500 1905 1756 4400 2 in Canadian service until start of World War II
Anti-tank guns
Model Caliber Penetration 1 Penetration 2 Muzzle speed Max. range From Produced Weight, kg fire rate, RPM Comment QF 2-pdr 40 mm 37 mm @ 457 m27 mm @ 914 m 792 1000 1936 12000 814 22 QF 6-pdr 57 mm 88 mm @ 100 m- 884 1600 1941 ? 1140 ? produced in both UK and Canada QF 17-pdr 76.2 mm 130 mm @ 500 m119 mm @ 1000 m 880 1800 1942 ? 3050 ? -
Anti-tank weapons (besides anti-tank guns)
Boys Anti-Tank Rifle PIAT-1943-1950s Clam Magnetic Mine Mk 5 mine Mk 2 mine Bazooka Bangalore torpedo (not a grenade or anti-tank)
Anti-aircraft weapons Model Caliber Eff. alt. From Produced Weight, kg fire rate, RPM Comment QF 3.7-inch AA gun Mk1 94mm 7300 1941 ? 9317 15 Bofors 40 mm gun L/60 40mm 4100 1932 2250 1981 120 still in service (2014) Polsten-Oerlikon gun 20mm 1000 1944 57 4000 450 low-cost
Vehicles Canada produced a wide variety of combat vehicles during World War II domestically, but all primary fighting vehicles were imported because of manufacturing quality concerns.
Tankettes Carden Loyd Mk IV tankette - not used in combat
Tanks Model From Armor max.(mm) Primary armament Secondary armament Weight( t) Power (kW) Range (km) #ProducedTotal manufactured, not number used by Canadian forces Crew Comments Stuart tank 1941 51 37mm Gun M3 L/24 3×.30-06 Browning M1919A4 MG 14.7 190 119 25000 4 imported Churchill tank Mk 1 1941 102 QF 2-pdr 2 × 7.92 mm Besa machine gun 38.5 261 90 7368 4 given to Canada for Dieppe Raid Churchill Oke 1942 102 QF-2-pdrRonson flamethrower 2 × 7.92 mm Besa machine gun 38.5 261 90 3 4 all destroyed in Dieppe Raid Centaur IV1944 76 Ordnance QF 95 mm howitzer 2×7.92mm Besa machine gun 28 450 270 114 5 support tank Sherman I, III, V 1942 76 75 mm Gun M2/M3/M6 1 × 12.7mm Browning M2HB and 2 × 7.8mm Browning M1919A4 30.3 298 193 ? 5 Lend-Lease Sherman Firefly IC & VC 1943 89 QF 17-pdr 12.7mm Browning M2HB and 7.8mm Browning M1919A4 33 298 193 2,150 4 American chassis with British gun Sherman V DD1942 76 75 mm Gun M2/M3/M6 1×12.7mm Browning M2HB and 2×7.8mm Browning M1919A4 30.3 298 193 ? 5 M4 with flotation screen and propeller Ram Badger flame tank 1941 87 QF 6-pdr Wasp II flamethrower and 2×7.62mm machine guns 29 298 232 ? 5 later versions had flamethrower replacing main gun Sherman Badger flame tank 1942 76 75 mm Gun M2/M3/M6 Wasp IIC flamethrower and 2×7.8mm Browning M1919A4 30.3 298 193 ? 5 replacement for Ram Badger flame tank Grizzly I 1943 75 75 mm M3 L/40 gun 2×.30-06 Browning M1919A4 MG 29.91 298 193 188 5 Canadian-built modified M4 Sherman, chassis used for Sexton self-propelled gun M10 tank destroyer 1942 57 76.2 mm Gun M7 1×12.7mm Browning M2HB 29.6 276 300 6706 5 tank destroyer Achilles 1944 57.2 QF 17-pdr (76mm) 1×12.7mm Browning M2HB 29.6 276 300 1,100 5 tank destroyer M10 with British gun Archer 1943 60 QF 17-pdr (76mm) 1× .303 Bren LMG 15 145 230 655 4 tank destroyer Light Tank Mk VIA 1936 14 Vickers .50 machine gun (12.7mm) 1× .303 Vickers machine gun 4.93 67 210 1,682 3 not used in combat Ram tank I and II 1941 87 QF 6-pdr 3×7.62mm machine guns 29 298 232 2000 5 In field conversions saw combat in Europe, based on M3 hull. Valentine Mk.VI 1941 65 QF 2-pdr (40mm) 1×.30-06 Browning M1919A4 MG 16.5 104 130 1420 3 Canadian-built, provided to USSR Matilda II infantry tank 1937 78 QF 2-pdr (40mm) 1×7.92 mm Besa machine gun 25 72 257 2987 4 not used in combat M3 Lee/Grant 1941 51 75mm M2/M3 gun (2-4)×7.8mm Browning M1919A4 27 300 193 6258 ? not used in combat
Self-propelled guns
Tank-based Name Chassis Gun Developed Manufactured Role Sexton M3 Lee QF 25-pdr (87.6 mm) Mk II 1942 2150 self-propelled gun M7 Priest M3 Lee M101 howitzer (105mm) 1942 4443 self-propelled gun Crusader III, AA Mk.I Crusader Bofors 40 mm gun 1944 ? self-propelled AA gun Mk.II/III Crusader 2×Oerlikon 20mm gun 1944 ? self-propelled AA gun Skink anti-aircraft tank M4 Sherman 4×Polsten (20mm) 1944 3 self-propelled AA gun
Other M3 75mm Gun Motor Carriage - M3 Half-track equipped with the M1A1 75 mm gun
Armored cars Model/Type Years in Use Manufacturer Details Daimler Dingo Daimler Mk. I Armoured Car Humber Mk. I scout car Humber Mk. IV Armoured Car M3 scout car Morris Light Reconnaissance Car Staghound Armoured Car Fox Armoured Car Humber Armoured Car design modified for Canadian production Otter Light Reconnaissance Car Similar to Humber Light Reconnaissance Car Lynx scout car Similar to Dingo
Engineering and command Model/Type Years in Use Manufacturer Details Ram ARV Mk I and II Valentine Bridgelayer Sherman V ARV Sherman Ib recovery vehicle
Tractors & prime movers Model/Type Years in Use Manufacturer Details Kangaroo (armoured personnel carrier) Loyd Carrier Wasp A Universal Carrier with flame-thrower equipment T-16 Carrier Lend-Lease based upon Universal Carrier, used to tow artillery Windsor Carrier variation of Universal Carrier M3A1 Half-track Various, M5 Half-track International Harvester, similar to M3 produced for Lend-Lease M9A1 Half-track International Harvester, Variant of M5 M14 Half-track International Harvester, M3 Half-track with anti-aircraft turret M5 "Recce" A turretless M5 light tank used for reconnaissance
Miscellaneous vehicles
Model Builder Country Load / Comments AEC Matador AEC UK Field Artillery Tractor Corbitt 6-ton 6x6 Various US 6-ton (5440 kg) Diamond T 4-ton 6x6 Diamond T US 4-ton (3630 kg) Dodge D8A (T212) Dodge Canada 8cwt (800 lbs, 360 kg) Ford GP, GPA Ford US -ton 4x4, GPA amphibianMorris C8 Morris-Commercial UK Field Artillery Tractor Willys MB/Ford GPW Willys/Ford US "Jeep" -ton 4x4 C/F-8, C/F-8A CMP Chevrolet/Ford Canada 8cwt (800 lbs, 360 kg) C/F-15, C/F-15A CMP Chevrolet/Ford Canada 15cwt (-ton, 630 kg) C/F-30, C/F-30A CMP Chevrolet/Ford Canada 30cwt (-ton, 1360 kg) C/F-60, C/F-60A CMP Chevrolet/Ford Canada 60cwt (3-ton, 2720 kg) C-60X 6x6 CMP Chevrolet Canada three driven axles F-60H 6x4 CMP Ford Canada three axles, rear un-driven C/F-GT CMP Chevrolet/Ford Canada Field Artillery Tractor
Aircraft