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Hello, due to the WW1 event, I’ve been in a WW1 mood, so I’m suggesting a domestic vehicle from Canada during WW1. I personally think it’ll work in-game as an SPAA, as to was in part used like that during the event it’s from.
History:
Well, up to this point, the Canadian divisions were supported by British and French tanks, with the idea of a Canadian unit only coming around in 1918. Well, only one of the planned units would make it further than the drawing board, tanks, and all, but it would only be completed after the armistice. These had been seen as extensions of the Machine Gun Corps. However, the first armoured Canadian motorized unit would be the Canadian Automobile Machine Gun Brigade, which was created in 1914 by the millionaire Raymond Brutinel, which led it to also be called Brutinel’s Brigade.
Due to the fact that there was no need for tank production until the end of the war, mixed with the fact that there are industrial shortcomings and the length of development time for a tank, so it’s surprising that Canada got any amoured vehclies so early in the war even more so they where domstic. The design is reminiscent of its time, being an open-topped armoured box, and although the sides were flat, the front was an angled front plate. It would have two axial machine guns, which were mounted on pedestals allowing them to fire above the sides and against aerial targets. The MGs were also set up in a way that they could be easily dismounted to be used by infantry. In total, the complete vehicle weighed 3 tons. The crew would be made up of 8 men: Driver/mechanic, officer, four machine gunners and two riflemen. Although the engine allowed for a top speed of 40 km/h (25mph), the conditions of the western front rarely allowed for that, as its off-road capabilities were limited.
Despite the fact that it had both firepower and mobility, it was hampered by the fact that it was open top, making the crews vulnerable to snipers, strafing and shrapnel. Other issues were that the vehicles weren’t large enough when using the MGs to have all the crew onboard. So when delpond in combat, two men would serve the 2 Vickers (to machine gunners and a loader) and the driver and officer.
On the 15th of September 1914, the Canadian Automobile Gun Brigade was both created and mobility. Comprising it was the 1st and 2nd Sifition Batteries and its own creator, Major Brutinel, would be commanding it along with nine other officers, and having 124 crewmen. Its equipment would be 8 Armoured Autocars, which in total carried 16 machine guns and four spares, along with 8 trucks and 4 automobiles for support. This unit, without a doubt, was the first motorized unit in Canada and one of the first worldwide. joining the first two batteries in 1915 would be Eaton, Borden and Yukon, which were also created with private funding and allowing for the creation of a second unit. Well, these brigades would receive the permission to be deployed overseas, but by the time they made it to France, the Western Front had already become trench warfare.
On the 16th of May in 1915, the units would be redesignated 1st and 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigades, C.E.F. Which would be subdivided into the A, B, C, D, E batteries which each had 8 Armoured Autocars, 2 cars for each Section in a battery and motorcycles for scouts and other roles that only need a small number of people and quick movement. Although how the war went on, their need was spent patrolling the rear lines, until near the end of the war, when they were being used as point defence against German aviation. They would prove their worth during the German breakthrough in the spring of 1918. Well, Brutinel wanted them to spearhead an advance through enemy lines in 1914; they would excel in defence and filling holes in the lines, helping repel German attacks.
The legacy of Brutinel’s Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigades is an interesting one, being one of the world’s first equipped armoured units and the Armoured Autocar being a heavy influence on the half-tracks of WW2 and wheeled APCS.
More photos
Specs:
| Mass | 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) |
|---|---|
| Length | 4.10 m (13 ft 5 in) |
| Width | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Crew | 8 |
| Armour | 5 mm front, 3 mm rear |
| Main Armament | 2 Colt or Vickers machine guns |
| Secondary Armament | 1 Lewis machine gun (optional) |
| Engine | 22 hp (16 kW) |
| Maximum speed | 40 km/h (25 mph) |