In the spring of 1943 the UK Ministry of Supply expressed an immediate requirement for an armoured two-man reconnaissance snowmobile. The results of previous experience
by Bombardier were devoted to satisfying this requirement rather than designing something from scratch, and a prototype was built. Production started in early spring 1944 and
415 examples were produced by early 1945 comprising 410 Mark I and five Mark II. 397 were supposed to be delivered to the British but 129 may have been retained for
canadian use.
The suspension comprised 16 4.50-16 Run-Flat tyres and 35-inch tracks. The layout of the drive train comprised a Cadillac V8 petrol engine, coupled to a 4-speed Hydramatic
automatic transmission driving the front sprockets through a Ford T16 Universal carrier axle with controlled differential steering. The engine and transmission were a proven
combination being used in several american light tank designs and in Operation Muskox, February to May 1946, several vehicles covered 3,100 miles under the most trying
conditions of weather and terrain and proved that their mechanical reliability was good.
Some examples of this vehicle remained in service till as late as 1963.
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