.5 Vickers Made by Ottawa Car & Aircraft Ltd Canad

[AlanD]

I have just picked up a copy of 'History of the Department of Munitions & Supply', by Kennedy. This covers Canada's production of munitions in WW2.
One of the sections on small arms manufacture notes that the above company got a contract for 1,000 Vickers .5 MG's in early 1941. The first gun was delivered in October 1942, with 240 being made by November 30th 1943, at which point the contract seems to have been cancelled. They were used for AA.

Has anyone seen one of these in the flesh? Are there any in Canadian museums?

Regards

AlanD
Sydney

[Richard Fisher]

Something I wasn't aware of at all. I assume they would have been Mk. III guns by that date so probably for the Royal Canadian Navy.

[AlanD]

Yes made for the RCN.

Alan

[warren]

There are several pictures of the .50 Vickers on Canadian ships. We also made some .303 Vickers as well but numbers are unknown. Canada also made a pile of .303 Vickers barrels.

[AlanD]

I have just re-read the section in the book. The order was actually placed by the British Admiralty, but was canceled due to shift to 20mm for AA. No doubt those that were made ended up on various Canadian ships. TonyE has told me that .5 Vickers ammunition was made up to 1944 despite being obsolescent in the Navy.

Warren. Do you know of any examples of these Canadian made .5 Vickers in collections in Canada?

Regards

AlanD
Sydney

[tonye]

Re AlanD's post about late war Canadian .5 inch ammunition production, see my website for details.

sites.google.com/site/britmilammo/-5-inch-vickers/-5-inch-vickers-in-canada

Regards
TonyE