Something Different - The CDL Grant

[Armortek]

If there is sufficient interest, we are thinking about making an extraordinary and truly unique version of the M3 Grant - The Canal Defence Light Grant

From http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/:
"At the time of its conception, the Canal Defence Light, or CDL, was a Top Secret project. This ‘Secret Weapon’ was based around the use of a powerful Carbon-Arc lamp and would be used to illuminate enemy positions in night attacks as well as disorient the enemy troops.

A number of vehicles were converted to CDLs, such as the Matilda II, the Churchill, and the M3 Lee. In keeping with the highly secret nature of the project, Americans designated vehicles carrying the CDL as “T10 Shop Tractors.” In fact, the designation “Canal Defence Light” was intended as a code name to draw as little attention to the project as possible." Read More

The Canal Defence Light M3 Grant

CDL Grant.jpg (99.05 KiB) Viewed 5866 times

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REGISTER your interest either in the comments below or email us at sales@armortek.co.uk
If we receive sufficient interest by the end of Nov, we will look to put this into production along with an LED light pack.

[Adrian Harris]

Would this be as an optional turret, such as the Schmalturm for the Panther ?

Adrian.

[Stephen White]

What an innovative and imaginative choice for an option. The title Canal Defence Light was intended to mislead. It had nothing to do with canals, was (at least latterly) intended for offensive operations and if it had really been about light, it would have had a searchlight, not a narrow beam. It was one of those weapon developments, like Window (chaff) and gas, which could have backfired on the user. It's a fascinating subject and would make a very unusual and interesting model. In the aircraft world there is a saying that if it looks right, it probably performs right. The CDL proves the opposite is true.

Stephen

[Armortek]

Would this be as an optional turret, such as the Schmalturm for the Panther ?

In all likelihood we would sell this in 2 ways:
(a) as a stand alone turret (so people can buy an M3 plus and additional CDL turret) and,
(b) instead of either the Grant or Lee turret.

We are not currently planning on a making a different and specific CDL hull -the volume would not justify it at this stage.

Kian

[Pete Nash]

For those who want to do a CDL Grant/Lee, Sarik Hobbies do a four view drawings of the CDL Grant/Lee costing £12.50
Size of the drawings is not given
https://www.sarikhobbies.com/product/ml142-grant-cdl/

Pete

[Armortek]

Thanks for that Pete.
Hard to tell from the low quality image on their website, but the turret does not look right - The CDL turret has a distinct slope from the back to the front.
Interesting that they have categorised this drawing under "Aircraft line drawings"

Kian

[Robert Reid]

Very cool idea!

BTW, for someone enterprising and good with fabricating... these Loudspeaker Tanks were part of the whole Allied PsyOp campaign that was quite remarkable...

Some good books on the subject. And a little-known bit of WW2 trivia is that the clothing designer/entrepreneur Bill Blass... was one of these PsyWar operators! Before going on to fame and fortune designing suits...

http://www.psywarrior.com/combatloudspeakers.html

So many neat things one can do with a light tank!

Cheers,

RPR

[Brian Ostlind]

It is definitely a good idea to make that turret available. It would be really cool!