Latest news with #BARVs
Toronto Sun
31-07-2025
- Automotive
- Toronto Sun
Rare D-Day armoured vehicle joins Canadian War Museum collection
Around 60 Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicles were built during the Second World War. This BARV is only one of five left in the world. Workers unload the hull of a Sherman Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle (BARV) at the Canadian War Museum, whose staff will begin restoring the Second World War vehicle. Photo by Canadian War Museum / Handout The Canadian War Museum has obtained a rare armoured vehicle from the Second World War that troops used during the D-Day invasion. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The M4A2 Sherman Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle or BARV arrived at the museum in late June, but restoration of the war relic will take several years, said Grant Vogl, an arms and technology collections specialist at the war museum. 'It's currently one of our top priorities for restoration,' he added. The BARV is only one of five left in the world. Around 60 of the specialized vehicles were built during the war and it was believed that 48 of them were used on D-Day, June 6, 1944. British and Canadian personnel operated the BARVs, which were used to tow disable or destroyed tanks and landing craft that were blocking access to the beaches as waves of soldiers came ashore in Normandy, France. 'The BARVs were some of the first vehicles to hit the beach after the first wave,' Vogl said. 'They were definitely taking fire.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Each BARV was built on the chassis of a M4A2 Sherman tank, but instead of the gun system an armoured super structure was added. The vehicle could operate in water up to three metres deep. One of the crew was a qualified diver who had the job of attaching cables to disabled equipment that had to be towed out of the way. Sherman BARVs were also used during the Rhine River crossing in March 1945. That operation involved Canadian, United States and British troops. BARVs remained in British military service until 1963, according to the war museum. The precise D-Day involvement of the BARV acquired by the war museum is still being researched, Vogl said, but museum staff have discovered the vehicle's serial number, which will aid in researching its specific history. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Vogl said the restoration of the BARV would be cosmetic in that it would be prepared for display at the museum in Ottawa, but would not be in running order. Workers unload the hull of a Sherman Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle (BARV) at the Canadian War Museum. The restoration of the BARV will be cosmetic in that it will be prepared for display at the museum in Ottawa, but will not be in running order. Photo by Canadian War Museum / Handout Still the initiative will be challenging. The war museum has some tracks for Sherman tanks in its parts inventory, but other components will need to be found. This BARV is missing its engine and parts of the suspension. Much of Canada's heavy military equipment was left in Europe after the Second World War. Other Sherman tanks and vehicles were sold to militaries in South America, in particular Argentina, which has become a repository of parts. 'It's kind of a wild goose chase to find these parts,' Vogl said. 'Sometimes it can be tricky. Some will have to be built from scratch.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The BARV was originally recovered from a military firing range on Salisbury Plain in southern England. It was donated to Canada by The Tank Museum in the United Kingdom. The BARV will eventually be displayed at the Canadian War Museum's LeBreton Gallery, joining the collection of 200 military vehicles in that space. 'It will definitely be a showpiece,' Vogl said. David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: Read More Toronto & GTA Celebrity Canada Canada Sunshine Girls
Ottawa Citizen
31-07-2025
- Automotive
- Ottawa Citizen
Rare D-Day armoured vehicle joins Canadian War Museum collection
The Canadian War Museum has obtained a rare armoured vehicle from the Second World War that troops used during the D-Day invasion. Article content The M4A2 Sherman Beach Armoured Recovery Vehicle or BARV arrived at the museum in late June, but restoration of the war relic will take several years, said Grant Vogl, an arms and technology collections specialist at the war museum. Article content Article content Article content 'It's currently one of our top priorities for restoration,' he added. Article content Article content The BARV is only one of five left in the world. Article content Around 60 of the specialized vehicles were built during the war and it was believed that 48 of them were used on D-Day, June 6, 1944. British and Canadian personnel operated the BARVs, which were used to tow disable or destroyed tanks and landing craft that were blocking access to the beaches as waves of soldiers came ashore in Normandy, France. Article content 'The BARVs were some of the first vehicles to hit the beach after the first wave,' Vogl said. 'They were definitely taking fire.' Article content Each BARV was built on the chassis of a M4A2 Sherman tank, but instead of the gun system an armoured super structure was added. The vehicle could operate in water up to three metres deep. One of the crew was a qualified diver who had the job of attaching cables to disabled equipment that had to be towed out of the way. Article content Article content Sherman BARVs were also used during the Rhine River crossing in March 1945. That operation involved Canadian, United States and British troops. BARVs remained in British military service until 1963, according to the war museum. Article content The precise D-Day involvement of the BARV acquired by the war museum is still being researched, Vogl said, but museum staff have discovered the vehicle's serial number, which will aid in researching its specific history. Article content Vogl said the restoration of the BARV would be cosmetic in that it would be prepared for display at the museum in Ottawa, but would not be in running order. Article content Article content Still the initiative will be challenging. Article content The war museum has some tracks for Sherman tanks in its parts inventory, but other components will need to be found. This BARV is missing its engine and parts of the suspension. Article content Much of Canada's heavy military equipment was left in Europe after the Second World War. Other Sherman tanks and vehicles were sold to militaries in South America, in particular Argentina, which has become a repository of parts. 'It's kind of a wild goose chase to find these parts,' Vogl said. 'Sometimes it can be tricky. Some will have to be built from scratch.'
