BUCKSHEE and another unidentified Kangaroo are parked on a sidewalk somewhere in Holland in early 1945. Shadows from trees blocking the afternoon sun are plainly visible.

This photo of BUCKSHEE is unique in that it it one of the few Kangaroo shots showing the .30 calibre Browning machine gun mounted on the right side of the turret ring. This was a common installation, as the volume of fire put out by the .30 could suppress many an objective, long enough for the infantry to debuss (over the other side) and overwhelm the enemy positions.

Note that both Kangaroos pictured here have a full set of track extenders. These simple additions to the running gear increased traction in muddy conditions by many times. The front Kangaroo also has the welded reinforcement for deep-fording gear on the back of the hull, as noted in an early photograph. Both sport a variety of spares, including roadwheels, on their rear decks.

Bear in mind that after a stop of any longer than 20 minutes or so, the Kangaroos' radial engines demanded a certain degree of respect. Because oil tended to seep past the rings into the lower cylinders, it was necessary to have some unfortunate manually crank the engine prior to restart, in order to avoid either hydrostatic lock or even possibly blowing off a cylinder head. Regardless of its peculiarities, the Continental R975 engine provided excellent reliability and a very good power-to-weight ratio, especially in a vehicle unburdened by the extra weight of a turret and gun.

Forward of the Kangaroos is a Canadian Mk.II Universal Carrier, an under-appreciated workhorse of the Commonwealth armies in WW2.

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