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M6 GMC C15TA (Water Vole)

The Armoured Personnel Carrier, 4×4 M6, was the first vehicle of the Danish Army with the designation “Armoured Personnel Carrier” (APC). It was better known by its popular name “Water Vole”. The vehicle, which was purchased in England, was intended, among other things, for the transport of riflemen.

The Canadian-built GMC CT15A or “M6” armoured personnel carrier was quickly nicknamed the “Water Vole” in Danish service because of its somewhat peculiar design, which bears similarities to the animal of the same name. The “Water Vole” was used in the infantry platoons from 1947 until the mid-1960s, when it was replaced by the APC M113.

The purpose of the vehicle was to transport an infantry squad when operating in conjunction with the Humber Scoutcar and Humber Mk. IV.

The “Water Vole” was built in a number of 3,961 units between 1943 and 1945. All the Danish vehicles had previously been used during World War II by the British forces.

Although the “Water Vole” is described as an “armoured personnel carrier”, it is fair to say that only the front of the vehicle was armoured. The infantry squad was only protected from frontal and lateral fire, the roof of the crew compartment being covered by a canvas tarpaulin.

The “Water Vole” was also used as a command and radio vehicle, and as an ambulance in the army, as well as the police used the vehicle in connection with the “anti-terror” readiness at the Copenhagen Airport in Kastrup and others.

The vehicle on display is fully roadworthy.

M6 GMC C15TA (Water Vole) 4×4
Country of origin: Canada
Type: Armoured Personnel Carrier
Speed: 72 km/h
Range: –
Weight: 4.5 tons
Width: 2.3 m
Height: 2.1 m
Length: 4.7 m
Crew: 2 + 8
Armament: –
Engine: G.M. 270 6-cylinder 4.4 liters gasoline 104 HP
Transmission: –
Year of introduction: around 1947
Phased out year: around 1965-67 in the Army (last part of the 70s in the Copenhagen (Kastrup) Airport Police)