Skink Anti-Aircraft Tank
The Skink anti-aircraft tank was a Canadian self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, developed in 1943–44, for the First Canadian Army. The chassis was based on a Grizzly I cruiser tank (a Canadian manufactured M4A1 Sherman tank). The cast turret held four 20mm cannon. Initially these were 20mm Hispano-Suiza cannons, which were later replaced by 20 mm Polsten (a simplified version of the Oerlikon cannon).
A prototype was sent to Europe where from 6 February to 11 March 1945, it was evaluated by all but one of the Canadian armoured regiments. Although they found it useful in an anti-personnel role, it did not engage any Luftwaffe aircraft.
With a diminishing of its role with the destruction of the Luftwaffe in north-west Europe, the project was cancelled.
