The Canadian Army Trophy was a contest of NATO tankers in Europe that ran into the '90s. I believe it was discontinued when the 4th Mech Brigade (Canadian Army) was pulled out of Europe around 10 years ago.

A revived version of it is still going on annually, but is now called "CANAM" cup and is only Canadians and Americans. http://www.strathconas.ca/archives/b/canamcup03.htm

I am indeed Sorry to hear of the demise of the old Canadian Armor Trophy (CAT). While Stationed in Gelnhausen, Germany in 1985-87, I was a very Proud Member of the very first American Team (3/33 Armored Regiment, which half way through the competion became 4/8 Cav) to ever win the CAT Trophy. We (Ourselves as well as the other Countries competing) considered it to be not unlike The Olympics, Military Style. I know for a fact that there were American, German, French, and of course Canadian teams competing. While I do remember that a few other countries involved, I can't for the life of me remember exactly what countries they were. It was almost Twenty Years ago, after all. The competition was primarily based on Tank Gunnery, But as 1 of 4 Medics assigned to the American Team, I was judged on my "Range Performance" as well. It was the best year and a half of my entire 12 year Military Career. I still have my Nomex Uniform with The Canadian Armor Trophy Patches, 3rd Armor Division patches, and a couple of Uniforms I traded with other team members of other Countries.

I believe the British Army also competed. However, they were using the Chieftain then and the slow rate of fire caused by 2 part ammunition meant that they were never really competetive in the section that required speed of firing. I don't think they were able to win because of that.

When I was a G3 staff officer in the 24 ID in 1988-1989 our division Master Gunner had won the CAT Trophy...and was proud because he had done it in an M60A3...beat out Challengers, Leos, and M1s.

Its been a lot of years since I saw the stuff, but as I recall there was some sort of compensated scoring system based on the model of tank being used. It was patently unfair to go with raw scores when comparing an M1, with a fairly sophisticated fire control system, to a Chieftain with an RMG, to a Dutch Leo I with an older system. Don't remember any details.

You seem alittle confused on the rate of fire the "Chieftain" and 2 piece ammo.  In 1970. I was lucky enough to be a member of the crew picked for CAT. My job on the tank was gunner, though I am qualified to do all the jobs. ie a crewman. My rate of fire was, locate, range using the .50 M20 (your M2 with a barrel balisticly matched to the 120mm main gun)  and fire the 120mm in under 10 seconds, reload and fire again in 3.7 seconds. This was not the fastest time,  there were other crews quicker than us. on a 2 round engagment both rounds were less than a foot apart.

jlaneor65 wrote: I still have my Nomex Uniform with The Canadian Armor Trophy Patches, 3rd Armor Division patches, and a couple of Uniforms I traded with other team members of other Countries.

I organised the Dutch CAT reunion and exhibition in 2003 (40 years CAT). We got all Dutch patches and badges complete, but I started to work on a CAT worldwide collection since. There is a large CAT group on facebook, and a small one on linkedin. I love to get in contact with "jlaneor65" to see what the patches on his nomex look like. Can you cantact me? robkuenen at hotmail.com