in early 1941 the 1st tank brigade was sent to britain and equipped with the matilda infantry tank. for the formation of two armoured divisions it was expected that 1,200 cavalry tanks were needed. the united kingdom was not in a position to supply them, as it had shortfalls in supply for its own needs. this meant that canada had to develop its own production. to this end a tank arsenal was set up under the management of a subsidiary of a us firm engaged in tank production in order to build the ram and grizzly tanks and their variants in canada.