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United Kingdom - Carriers |
Universal Carriers
British variants
The original model.
Mk. II
Equipped with a towing hitch.
Wasp
A flamethrower-equipped variant, using the "Flame-thrower, Transportable, No 2". The Mark I had a fixed flamethrower on the front of the vehicle fed from two fuel tanks with a combined capacity of 100 gallons. 1000 produced.[18] The Mk II had the projector in the co-driver's position. The Mk IIC (C for Canadian) had a single 75 gallon fuel tank on the rear of the vehicle outside the armour protection, allowing a third crew member to be carried.
Praying Mantis
The Praying Mantis was an attempt to produce a low-silhouette vehicle that could still fire over obstacles. A one-man design based on Carden Loyd suspension was not adopted, but the inventor was encouraged to design a two-man version. This version appeared in 1943 and was based upon the Universal Carrier. The hull was replaced with an enclosed metal-box structure with enough room for a driver and a gunner lying prone. This box, pivoting from the rear, could be elevated. At the top end was a machine-gun turret (with two Bren guns). The intention was to drive the Mantis up to a wall or hedgerow, elevate the gun, and fire over the obstacle from a position of safety. It was rejected after trials in 1944.[19] A Mantis survives in the The Tank Museum.
Gutted carriers
Conger
Australian variants
Carrier, Machine Gun, Local Pattern, No. 1
Also known as "LP1 Carrier (Aust)". Australian production similar to Bren carrier but welded and some minor differences.[20]
Universal Carrier MG, Local Pattern No. 2
Also known as "LP2 Carrier (Aust)". Australian-built variant of the Universal Carrier. Also produced in New Zealand. Used 1938–1939 Ford commercial axles; the 2A had 1940 Ford truck axles.
2-pounder Anti-tank Gun Carrier (Aust)
The Carrier, Anti-tank, 2-pdr, (Aust) or Carrier, 2-pdr Tank Attack was a heavily modified and lengthened LP2 carrier with a fully traversable QF 2 pounderanti-tank gun mounted on a platform at the rear and the engine moved to the front left of the vehicle. Stowage was provided for 112 rounds of 2pdr ammunition. 200 were produced and used for training.[21]
An Australian 3 inch mortar carrier
3 inch Mortar Carrier (Aust)
The Carrier, 3-inch Mortar (Aust) was a design based on the 2 Pounder Carrier with a 3-inch mortar mounted in place of the 2 pounder. Designed to enable the mortar to have 360 degree traverse and to be fired either from the vehicle, or dismounted. 400 were produced and were ultimately sent as military aid to the Nationalist Chinese Army.[21]
Canadian variants
Carrier, 2-pdr Equipped
Canadian modification to mount 2-pdr gun. 213 used for training.[20]
Wasp Mk IICCanadian version of the Wasp flamethrower variant.
Windsor Carrier
Canadian development with a longer chassis extended 76cm and an additional wheel in the aft bogie.
United States variants
T-16
The Carrier, Universal, T16, Mark I. was a significantly improved vehicle based upon those built by Ford of Canada, manufactured under Lend Lease by Ford in the United States from March 1943 to 1945. It was longer than the Universal with an extra road wheel on the rear bogie, the engine was a Ford Mercury delivering the same power. Instead of the steering wheel controlling the combination brake/warp mechanism, the T-16 had track-brake steering operated by levers (two for each side).
During the war, it was chiefly used by Canadian forces as an artillery tractor. After the war, was used by Argentine, Swiss (300) and Netherlands forces.
German variants
Captured Universal Carriers were used in a number of roles by German forces.
A total of around sixty Bren No.2 Carriers and Belgian army Vickers Utility Tractors were converted into demolition vehicles. Carrying a large explosive charge, these would be driven up to enemy positions under remote control and detonated, destroying both themselves and the target. Twenty-nine of both kinds were deployed in 1942 during the Siege of Sevastopol. They achieved some success in destroying Soviet trenches and bunkers, but a significant number were destroyed by artillery. Others were disabled by land mines before reaching their target or were lost because of mechanical breakdowns.
Fahrgestell Bren (e)
Captured carrier of 1940, reused by the Germans and fitted with a 3.7 cm PaK 36 gun.
Panzerjäger Bren 731(e)
Bren carriers captured by the Germans and fitted with a triple Panzerschreck transport rack. They were not fired from the Bren gun carrier, only transported.[22]
Italian variants
Fiat 2800: In 1942, at the request of the Italian Army (Regio Esercito), Fiat produced a prototype carrier copied from a captured Universal Carrier; it was known as the Fiat 2800 or CVP-4. It is uncertain whether production vehicles were manufactured.[citation needed] Bren carriers captured by the Italians in the field were often fitted with Breda M37 machine guns
- Carrier, Machine-Gun No. 2 - 1937
- Carrier, Bren No.2
- Carrier, Scout Mk 1
- Carrier, Cavalry MK 1 - 50 built by Nuffield, discontinued with reorganization of cavalry light tank regiments of Mobile Division[17]
- Carrier, Armoured Observation Post
- Carrier, Armoured, 2-pounder
- Carrier, Armored 6-pounder
The original model.
Mk. II
Equipped with a towing hitch.
Wasp
A flamethrower-equipped variant, using the "Flame-thrower, Transportable, No 2". The Mark I had a fixed flamethrower on the front of the vehicle fed from two fuel tanks with a combined capacity of 100 gallons. 1000 produced.[18] The Mk II had the projector in the co-driver's position. The Mk IIC (C for Canadian) had a single 75 gallon fuel tank on the rear of the vehicle outside the armour protection, allowing a third crew member to be carried.
Praying Mantis
The Praying Mantis was an attempt to produce a low-silhouette vehicle that could still fire over obstacles. A one-man design based on Carden Loyd suspension was not adopted, but the inventor was encouraged to design a two-man version. This version appeared in 1943 and was based upon the Universal Carrier. The hull was replaced with an enclosed metal-box structure with enough room for a driver and a gunner lying prone. This box, pivoting from the rear, could be elevated. At the top end was a machine-gun turret (with two Bren guns). The intention was to drive the Mantis up to a wall or hedgerow, elevate the gun, and fire over the obstacle from a position of safety. It was rejected after trials in 1944.[19] A Mantis survives in the The Tank Museum.
Gutted carriers
Conger
Australian variants
Carrier, Machine Gun, Local Pattern, No. 1
Also known as "LP1 Carrier (Aust)". Australian production similar to Bren carrier but welded and some minor differences.[20]
Universal Carrier MG, Local Pattern No. 2
Also known as "LP2 Carrier (Aust)". Australian-built variant of the Universal Carrier. Also produced in New Zealand. Used 1938–1939 Ford commercial axles; the 2A had 1940 Ford truck axles.
2-pounder Anti-tank Gun Carrier (Aust)
The Carrier, Anti-tank, 2-pdr, (Aust) or Carrier, 2-pdr Tank Attack was a heavily modified and lengthened LP2 carrier with a fully traversable QF 2 pounderanti-tank gun mounted on a platform at the rear and the engine moved to the front left of the vehicle. Stowage was provided for 112 rounds of 2pdr ammunition. 200 were produced and used for training.[21]
An Australian 3 inch mortar carrier
3 inch Mortar Carrier (Aust)
The Carrier, 3-inch Mortar (Aust) was a design based on the 2 Pounder Carrier with a 3-inch mortar mounted in place of the 2 pounder. Designed to enable the mortar to have 360 degree traverse and to be fired either from the vehicle, or dismounted. 400 were produced and were ultimately sent as military aid to the Nationalist Chinese Army.[21]
Canadian variants
Carrier, 2-pdr Equipped
Canadian modification to mount 2-pdr gun. 213 used for training.[20]
Wasp Mk IICCanadian version of the Wasp flamethrower variant.
Windsor Carrier
Canadian development with a longer chassis extended 76cm and an additional wheel in the aft bogie.
United States variants
T-16
The Carrier, Universal, T16, Mark I. was a significantly improved vehicle based upon those built by Ford of Canada, manufactured under Lend Lease by Ford in the United States from March 1943 to 1945. It was longer than the Universal with an extra road wheel on the rear bogie, the engine was a Ford Mercury delivering the same power. Instead of the steering wheel controlling the combination brake/warp mechanism, the T-16 had track-brake steering operated by levers (two for each side).
During the war, it was chiefly used by Canadian forces as an artillery tractor. After the war, was used by Argentine, Swiss (300) and Netherlands forces.
German variants
Captured Universal Carriers were used in a number of roles by German forces.
A total of around sixty Bren No.2 Carriers and Belgian army Vickers Utility Tractors were converted into demolition vehicles. Carrying a large explosive charge, these would be driven up to enemy positions under remote control and detonated, destroying both themselves and the target. Twenty-nine of both kinds were deployed in 1942 during the Siege of Sevastopol. They achieved some success in destroying Soviet trenches and bunkers, but a significant number were destroyed by artillery. Others were disabled by land mines before reaching their target or were lost because of mechanical breakdowns.
Fahrgestell Bren (e)
Captured carrier of 1940, reused by the Germans and fitted with a 3.7 cm PaK 36 gun.
Panzerjäger Bren 731(e)
Bren carriers captured by the Germans and fitted with a triple Panzerschreck transport rack. They were not fired from the Bren gun carrier, only transported.[22]
- 2 cm Flak 38 auf Fahrgestell Bren(e): Single barrel German 2 cm Flak 38 cannon mounted over the engine compartment of a captured Bren carrier.
- 3.7 cm Pak auf Fahrgestell Bren(e): Captured carrier of 1940, reused by the Germans and fitted with a 3.7 cm PaK 36 gun.
- Panzerjäger Bren 731(e): Bren carriers captured by the Germans and fitted with a triple Panzerschreck transport rack as a tank destroyer. They were not fired from the Bren gun carrier, only transported.[19]
Italian variants
Fiat 2800: In 1942, at the request of the Italian Army (Regio Esercito), Fiat produced a prototype carrier copied from a captured Universal Carrier; it was known as the Fiat 2800 or CVP-4. It is uncertain whether production vehicles were manufactured.[citation needed] Bren carriers captured by the Italians in the field were often fitted with Breda M37 machine guns