Universal Carriers

Five basic types, somewhat depending on country of manufacture,
well covered by the excellent Maple Leaf Up website but a hugely complicated subject so sticking to 'carrier' is a good start.
On top of those types several different requirements were fulfilled, many unarmed sub-variants such as specialised engineer, command, tank starters, ammunition carriers etc. Significant among these was the use of the carrier as an ambulance.
Those that carried weapons for the British include several loyd variants with a 2pdr AT gun, mortars & AA adaptations, there were even a few Smith Guns mounted by home guard units. One or 2 turreted prototypes were tried and dismissed. Maybe one of the strangest variants not to have passed prototype being the 'praying Mantis' as a possible solution to the hedgerows in Normandy.


The canadians and Aussies had their own variants all discussed on the above websites, most peculiar for me being the Canadian one mounting a rack of PIAT's for area fire. I'd also recommend the excellent Tanks! website for good info on variants.

Paul, if you ever fancy one a tatty one was offered last year for about £12.5k, I too love watching 'em roar about, some variants (carden-lloyd I think) steer by the strangest track-bending mechanism that is truly alarming to watch, looks like they're about to pop off.

A fine example at Beltring this year going surprisingly quickly:

Drone drone blah blah.... Top truck.
Hope that helps a little Peter, some balance for the amount I pick up about planes from reading the flyboys threads.
Cheers,
Adam.

 

When did they go out of service?

 

I suspect they were phased out fairly shortly after the war as vehicles like the landrover and wheeled armoured cars could do the same sort of job better for less money and complication, you see them a lot in pictures of postwar training and the odd parade, lots of the survivors seem to have passed through training establishments after their active life was ended. I wouldn't be at all surprised though if a few were still on the strength of some armies, for some reason Latin America springs to mind, Brazil et.al. seem to have been the home of retired smaller allied vehicles until surprisingly recently. Found an excellent website on 'em here with a more precise explanation of the basic types.

 

As this seems to be the Carrier thread I'll post these.
Universal Carrier

 

Nice pics Owen. I must put in a plug for an extrodinary series of books. Planned as a 3 volume series, Volume 1 was launched at Beltring. Written by a very enthusiastic Carrier owner, Nigel Watson and just called 'Universal Carriers'. All you would need from a book on carriers and more.
Annoyingly I thought volume 2 had arrived yesterday, but the missus had fouled up slightly and it was another volume 1, got to wait 'til April for the next one now.
Based purely on the first book, I second the recommendation, Watson's filled a yawning gap in the vehicle bookshelves.

 

In theory mine should already be paid for... Hmmm, wonder if it'll just turn up in the post soon, that'd be nice.

 

Hi everyone, this is my first post and plug having reached here by way of references to my book on Universal Carriers which I launched at Beltring this year. Thank you for the plug. I know I am a wee bit biased but these vehicles were terrific for their size and versatility. Those of you who managed to Beltring may have seen my own carrier on our Living History Display, only desert camouflaged carrier at the show.
"Loved by many who encountered her, disliked by others, spoken about fondly by her drivers and complained about by others, this small armoured tracked vehicle was driven by soldiers from every nation involved in the conflicts during WW2."

Now the plug! Universal Carriers Vol1 and Vol2 available from Universal Bren Carrier Book or www.desertplatoon.org.uk

The Auck
A very warm welcome aboard 'The Auck'.
I think we might just be able to work out your real name though .

Splendid books on a strangely neglected subject, that finally replace the rather sparse offerings from Chamberlain & Ellis and Osprey on such a significant vehicle. Volume 2 dropped through my letterbox only last week.
Plug away.

Cheers,
Adam.