2" Mortar bomb storage
 

In the gunners foot well of my No2 Mk2* carrier their is a locker which is stencilled '5 - 4" smoke generators with cartridges and covers or 6 - 2" mortar bombs'. While I cannot be sure that the stencilling is correct I understand that the locker is for this use. What I am trying to find out is how were the 2" mortar bombs fitted in, I am sure they did not leave them loose so assume they might have had a lining similar to the cardboard tubes used for carrying the bombs by infantry. Does anyone have more detail of the internal fit of this locker?

Hello Mike

I think there must have been some form of packing otherwise they could have crammed at least another five in.

My locker I think has had a new bottom put on it, and they may have shortened it, how deep is yours please.

Thanks,
Stephen

Hi Stephen,
I won't get to where my carrier is stored until next Saturday so please bear with me. I know mine is original and having tried a 2" bomb in the locker I too found that it was not deep enough for the bomb as you have placed them, I will measure next weekend and come back.

2" Mortar
 

Hello Mike

My locker is 8 1/2" deep. So if yours is the same the only way they could be carried is length ways. I can quite easily get the six in that way, even at a push eight so if the six did have some kind of packing around them they should still fit.

Cheers Stephen

That is my thinking at the moment as my locker is not deep enough for the bombs to go in end ways, they stick out too far to close the door.

Hi

No real knowledge of measurements here but I see that the bombs were wrapped and packaged in 3s.

https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/wea...nchdiagram.jpg
https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/wea...inchmortar.htm

regards
Darrell

I am curious if that image showing the bomb carrier as an assembly of three bombs is correct. No waterproofing, suspicious markings... is it a faithful representation of a British bomb carrier. The next image in the series from that site shows the standard six-bomb carrier.

Just for the record, what a 2" mortar 6 bomb carrier looks like.

(say, anybody know where I can find a 2" barrel brush like the one shown as item 11 in Darrel's pic?)

I have a spare barrel brush, complete, for 2” Mortar spare. I think it’s 50’s dated but same as ww2

Thanks Paul, PM sent.

Stephen,
I measured my locker yesterday and it is the same 8 1/2" deep as yours so 2" bombs will definitely not fit in end ways. the only realistic fit would be sideways as your photo shows. If the 3 bomb carrier in the photo (marked 3) is an original or a faithful repro I guess that is how they must have been stored, unless anyone else knows better?

2" Mortar
 

Thanks Mike
At least that means mine is ok. I have never seen any of those 3 bomb carriers before either so will have to see what comes up.

Cheers Stephen

There is a 3 tube carrier for sale at collectors source now. I might be dating myself but I paid less than that for my 2 inch mortar a decade or so back.
http://www.collectorssource.com/2-in...ubes-8513.html

I used to think these guys used a multiplier to set their pricing, ie. what the market price is times some fixed rate like 3 or 4 times that. But now I think it may be based on a more simple "...if you really REALLY want it..." pricing scheme. Still, you can't argue with the rarity and quality of the goods they offer.

Mike , don't forget "cotton waste" was used to pack some loose items . infact in the Daimler armoured car it states the use of "cotton waste" to pack the 6 mills bombs in the stowage in the centre of the turret. also these bombs in the stowage box are ready to use and there for fast access is needed .

Good point Shaun, it just doesn't seem very technical!!

does it need to be ?