[David Dunlop]

Clearly, the shots in my previous post are all of the same carrier, set up for top bows and a canvas cover. The first picture of this set is Ford # UCW 28 and shows an overhead interior shot of the vehicle. One of the small posts for mounting the top bows is clearly visible at the front left corner of the rear compartment, just left of the B-Set aerial base mounting bracket. The rolled tubular top of the side armour has been notched away to allow installation of top bow post.

The only references I can find for a Mk II * UCW vehicle built by Ford of Canada that was equipped with a canvas top, are in Bill Gregg's Profiles publication where it was stated Ford was working on an order for the British Army for such a vehicle, needed in the desert. The wording is odd, however, in that it states the order was "originally intended for the desert". Was it cancelled? Was it applied to other orders as well? Photos of this carrier also show up in one of Bart Vanderveen's publications.

So, the questions become:

- Do these photos document a one off prototype that never went into production?

- If this was just a prototype, why would Ford bother putting a welded front armour assembly together for it, when hundreds of ready to assemble riveted components were already available in the plant?

- Could a welded front armour assembly have been part of the requirements of the British Army when they tendered a contract for desert vehicles? Had they found the riveted assembly prone to stress failure in combat?

- Was there some limited production of hybrid upper hull carriers in Canada during the war?

- If so, have any survived anywhere we could get a Contract Number from to see where it leads?

And now that last part of the mystery: the last photo.

This photo bears Ford # UCW 75. Quite a big jump away from all the others. Based on the vertical welding between the loopholes and head lamp, and the right front fender, this is the same vehicle from the earlier photos, with two noticeable differences: the two studs either side of the loophole to anchor the canvas cover steps, have been replaced by a pair of machine screws, and, the rolled tube cover on the top of the left side armour no longer has the cutouts to accommodate the top bow mounting posts.

This vehicle could still just be a prototype Ford was "playing with" throughout the war, but why all the welding on the front armour?


David