Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Surprisingly, this "Zimbabwean Bren Carrier" survives in the Gweru Military Museum in Zimbabwe, Africa.
Can anyone tell if/when the T16 was in military service in Zimbabwe?!? Reportedly, the Swiss Army sold 300 T16s to Biafra via a dealer in Toronto in 1965; could it be (some of) these ended up in Zimbabwe?
Thanks,
Hanno |
According to a write up in the book 'Fighting Vehicle & Weapons of Rhodesia 1965 - 80' (2nd Edition), pg 90, by Peter G Lockr and Peter DF Cooke it states the following. 'T16 Universal Carriers served with the RAR in Kenya from 1944, when they were described as "fearsome clanking monsters", and with the Southern Rhodesian Forces post war. They carried the flash, three assegai, of the Federation of Rhodesia & Nyasaland Army. In mid 1970's one was exhumed from its museum resting place and returned to active service. It was given an armoured superstructure onto which were fitted 2 x twin machine gun mounts (Bren gun mounts). Fitted for radio, it was used for airfield defence but the tracks and running gear were considered too geriatric and high maintenance for anything more arduous or long range. This is the only info I have found so far on these vehicles in Rhodesia.