Aust LP2 bracket??

[Darrin Wright]

I have a LP2 Bren Gun Carrier (made by Newport Workshops) that has an odd bracket in the right rear of the hull where the Vickers ammo boxs are positioned, never thought much of it- after war add on by a farmer. Then a friend of mine found a carrier hull with the same bracket in the right rear of the hull which has now got me thinking, what is it used for?
The brackets are circles in blue (hopefully it will show/be able to be seen!!)
The brackets are positioned in the hull so that if a tool/equipment was placed in the bracket the Vickers ammon boxs would not fit.
Both carriers are from the Northern Territory and have been in service with the Army in the north.
Any idears would be appreciated, when I get to restoring the carrier I will probly remove it unless there is a reason for it being there.
also to note in the photo is the well made hand rail, possible for people to stand in the back for vehicle mounted parades, maybe Kangaroo shooters but it is too well made.

Thank you for any replies and putting me out of my misery!!!

[ron]

Hi Darrin,
Do you have any other pics of that carrier, showing more of it? It looks in good order,how complete is the hull?
Thanks,
Ron,

[Pedr]

Here is a picture of the right rear compartment of hull number 2802. Manufactured by the Metro Gas Co. I've only just seen this hull myself in the past couple of weeks and pondered the exact same question.

HOWEVER......

[Pedr]

The bracket on the right of this shot is for an armoured radio cover, as seen in other late production Australian built carriers, but this one is on the other side ( so much so that it interferes with the tool brackets ). I have only seen this on one other carrier.

[Pedr]

This carrier has been fitted for use as a 3" Mortar Carrier, obviously prior to production of the purpose built carrier. You can clearly see in this shot, the armoured radio cover ( and how it interferes with the tool stowage )

My thought now is that the brackets in question are for the stowage of the mortar base plate when not in use. The bracket in 2802 has a swivelling clamp on the top of the wall, visible in the picture; which appears to have been present, but lost from your carrier.

I also believe that the loop straps that cover both interior side walls may have been for stowage of mortar bombs.

My appologies for not being able to remember the source of this picture to credit it.

Pedr

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Next to machine guns, shooting things that blow up is as about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on.

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Pedr
This carrier has been fitted for use as a 3" Mortar Carrier, obviously prior to production of the purpose built carrier.
Pedr

I agree that the brackets are for the Mortar base plate. The LP2A Mortar carrier located the baseplate stowage to the outside rear of the carrier as lifting the thing out of the hull must have been a B**** of a job.

[Tony Smith]

This then allowed a greater amount of 3" Ammn to be carried in the carrier:

[Pedr]

AS this has now come up again with regard to another thread and Mortar carriers I thought I'd bring this thread back to the top.

[Pedr]

To see other discussion on this topic, see

3" Mortar Carrier

Pedr