Carrier suspension arms

[Tony Smith]

I am not particularly expert on UK or Canadian built carriers, but have noted a unique variation on the Carrier suspension arms which appears to be quite limited in its useage. The double wheel bogie supporting arm that carries the upper idler return wheel on the vast majority of Carriers is a solid (or is it hollow?) cast square shape with radiused corners:

[Tony Smith]

However, Carriers T58471, T58482 and T58540 have a webbed or "I Beam' pattern arm marked with a part number TL13664, and on one of the castings, "Not for Tanks". Each of these carriers were built by Sentinel Wagon as 3" Mortar Carriers, although they are plated as "Carrier, Universal, Mark 1/L/". I

[Tony Smith]

I have looked through both volumes of Nigel Watson's Carrier books, and only one photo appears of this type of arm, on page 60, and that is of T80222, another 3" Mortar Carrier built by Sentinel Wagon to a different contract.

After looking through my many pictures, the only other I have found with this type of arm is David Hardaway's Carrier T80030 in NZ, and this was also a 3" Mortar Carrier built by Snetinel Wagon.

Why did Sentinel Wagon create a new pattern for their Mortar Carrier suspension arms?

[Tony Smith]

Australian Pattern Carriers have this style of webbed, I-Beam suspension arm, but the dates of the Aust development of local carriers is after the build dates of the Sentinel Wagon Carriers.

Australian castings have a much deeper flange or web to the I-Beam, and carry the casting number "577/1"

[Tony Smith]

Anyone with any other pics or info on these arms?

[Lynn Eades]

I think the ones marked "Not For Tanks" was to make sure they were not interchanged with the Vickers light Tank.(a heavier machine) You have cottoned on to something that most of us were not aware of. I believe the experimentation was on going. Nigels first book covers some variations in the construction (casating and fabrication) I guess the British manufactures produced variations, just as theAussie manufacturers did with the LP2/2a's.
I know of a pair of suspension forks that are cast from solid bronze.