Mk1 Carrier AA mount

[kevin powles]

Hi,
Thought I would kick off a thread on this little talked about item, I have not seen any detailed info on this forum before, There is a great diagram of it in the carrier parts manual FUC-03 so here go's.

Managed to borrow an original 'pogo stick' to replicate. Quite easy to make if you can source the correct size tubing, we used seamless hydraulic pipe in imperial size. The most difficult piece was the one piece cast steel bend which the bren fixes to, This needs to be very strong as the hole weight pivots at this point, even more with a full mag and recoil from firing. The long internal spring was an off the shelf item, we found an exact match at 32" long.

When simulating firing the bren the spring action seems to position the bren at any height you position the gun, i.e. if you put it at full height it stays there, if you push it down to lower it too its lowest point it stays there, almost like a counter balance, you can position it at any height in between also. I first thought the spring was there to take out the recoil when firing the gun in a elevated position.

Was this type of AA mount unique to the carrier?, was it issued to the Mk2 carrier?. If anyone has further info on this item or can add to this thread then great