LP2A fitting question

[Lynn Eades]

A non forum friend with an LP2a is trying to find out exactly what was on the floor in the left rear of his carrier just behind the vickers tripod mount location.
His carrier has a "box" for the butt of a Bren gun on the left, and beside that was another fitting for something.
the photo attached shows only the vickers tripod in place. the missing fitting would be welded to the floor directly behind it.

[D Ellery]

Hi Lynn, I have seen a picture of a 303 rifle standing there with a mount welded to the back air intake above the vickers tripod. Can't for the life of me recall where I saw that picture. Heres a pic of Darron Swifts Carrier with fixing on the back of the air intake also. Maybe the missing fitting on the floor is for the rifle's butt holder ?

[D Ellery]

As you can see from Darrons Carrier there is provision for a rifle on the drivers side of the engine cover as well. While were on the subject does anybody know what the long bracket could be for next to the water bottles. Very similar in size to the spade bracket on the rear of the vehicle. I think this vehicle was with the NZ Army into the 50's ( Darron to confirm ) so modifications obviously have taken place. David.

[Mike Cecil]

Lynn,

The image you show is of the early design LP2/2A rear left compartment. The later design included provision for:
(1) the Vickers MMG tripod;
(2) BREN LMG butt box welded to the floor, slightly further back and to the left of the Vickers tripod. The muzzle of the BREN was held in a box-bracket welded to the rear of the air intake scoop.
(3) Spare barrel and hold-all for the BREN, located to the right of the Vickers tripod, tucked in behind the fire extinguisher and against the air intake structure.

The later version also had the Iron Ration boxes relocated from the rear right to the rear left compartment, as well as the BREN spare mag box or Lewis Gun Mag box (the latter only if a Lewis was actually carried). This freed space for fitting a wireless set to the rear right compartment if required.

Later versions of the Drivers handbook have images. I reproduced the compartment images for both early and later versions in my book 'AMEP Vol.2 Local Pattern Carriers 1939-1945'.

Do you have an image of the bracket in your friends carrier?

Mike C

[Lynn Eades]

Here is the carrier in question. Its the thing where the red primer is.

[Euan McDonald]

Hi Lynn,
This is the inside shot of my late LP2a showing the bracket.