Indian Pattern Carrier, Wheeled (NZ Pattern)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This Life Magazine picture of Un Troops In Korea taken in February 1951 provides a magnificient shot of an Indian Pattern Wheeled Carried in New-Zealand service.

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In early 1941 the NZ Government was approached by the Eastern Group Supply Council in India, over the possibility of assembling the INDIAN PATTERN WHEELED CARRIER, in New Zealand. Despite an initial unethusiatic response, it was felt that if the vehicle could be used for local defence, then they could be assembled in New Zealand. In order to test local use, two chassis were ordered from Canada, and on arrival were fitted with mild-steel bodies at the NZR workshops in the Hutt Valley. With a local requirement of only 45 vehicles and with India no longer requiring any of these vehicles, it was decided not to manufacture any. But after trials in Waiouru, and following a few alterations, the Ford Motor Company was asked to order 45 chassis and the NZR workshops were ordered to manufacture the bodies, in March 1942.

The vehicles were used as observation posts by the Field Regiments of the NZ Artillery. After WW II, at least two were used by the 16th Field Regiment RNZA, in Korea. In 1953 some were issued to the 1st Armoured Car Regiment (NZ Scottish). They remained in service until about 1955/56, when most of the chassis were sold and the hulls were used as hard targets.

Source: http://antipodeanarmour.blogspot.com...ern-mk-ii.html