Nigel Watson's "Universal Carriers" in Print!

[Tony Smith]

I have had a good look over the Tracked Truck at Puckapunyal (which is somewhat incomplete), and my surreptitious, furtive and even overt checking for any number stamped in the chassis or body failed to find anything in over 1/2 an hour of searching. Where was the Office Boy looking? Perhaps there was a Builder's Plate that has been souveniered? As far as I am aware, the identity of the Pucka TT has not been ascertained.

[Tony Smith]

149344 still exists, and although in original paint, more components are missing and corrosion is somewhat worse. Despite knowing to look for the numbers X901 or 844, nothing could be found on the chassis.

[Snowy]

Tony, thanks for the extremely interesting information. Yours are the first photos I've seen of the tracked Truck recovered in FNQ apart from the small pic that appeared in an old issue of 'Wheels & Tracks' some years ago. I wonder if it could be restored with a pair of refabricated steering arms for the idler, and half a dozen LP2A rear bogie units. It looks like it has more of the steering tie-rods intact than the Pucka one, and wasn't fitted with the marker light guards.

I too couldn't find any markings on the TT at Pucka, even though I spent a few hours looking and measuring the vehicle. It's a unique piece of Oz MV history and the totally home-grown aspect of it really appeals to me a lot (like the Sentinel).

Not wanting to hijack Nigel's book thread, perhaps a new thread just for the TT should be started?

Steve.

[horsa]

Hey Nigel,

My copy of Volume II arrived here in Texas over the weekend and it looks great. Another job well done

I skipped ahead to read the T-16 section first and found you have included some really good information. Now to start at the beginning and read up on the other carriers.

Keep up the good work.