Carrier found in Norfolk yesterday 21/12/2010

[shaun]

Started to clean the carrier down today, searching for any markings before i strip it for blasting, found some very interesting stuff. There is Pea green paint on all 4 side, on the side it is a strip about a foot long and 3 inches wide just bellow the armour edge near the gunner, on the front just bellow the mirror bracket the is a 4 inch pea green circle and a strip on the rear armour on the drivers side. i think ( and i stand to be corrected) this vehicle had been used for training and it was part of "Green Force" and the aposing guys would have been "blue force" we had the same thing on our exercises and had coloured patches on our vehicles but they were just tied on.

On the gunners side armour bellow the CT112596 are some half inch high numbers stamped into the armour 292 with another 2 stamped directly above the 9 as well.

also on the gunners side armour in the middle of the vehicle is a triangle ( you can still see the pencil line that the guy who painted it drew on first) this would normally be for "A" coy or sqdrn. as well as "sling here" near the front lifting eye that had been painted white.

One more thing to point to it having been a Ronson is that the rear lifting eyes have had the to cut straight to allow room for the rear tanks.

[shaun]

correction ,on the stamped numbers the 292 has the 2 over the top of the firsts 2 and not the 9.

[Lynn Eades]

I believe the carrier would have been built and left the factory as a Universal. Later it would have been converted to a flame thower.
My understanding is that the flame thrower equipment came in transit cases. there were two sizes of CO2 bottles, and an adapter used under thge smaller bottles. The bulk head (division plate) will have been cut as well. I have a book. "
Handbook for the Flamethower Transportable, No2, Mark 2c. The book shows a picture of a MkI* carrier, with headlight brackets, but no headlights.
The general description starts; "The equipment is fitted in the MkI or Mk2 Carrier after certain fitments have been removed and modifications made to the vehicle". The number plate is special, and is mounted to the tank. The drawing in the book has the number "CT114060" on it. Not too different to your number. A tow link like a long "D" shackle is on the two cut lift eyes. In the text it covers installation in MkI, Mk2, or Mk2W (windsor?) carriers. The gunners seat is modified, with legs welded to it. The flame thrower can fire just fuel, without ignition, or both.

[Maurice Donckers]

I have seen several carriers with the brackets on the side and rear mounted on the inside , but these carriers also had the blocks for the deep water fording kit welded on the outside, so maybe had someting to do with that .

[shaun]

The strip down started this week and is nearly finished ready for blasting. All the controls are in lovely condition, the gear leaver was even flopping about. the cam plate and followers are like new even the little screws holding link rods on unscrewed !!! lots of shiny metal came into view as the grease was wiped away. also signs of a cammo patern has emerged on the side armour, there is the standard factory green and the patches of a darker olive green. another hour tomorrow and its off to the blasters, but it is a real shame to remove all the history in the original paint, but hey i have taken loads of photos.

[shaun]

and you should see the size of the mouse that made the holes in the sides !

[Marc van Aalderen]

Originally Posted by shaun

and you should see the size of the mouse that made the holes in the sides !

Must have been this Mouse, or Maus in German.

Maus.jpg