Carriers and 2" mortars

[charlie fitton]

I ran across a ref. to an early war, improvised mount made from wood at one time..mounted on the engine cover..

[Michael R.]

You may find four different mounts and brackets for the 2" mortar series found on MK-I/MK-I*, MK-II/MK-II*, T16 and Windsor carriers. The 2" mortar does not appear to have been mounted on the Canadian production tank hunter or factory produced 3" mortar carriers, each using the MK-I* hull. The 2" mortar brackets were designed to fit different mortar base plates. For example, the MK-8 and MK-8* 2" mortar base for airborne and infantry being dissimilar to the MK-2* and MK-7 2" mortar base.

The MK-I* Universal Carrier vehicle series introduced a Canadian produced mount fitted to the top plate of the engine cover. That also required reworking the firing rest into a collapsible position. The CAMT as posted by Jordan, as well as the Canadian Army Modification Bulletin L-1 of 15 Nov 43 refer in varying details. The factory produced mount for the MK-I* is CTL-739-SA, the modified firing rest assembly is CTL-1562-A.

The MK-II/MK-II* and converted MK-I/MK-I* series Universal carriers had two different style factory produced brackets attached to the gunner front left upper protection plate. The late 1944/early 1945 MK-II* bracket was also factory mounted using a composite belting material sandwiched between the armour and an additional plate on the exterior of the hull, beneath the clearance lamp. Similar factory brackets are observed in both models of the Windsor carrier as well as the first model T16.

Pics to follow...

[B. Harris]

Michael R.....

The detail is amazing. Excellent recovered details!
Cheers,
Harris

[Michael R.]

The upgraded MK-I/MK-I* fitted a British produced bracket fixed to the vehicle. The factory produced MK-II* (Canadian) carrier first model bracket is similar to the British made bracket. On the left, an early 1944 bracket at the Ford factory. (disregard the fact this is a welded hull Canadian production carrier) On the right, a British made bracket fitted with the later style mounting base on a British carrier.

The Mark 7 2" mortar, along with Viola Davis during war time assembly of the mortar at the elevator company.

The early vehicle bracket did not have a supporting plate on the front of the gunner left upper protection plate. Later production shows the plate in place, with the composite material between the hull and plate. The last series of three images show an original paint February, 1944 MK-II* without the plate, a factory image of an August, 1944 MK-II* with the plate, and Andrew D.'s (iirc) October, 1944 MK-II* with the plate.

[Michael R.]

An image of a British carrier fitted with the 2" mortar on the engine cover.
A drawing from the Canadian Army Modification Bulletin of the 2" mortar mounting assembly, part number CTL-739-SA with the modified firing rest CTL-1562-A.

Looking at minute 08:07:18, the modification installed on this MK-I* showing the firing rest being lowered:
https://youtu.be/01mNiOJhaX8
Compliments Richie post #24.

[Petr Brezina]

Excellent info!

[RichardT10829]

Great stuff Michael R, a thorough bit of research

Many thanks

[stephen crowhurst]

Here are a few pictures of an original mounting on a T16.