MK II Mortar Carrier Front Seats

[Luigi Manes]

Thank You Lynn and Paul!

I’m particularly interested in MK II Mortar Carriers of the following ranges: T 222798 – T 223383, T 223384 – T 223983 and T 226038 – T 228466.

Perhaps all these ranges refer to British built Carriers . I know that vehicles of T 226038 – T 228466 were built by Wolseley. Should we consider that at this point the transition from MK I to MK II was nearly to completion and MK II Mortar Carriers were basically similar to MK II Universal Carriers? Maybe these vehicles showed the fixed gunner's seat?

If this is true, I came to the following conclusions after having examined some photos: like MK II Universals, all late production MK II Mortar Carriers had squared mudguards with steps, folding flap for the gunner’s slot, tow rope on the glacis, one single front headlamp but unlike MK II Universals, Mortar Carriers had two little marker lights directly fixed to the front armour, oil and fuel cans on the left side of rear deck (same holder as in MK I models), mortar baseplate on the opposite side of the deck, mortar bipod on rear deck, 3’’ mortar tube stowed on the rear plate in substitution of the large kit box.
It seems that metal tubings welded on top of side and rear plates of MK II Universals were not present on MK II Mortar Carriers.

Luigi

[Petr Brezina]

Luigi, this "Czech" carrier is T227317, so one of these you are after. I do believe that she has seats setup from Mk.I
I think that your other conclusions are correct.

[Luigi Manes]

Thanks Petr!

Going slightly off topic, I noticed that some MK II Mortar Carriers were fitted with Stacey towing attachments. If these were employed as tractors for the 6 pdr AT Guns, I assume they were stripped of their 3’’ mortars and ammunitions.

Concerning the T 226038 – T 228466 range, here are some pictures:

1) “Megiddo”, with Stacey Attachment, towing a 6 pdr gun and carrying two 6 pdr ammo boxes , W. D.: T 226408 (Source: IWM)
2) Another Mortar Carrier in the same role, W.D.: T 227xxx
3) “Snow-White II”, W.D.: T 228293 (Source: IWM)
4) A MK II Mortar of Italian Co-belligerent Legnano Combat Group fitted with two C 224 ammo boxes on the glacis. W. D.: T 228315 (already discussed here: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=28417).



You can see this particular Carrier, recognizable by the lower portion of the broken circle of the Allied Star painted on the ammo box on the the glacis, starting from 00:59 in this video: http://senato.archivioluce.it/senato...-ADC-4241.html.
The vehicle follows another Mortar Carrier of the same unit and is followed by another Italian Carrier, in this case a MK I Universal.

Luigi

[kevin powles]

Hi this thread might help, my carrier has standard mk1 seats

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...Mortar+stowage

[Luigi Manes]

Thank You, Kevin.
Excellent and helpful pictures!

[RichardT10829]

Luigi, your first image of the carrier loaded full of troops, I met the driver of that very carrier in Arnhem 2014, wonderful man

[Luigi Manes]

Thank You, Richard!

Really interesting.
It is always a pleasure to meet a WW2 veteran. They are the custodians of an inestimable wealth of experiences and knowledges not traceable elsewhere.

I don't know to which unit "Megiddo" belongs. Some ideas?

Luigi