Floor boards

[Tom Millward]

Thanks for the info gents. That should give me plenty of data to start making up some boards (A Carrier accessory that isn't going to cost a fortune!).

The construction in the Picture Ron provide looks like multiple boards, whilst the images above would seem to show a ply construction (if you look closely you can see the TL number), similar to the construction of the radiator blanking board. I have an original blanking board, so think I will use a similar material thickness to that.

I hadn't noticed the difference in widths of the butt holder, but it makes perfect sense if the BREN was stored there whilst the Boys AT gun was in the front, as with the detailed youtube video on Carrier Weapon Handling.

I have one of the BREN tripod mounts for the engine rails, so will have to make a second. However, I thin my engine cover came from a UK Mortar Carrier, so not sure if the holes for the clamps will be there.

[rob love]

According to the Carrier Platoon manual, there could be a spare Bren in the vehicle, making a total of 2. There was only one Boys rifle per platoon. I'm not sure there would have been 1 boys and 2 Brens in the same vehicle.

I always went with fairly heavy ply (5/8 or 3/4) on those floorboards, as they need to support the weight of a man. The minimum thickness could likely be deduced from the manual by looking a the lengths of the attaching screws for the butt and tripod sockets.

[Ron Pier]

Well spotted on the part number. Ron

[Tom Millward]

Thanks Rob, that’s good thinking.

[Lynn Eades]

One of the surviving Bren carriers still has its floor boards. They were made from shiplap with runners underneath

[Lynn Eades]

Rob, I believe what you say is correct, however the MkI* U.Cs of the 41-42 era were all fitted out to carry a Boys (in the right rear compartment) The fitting out of carriers to suit different uses in the platoon came later, or have I got that wrong?
With the pre universal carriers, the large locker was for Bren (gun) spares, according to the early stowage plans and this leads me to believe (as you say) the carriers were issued with more than one Brengun.
Later in the war the Boys was probably scaled back as armour grew thicker in the same way as the USA's 37mm anti tank gun became obsolete.
Tom, the blanking board was originally only 3 ply (one thick ply in the middle) about 9 to 10mm thick.
If i remember correctly the ship lap boards were about 32mm thick and something like 115mm wide.