2Pdr Attack Carrier

[Rob Sanders]

Busy working on an attack carrier that I bought recently. Mostly all there but does anyone know where I might be able to find the steel conduit for the wiring and even headlights?
I have the gun almost complete except for the shield and a few other bits and pieces and am currently working on the wheels.
Have also remade the front mudguards so thats another job thats sorted

[Dale Jordan]

Nice project Rob . Go to your local electrical store clipsal have metal conduit elbows , tees , reducers in 3/4 and 1 inch just need to fine a friend with die and bender . keep the photos coming cheers Dale

[Lynn Eades]

As I recall one of the conduit threads is the same as UNF. If you still need to cut / clean threads look for a set of conduit dies, which are sometimes available from older electricians. They usually come in a 3 die set (1/2", 3/4", 1") The 1/2" is too small for carriers, but was the common size used in houses. At least over here anyhoo.

[Paul Dutton]

Or if you want period looking conduit and fixings . . .
My local Aviation Trust we’re getting all the electrics renewed in one of their outbuildings and throwing away all the original ww2 electrical conduits, junction boxes, elbows, T-pieces and clips etc. All beautiful condition and can’t get more period than that
Just a thought as a lot of modern stuff is metric (here in uk anyways)

[Glen Plumridge]

Can confirm that 3/4 UNF is the thread size for the smaller pipes.

3/4 BSP for the bigger.


Just did my electrical parts recently and installed them.

[Phillip]

Rob,

Pipe threads are both BS Electrical Conduit Thread. I have a set that you can borrow if you need them. PM sent.

[Rob Sanders]

Thanks everyone
still gathering information which takes time but all info gratefully recieved. Been working on wheels and bogie frames. Four done, four to go

no idea why the image loaded upside down but you get the idea
Cheers

[Rob Sanders]

Went to the local foundry last week to get elevation handwheels recast for the 2pdr gun.
Results were good so I now have four handwheels. Will get pics later this week

[Rob Sanders]

Just got four of these cast at the local foundry and pretty pleased with the results. Now all I need to do is get the machining done

[Mike K]

Handwheels are looking good. What type of metal is that ?

[tankbarrell]

On the normal 2 pdr gun, the elevation wheels have notches round the entire periphery as that is for the elevation lock. Does the carrier version have a different system to lock in elevation?

[Rob Sanders]

the material is aluminium.
As for the notches all the way round not sure.
This was cast from an original 2Pdr hand wheel which I removed from a gun to cast so know for sure its correct.
The notches only run around 1/4 of the outside and as its only to lock it makes sense to me
Cheers

[Rob Sanders]

Just did a bit of searching
So found a few with notches all the way round
found a couple with notches part of the way round
found one with 3 spokes not 4 four
So which is right? Possibly all of them
I suspect that date of manufacture and who made them could all have played
a part in the final style
Opinions please

[tankbarrell]

I suspect you're correct. I have one with notches all the way round but looking through my picture files, I found the same differences you have.

[rnixartillery]

The handwheel on my 2 pdr is only notched part way round , located as a travel lock I believe.

Rob...…………….rnixartillery.

[Rob Sanders]

be interesting to know why there are the variations.
My thoughts are that originally they made the hand wheels with the notches part way round cause as was said they were a travel lock.
But, and Im guessing here I bet they found things didnt always line up correctly and at that point changed to the style with notches all the way round

[Ron Pier]

I've read that the notches are for traveling lock and hence they don't necessarily need to be all the way round. My AT gun has it's original brass data plate riveted to the carriage, which states that it was made by BSA in 1941. It came to me with both hand wheels missing, but I've finally managed to borrow some and get some cast in the same brass/bronze material. The elevation wheel has 3 spokes and only partially notched. But I've seen them in ally with 4 spokes on British guns.

The AT gun that the originals came from has quite a few differences to mine! So either it was built in a different year, or more likely by a different company...... Or both? Ron

[tankbarrell]

They did evolve over time with the cast aluminium pedal and seat brackets gradually being replaced with fabricated steel examples. It's not unknown to see a mix on one carriage, i.e. a fabricated pedal bracket and a cast seat bracket.
I assume they fitted the cast ones until they ran out and then fitted steel ones.

The elevating handwheel with the notches all round I have is in aluminium.

Ron, your telescope bracket looks fabricated, is it an original?

[Ron Pier]

Adrian my gun had received a hit, from what looks to me like a 20-30mm round.

The shield and mantlet were damaged, which I've straightened and repaired, but I have left the spang mark on the barrel. I can only guess that the sighting bracket was completely blown off or seriously damaged?

Since the 2 pounder AT gun shop is no longer open!!! With help from my fabrication friends, we've rebuilt the whole thing. All based on photos and measurements I took from the gun at Woolwich. But with corrections and modifications over the years as more information and samples became available.

It's condition when I acquired it was not helped at all from it's years of being stuck in concrete as a gate guard outside a museum in South Africa. Ron

[Ron Pier]

PS. As I acquired it 22 years ago. Ron

[Barry J. Cox]

Ron:

Very very nice restoration.

My ATG is a 1942 Australian built unit. Both hand wheels have the notches all the way around.

No reason to suspect that the unit was ever altered.

[Rob Sanders]

Did a little more work today cleaning and painting where the front idler wheels sit. also began to drill out the broken studs so I can fit the mudguards

[David Dunlop]

Very interesting machine, Rob. Do you know how many were built and how many survive today?

David

[Mike Cecil]

David,

You need a copy of Local Pattern Carriers by Mike Cecil, and all (well, most) of your 2-pdr Tank Attack carrier questions will be answered!

www.michaelkcecil.com

(yes, I know, shameless self promotion ...)

Mike

[Rob Sanders]

Well as an owner of said book I have to say it has been most useful. Of the 200 or so built my one was the second one off the production line, so therefore hull no.6001

[Lionelgee]

Hello Rob,

Not sure if you have seen this photograph? Accessed 10th of June from, https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/l...ank-gun/574438 It is a shame that they only posted up a single photo. It would have been great to see a full walk-around!

PS: I did find a walk-around online ... https://www.net-maquettes.com/pictur...nk-gun-carrier. Scroll down on the webpage and it leads to a video. I found the direct link to the walk-around https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9zrUog51G8

PSS - Found another video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk5XDSx7h0s it looks like the same carrier that was sold at Sothebys and it being driven around its new home at the time.

Kind regards
Lionel

[Mike Cecil]

Rob,

Good to hear you have a copy and it is useful.

Lionel,

The video is of the carrier while still at the Littlefield Collection, from where it was sold.

Don't know where it resides now.

Mike

[Rob Sanders]

Hi Lionel
thanks for the links, as Mike said this was the one at the Littlefield Collection. Mine still has a long way to go but on the plus side I have about 90% of all the parts including a reasonably complete gun. Now its just a matter of time

[Mike K]

I believe the vehicle that was used for the official maint. manual photos is still surviving. It belonged to MLU member Phil Hastings at one time

[Tony Smith]

6146 is indeed still about (and owned by a forum member), and in very fine condition.

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=19776