Carrier Track Variations

[Mike Cecil]

As Lynn has pointed out, Australian carriers used track derived from the Vickers light tank Mk.VIA, which had different dimensions to British etc carrier track.

As an aside, this difference caused some logistical problems early in the war when the Brits placed an order for carrier track manufactured in Australia, and received Aust track that didn't fit the Brit carrier. Ooops.

Subsequent overseas orders for track link placed in Australia resulted in the Australian production of British specification track, pins, plugs, sprockets, and suspension arms which were sent to both the UK and ME in large quantities. A mix up/lack of information at the production stage resulted in much of this track being condemned by the Brits due to breakages. It was then re-supplied to the correct specifications and dispatched overseas to ME and UK.

The main Aust manufacturer of track, etc to Brit specifications was H.V. McKay.

So Australian industry was manufacturing both types of tracks, etc: Aust track for LP carriers, and Brit track for Brit carriers. The Aust armies (AMF and AIF) were operating carriers of both origins, so needed spares to suit. The supply chain problem was thus much more complicated than it needed to be by having to maintain two parallel supply lines for carrier spares, and was dependent upon units, when ordering spares, to specify exactly which type of carrier spare was required. Plenty of room for stuff ups, wasted time and resources.

Mike