Indian Pattern Carriers

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

From the article "India's Ford Wheeled Carriers" in Wheels & Tracks issue 42, we learn that various Marks of Armoured Carrier, Wheeled, Indian Pattern were based on the following chassis:

C011QRF:
- Mark II: originally with GM banjo-type axles and 9.00-16 tyres
- Mark IIA: when quantity production got underway Ford split type axles and 10.50-16 tyres were installed
- Mark IIB

C191QRF: wider axles (78") with 6" front steering ends, 15" diameter brake drums and brake booster, heavier springs, hydraulic clutch actuation, 10.50-20 RF tyres
- Mark IIC

Note: the Armoured Carrier, Wheeled, NZ Pattern was fitted on the C191QRF chassis as well

C291QR: rearranged driver’s position with centrally mounted near-vertical driver’s position
- Mark IV

Legend:
C - Canadian design;
0 - 1940 model year; 1 – 1941 model year; 2 – 1942 model year
1 - engine type; intention was to fit all Canadian Ford Special Pattern MV’s with the 85-bhp engine, hence the “1”. The 95-bhp engine was finally standardized but he “1” stuck until the models were changed for 1941 and the figure became “9” as it should have been.
1 - wheelbase (101");
Q - four-wheel drive;
R - rear mounted engine;
F – right hand drive.

Spare parts list for the 4x4 rear engine chassis. Note the lack of the “F” in the designation. (Via Les Jackson.)




Two more documents (via William Spence):

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Cross posting from Another Indian Pattern odd job: "C291QH 4x4 FAT for Royal Engineers" with three updated photos:

The Armoured Carrier, Wheeled, Indian Pattern Mk IV was based on the following chassis:

C291QR: rearranged driver’s position with centrally mounted near-vertical driver’s position

Legend:
C - Canadian design;
2 – 1942 model year
9 - 95-bhp engine
1 - wheelbase (101");
Q - four-wheel drive;
R - rear mounted engine.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Three more pictures of this vehicle in service with the Netherlands army in Indonesia (Dutch National Archives)

[Mike Cecil]

The lower image shows a carrier mounting a Japanese 13-mm Model 93 machine gun. Calibre was actually 13.2-mm (0.52 inch). Had a 30 round magazine. Fired Ball, AP or Tracer. Also issued in a dual or triple mount. If I remember correctly, the butt has a kink in it to offset it to one side, I think the left, so that the operator can see past the action & magazine to align with the offset front sight.



Interesting that the Dutch picked up Japanese equipment and put it to good use: there would have been plenty of Japanese weapons and ammunition available.



Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks for IDing the gun Mike.

It surely looked Japanese to me but firearms are not my forte.