Another LP2A Carrier Recovered

[Ian Patrick]

Ford Carrier LP2A 2814 was recovered from a property in NSW last weekend.

The Carrier was found in a derelict state on a family owned farm amongst a small pile of farm scrap. It had apparently once been used to clear small trees on the property but the family members we talked too could not remember it being in an operating condition.

The hull had been stripped of most of its internal items but retained the front seats, steering components, handbrake plus a few other brackets. The steering axle had been removed at some stage in the past by cutting out the left hand side support bearing so this will need to be repaired and a section of armour on the driver’s side rear compartment has also been cut out.

The two centre suspension stations were found in the grass behind the carrier, both had been cracked in half, leaving only the half with one road wheel and the return idler. This may have been the reason the carrier had been retired from use on the farm. The air intake shroud was also lying in the grass next to the carrier, fortunately being the bolt-in type it had been removed in one piece and was still in very good condition.

The data plate was still fixed to the carrier which identified it as being an LP2A with serial number 2814 and the maker being Ford NSW.

[Ian Patrick]

The carrier has some interesting markings on it as can be seen in the first photo above.

The first photo below is the marking located on the front armour next to the front MG port. I initially thought it was a greyhound over a boomerang but the greyhound looks a lot different to the greyhound on the 1st Australian Cavalry Division tactical sign. It has been suggested by a couple of people that it may be a dingo or Tasmanian tiger over a boomerang but neither of these are identified in Formation Signs and Vehicle Marking of the Australian Army book by Taubert.

Although diffcult to see there is an "80" stencilled on to the front sloping armour below the unit marking.

The carrier is lined up as a future restoration project with many of the critical missing parts already acquired (although we are still chasing at least one length of track)

Ian

[Keith Webb]

It's younger brother (next in line) was reported here last year: Link

[ron]

Hi Ian, great find, that one will restore a treat,nice if they were all as good as your latest find, keep us posted on your progress please regards Ron

[Ian Patrick]

It's likely that we'll restore carrier 2515 before this one but it's certainly a very good candidate for a restoration project. I'll keep the progress updated when we get started.

We also picked up three 25 pdr ammunition limbers from the same place. None of them are complete but will be a good starting point. The one pictured on the trailer is the most complete of the three.

Ian

[lynx42]

This is another BORDER RAID. Well done!
I see that it is a FORD built carrier No. 2814 and I guess 1942.
The last photo shows the Vickers Ammunition box holders in place. Something you don't see too often.

Rick.

[Jye maude]

Similar marking

[Mike Cecil]

Jye,

Different marking, I think. The image you posted appears to be a carrier in Korea, with the prominent roundel recognition marking, not an armoured sub-unit marking as shown on 2815.

Mike

[Jye maude]

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the info