abandoned U/C carrier

[RichardT10829]

I would give my right arm if someone would go retrieve the armour off this for mine ! i cant believe its just sat there mokking me ! Living in the UK sucks big time !

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

I would give my right arm if someone would go retrieve the armour off this for mine ! i cant believe its just sat there mokking me ! Living in the UK sucks big time !

Richard,

First of all, welcome to MLU! You've come to the right place for carriers and everything related.

That project you've embarked upon is one hell of a job, especially if you're a first-timer. What I would suggest is that you get hold of Nigel Watson (one of our members, a personal friend and a published expert on the subject of carriers) and see if he or one of his many contacts throughout the UK (Nigel himself is in Scotland) can come up with something a little easier to start with. Carriers aren't for everybody, and they ARE out there - you just have to find the right one for you.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[RichardT10829]

Thanks for that Geoff i have sent him a message. that carrier was offered exceptionally cheap mind, it is located in Fergus Ontario, the vendor lives 7 hours from it so getting lists and pics is problematic, i have been advised most bits are there for it, just not the armour and the engine is seized from standing. I prefer a mk1 if i can get one as this is what my grandfather drove. My budget to get one for resto is $4000 problem I have is if i spend that full amount I will have to store it for a long period over there until i can folk out a further 2k on shipping thats why it eats me to see ones like above just sitting there its gutting !

[Gunner]

The LVT three runger in question is in the Swords and Ploughshares Museum near Ottawa. It was instantly recognisable due to the dent in the handrail over the driver's compartment.

As I understand it, it was recovered as an exercise by the local air cadet squadron and flown to Ottawa in a Herc that had delivered supplies to Yellowknife. It went into the CWM but was too big (and had no real Canadian connection) to fit into the the new CWM. It was traded to the S&P Museum as part of a deal that saw two Rams go from the S&P in exchange for a number of bits from the CWM.

We have sand blasted it, painted it, replaced the windows with lexan and are about to weld patches over the various openings so it can become a gate guard for the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in Cornwall, Ontario. I believe that they used LVT 2 and 3 during their landings at Juno beach and the Rhine Crossing and wanted something 'amphibious' to replace their M113.5 Lynx gate guard that has no connection to fine Highland regiment whatsoever.

The engine bay is one solid lump of rust, unrestorable in my mind unless the pocket book is bottomless... I have tackled some difficult projects but this one made me whimper when I crawled in there! The hull is badly cracked and holed (big holes three feet long!) and it is re-enforced underneath with several 10X10 timbers.

We say it all the time; but if only it could talk!

Mike

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gunner

the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in Cornwall, Ontario. I believe that they used LVT 2 and 3 during their landings at Juno beach

Mike,

I would love to see some evidence of that as there has been a big discussion over the use of LVTs in Normandy during the past few years.

H.

[Gunner]

Hi Hanno:

I'll contact their regimental historian and ask him to give us a definitive answer with photos if possible. I've never really dug into it in any detail; the SD&G Highlanders are a fine regiment worthy of their hire but I have enough trouble cramming Gunner trivia into my head!

Cheers and UBIQUE!
Mike

[RichardT10829]

i have been looking at this for some time now and the carriers were made to swim by putting extra sheilds etc along the top and using seam sealer on the joints and block off the holes in the transom pannel where the prop shaft had gone through....well about 90% of the weight is gone so if you seal the joints with instant gasket and expanding foam she would float. this and some extra flotation barrels strapped on the side jobs a goodun.... If i lived in Canada this would be whipped away by now, i would pay to have this retrieved for the spring time so i could load it into the container with the other carrier.......i need to stop looking at this thread it brings me down.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

i have been looking at this for some time now and the carriers were made to swim by putting extra sheilds etc along the top and using seam sealer on the joints and block off the holes in the transom pannel where the prop shaft had gone through....

What you describe was what was done to make carriers wade, not swim.

But I agree, I hope this carrier gets recovered sometime soon.

H.

[Gordons]

Hi Gunner

There where two LVT-1's here in YK, the three step went to Swords and Ploughshares and the second is a two step model which I have, is currently on loan to the local YK minning museum, my father brought these into the country for minning in 1947 along with 4 U/C's and 2 Duks, the pic posted are of the last remaining U/C, the remaining Duk is pretty rough also, most of the parts have been used to restore another Duk here in YK.

Originally Posted by Gunner

The LVT three runger in question is in the Swords and Ploughshares Museum near Ottawa. It was instantly recognisable due to the dent in the handrail over the driver's compartment.

As I understand it, it was recovered as an exercise by the local air cadet squadron and flown to Ottawa in a Herc that had delivered supplies to Yellowknife. It went into the CWM but was too big (and had no real Canadian connection) to fit into the the new CWM. It was traded to the S&P Museum as part of a deal that saw two Rams go from the S&P in exchange for a number of bits from the CWM.

We have sand blasted it, painted it, replaced the windows with lexan and are about to weld patches over the various openings so it can become a gate guard for the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in Cornwall, Ontario. I believe that they used LVT 2 and 3 during their landings at Juno beach and the Rhine Crossing and wanted something 'amphibious' to replace their M113.5 Lynx gate guard that has no connection to fine Highland regiment whatsoever.

The engine bay is one solid lump of rust, unrestorable in my mind unless the pocket book is bottomless... I have tackled some difficult projects but this one made me whimper when I crawled in there! The hull is badly cracked and holed (big holes three feet long!) and it is re-enforced underneath with several 10X10 timbers.

We say it all the time; but if only it could talk!

Mike

[Gordons]

Gunner

The damage on the hull was due to removal in winter using TNT to clear the ice, the model I have here has a large vertical cut from the TNT blast mid section.

Originally Posted by fordchevcmp

Hi Gunner

There where two LVT-1's here in YK, the three step went to Swords and Ploughshares and the second is a two step model which I have, is currently on loan to the local YK minning museum, my father brought these into the country for minning in 1947 along with 4 U/C's and 2 Duks, the pic posted are of the last remaining U/C, the remaining Duk is pretty rough also, most of the parts have been used to restore another Duk here in YK.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gordons

The damage on the hull was due to removal in winter using TNT to clear the ice, the model I have here has a large vertical cut from the TNT blast mid section.

This one needs no TNT to recover, just drag it off the beach! Quick, before the guys looking for sea shells notice it!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Gunner

I'll contact their regimental historian and ask him to give us a definitive answer with photos if possible.

Mike,

That would be great!

I just read elsewhere the SD&G took part in the amphibious landing across the Savojaards Plaat during the battle for the Scheldt. Albeit of the incorrect type for this theatre of operations, for me that is reason enough to display an LVT at their HQ!

Thanks,
Hanno

[RichardT10829]

Was it the LVT's they used at the Iwo Jima ? landings ? if so the bay will still be littered with them, all be it they will be under water....nevertheless an interesting venue for the would be MV collector / diver.

Richard

[Colin Macgregor Stevens]

Markings appear to be THE WESTMINSTER REGIMENT as was noted by another reader. I can't quite make out what is below that. A key thing to look for the the DND number painted on the sides (about where heads of driver and passenger were) e.g. 1943 style 51-234 and overpainted by it the earlier DND number like 42-1-1234. Also as mentioned by another responder, the War Department number assigned at the factory e.g. CT123456 stamped into the top edge of the armour in front of the driver.

The Museum of the Royal Westminster Regiment Historical Society is looking for a Universal Carrier - wouldn't it be nice if that one could come back to New Westminster? Also if the original DND numbers can be found it MIGHT be possible to find "in-service" photos of this carrier.

By the way, I work two blocks from their armouries as I run the New Westminster Museum and Archives.

I have a UC project too. I am also Curator of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Museum and Archives and we have a UC Mk. I (1943) under restoration.

[George McKenzie]

Gordon's dad went north to go minning .He took three carriers and two LVT's.Like alot of us we were too joung to be interested in what happen to the old things that were left around by our parents .Guys in the south woke up to the fact that these things were getting valuable sooner than the fellows in the north .Like 2000 miles I'm talking .So alot of the military vahicles disappeared .Some ended as far away as Ottawa and to the USA . I got one of the carriers that his dad had .It was salvaged from the garbage dump in Yellow Knife .All that was left was one track , two sides and part of the rearend . The #at the back left corner is 10407 .I even thought I would take a crack at getting the one off the Island .You would have to get it ready in the summer than go back when the ice got thick enough and drag it to shore . This lake is one of the largest in the world and can be very dangerous .There is a ocean going tug with barges that were carrying 1957 Dodge cars at the bottom ,500ft . It would be great if Gordon could get it and we could help him with the restoration .What do you say Gordon ?

[Gordons]

Finally family and friends where able to pick up the U/C Mk-1 and a final drive for the LVT-1 Aligator, along with all the Marston Matting good trip, 12 hrs, 17 kilometers -21 today and sunny used a Nodwell, snow cat, Bobcat on tracks and 2 skimmers. This is a New Westminster Regiment U/C.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Some projects have long lead times, but FIVE YEARS?

[Hans Mulder]

If you have time, I'd love to chat to you about this carrier. I recently completed a gate guard carrier for the Westies, and I have my carrier marked to the Westies as well.

[eddy8men]

well done for saving another carrier

[cletrac (RIP)]

Well done, Gordon! What did you use to load it on the sled?
It's little island will look quite bare now!

[jeff davis]

Well done The hunt is usually more fun than the restoration

[Gordons]

a couple of pic of markings
42-1-8721 both sides front
39/8 on Right hand rear with large R over top, and then to the right is 39/8 again on Right hand rear, then on gunners opening is 39/8 again

very faint Westminster Reg. (MOTOR)

[Gordons]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Some projects have long lead times, but FIVE YEARS?

Very difficult place to get to, have looked at it for 40 years, I know only 17 kilometers from home ! But almost impossible to get to, has been sitting there since 1947 a bit stripped missing engine, drive line, rear diff with sprockets are there, some of tracks, wheels, a lot of good parts and body and hull uncut, ammo boxes and trays still in place, gas tanks gone, but all the little things that go missing are there, rad cap,

[cletrac (RIP)]

Can we say a bit remote?That's most of the island in the second picture.

[Gordons]

A few more numbers
in front of driver stamped in top plate : CT 113534 11 9 1942
above 42-1-8721 is T 91-103

[Jim Burrill]

BINGO!!!!

The man said Rad CAP!!!

PLEASE Oh, Please kind sir!


I am in need of a rad cap for my mk1! Some lousy so-and-so nicked the one off the carrier I bought while it was open to inspection at the auction that Jim bought it from.

Have a good solid original radiator for the restoration... nothing to plug the hole on top.

Please contact me privately if I can persuade you to sell or trade for it.

Jim

[Jon Bradshaw]

That is a good looking hull. I would love to have it. I assume you want it but haven't the time or need? A barge could get in there with a tractor on it and haul it out to the barge, then make a second trip for the tractor retrieval. I guess it depends just how remote the lake is....

[Gordons]

It was on an Island in Great Slave lake, has been retrieved used a Nodwell and snow cat, Easter weekend.

[Gordons]

someone asked about the stamping numbers and Ford serial number
see pic

[Robert Bergeron]

Good job !