Wartime T-16 Universal Carriers with Tops / Bows

[horsa]

While I've not found any written documentation about bows and tops being built and issued for use with the Ford T-16s, there are a lot of photographs of them being used in Europe by the Canadian units that had the carriers.

Thought it might be something worth comparing notes on with other people since a top can come in handy when its really hot or raining.

Postwar the Swiss had heavy bows made from roughly 1.5" pipe that fit into brackets they bolted onto the sides of the wading skirt squares along the upper hull. The Canadian photos I've seen look to be using the actual wading squares with their side-skirt brackets to hold 3/4" or 1" diameter pipe.

[andrew honychurch]

nice find those photos David. I have not seen these before, but it would seem quite natural to weatherproof your home if you were serving through the winter of 1944/45 in Europe. it must have been miserable without this modification. It would be pretty easy to make some easily detachable hood bows.

[horsa]

Found another from the Rhine crossing in March '45. Some of these new shots came as screen captures from the Canadian "WarAmps" video collection of all of the WWII Canadian army news reels.

There are lots of T-16s that can be made out from the Normandy period onwards but I'm trying to spot shots showing the bows and/or tops.

One of these attached photos is a T-16 and the other is a Sexton with similar bows fitted.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

David,

Thanks for bringing up this interesting subject. Like you I have spotted this field conversion - at least that's what I think it is - in pictures before. Once you really start looking it turns out there are more than expected.

As far as I know only the Windsor Carrier was manufactured with proper weather protection, most likely because of experience in the field with other Carrier types. I wonder if it was a typical Canadian feature?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here's a picture of a Windsor Carrier with canvas weather protection.

Of course the Loyd Carrier was fitted with canvas as well.

[RichardT10829]

Martyn Tasker has done a fantastic weather cover much like this one for his Mk2 Universal... think he said it was Welsh Guards style..(unless i miss understood)

[horsa]

I was familiar with the Loyd and Windsor carriers having bows and canvas tops. The Windsor has a closer look to the T-16 with the large outside rear hull locker. Attached image shows an overhead drawing and you can see the four bows stored on top of the locker.

Even with optimistic planners speculating the war could have ended by Christmas '44 following the Normandy landings, they would have still known the vehicle crews would be spending the fall/winter with their vehicles in the field. You'd think there would have been something official in the works for waterproof cover to protect the equipment even if they weren't worried about the men. I'd be nice to know if some REME outfit fabbed up the bows after the landings or if they were done in the UK and came in with later supplies in August after the region was more stable.

[Yeo.NT]

I believe the Army's Motto is "Any idiot can be Cold, Wet and Miserable in the field". As you can see as EME we have some spare room for extra kit in our vehicles to keep us comfortable.

[khern2365]

I spent a total of 30 years in the military 22 of which were as an Airborne Chaplain. We did a lot of field time and slept under a lot of canvas. I love my T-16 but i cannot for the life of me, beleive that the R&D people either Brit, Canadian, or American that designed our beloved carriers, made them with no tops. I spent 7 years in Germany which had crummy weather to say the least with lots of rain.
I know if I had been the commander, after spending just one night in a metal rain box, it would have been my last, b/c the next day I would have schrounged some canvas somewhere and a few 2X4s and slept the next night DRY. It only takes once for a smart man!

[RichardT10829]

http://www.milweb.net/classifieds/la...ad=61079&cat=1

here is a T16 for sale on milweb...it has the bows for a cover a half decent close up photo too

i have no connection to the seller.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4.../T16covers.jpg

[Jordan Baker]

I like the colour green on vehicles. Just adding my two cents to this thread.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

it has the bows for a cover a half decent close up photo too

Although similar to the field conversions we have seen on here, this is most likely a addition by the guy who restored it.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by khern2365

I love my T-16 but i cannot for the life of me, beleive that the R&D people either Brit, Canadian, or American that designed our beloved carriers, made them with no tops.

At least the Swiss were smart enough to add a proper canvas cover!

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

The Swiss conversion of the T16 included an elaborate canvas cover.

See http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...al_Carrier.jpg for a picture of the T16 on display at Thun.

[horsa]

The Swiss used two main bow brackets which were connected in the center to support the peak. Plus there was the folding bracket over the front crew compartment.

The shot of the T-16 currently for sale with bows seems to have a set made for a wider truck as they have been modified at the lower ends to fit. Still a decent attempt.

[clarkray]

I have kept mine as swiss configuration

[horsa]

Hey Ray,

Yours is a proper British WWII restoration with added Swiss bows. Much nicer than the typical Swiss carrier that is only repainted and said to be back in British format. Sure there are still a lot of people out there that don't know the difference