By John 54 | 03 Dec 2014 10:58 a.m. PST |
Hello all, Painting up a load more figures for the first 1/32 mega-game at the Wargames Holiday Centre, (16/17/18th January) My question is this, did the glider-bourne airlanding Batallions use Universal carriers to tug the 6pdrs about? I'm sure I've seen a photo of Denison boys in a carrier. As ever, any help would be great, cheers. John |
ColCampbell | 03 Dec 2014 11:45 a.m. PST |
Via a Google search of "British universal carrier airlanded" I found these sites: link link link It appears that the 6-lbr AT gun was towed by Jeeps while the Universal Carriers were reserved for machinegun and mortar carrying duty although they were equipped with a towing pintle for emergency use. The first link seems to have a plethora of information about the use of the carrier in both the parachute and airlanding battalions of the 1st British Airborne Division. Jim |
shaun from s and s models | 03 Dec 2014 11:55 a.m. PST |
it seems that the airborne uni carriers had the rear axle armour and the tow hook removed to save weight so they could be flown in and the guns were towed by jeeps. the uni carriers were used as armoured supply vehicles for spares, stores, ammo ect. there were also uni carriers for the mortars and mmg's. the carriers also had the front side mudguards removed as well, although there are pics of them with them still on. I would recommend getting the k flynt book on airborne armour, well worth a read. |
By John 54 | 03 Dec 2014 12:39 p.m. PST |
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uglyfatbloke | 03 Dec 2014 1:51 p.m. PST |
Two carriers for each para battalion, and I think about a dozen for each air-landing battalion – try paradata and pegasusarchive; the guys are exceptionally helpful. |
wargamer6 | 03 Dec 2014 2:33 p.m. PST |
I read somwhere that the carriers were used to retrieve parachute dropped loads under fire . Its interesting to note they didn't have tow hooks fitted although I know some kept their front side mudguards as thats how I know that MkII's were used . |
Jemima Fawr | 03 Dec 2014 3:04 p.m. PST |
As has been said, they had their tow hooks removed to save weight and the Universal Carriers were instead used to carry ammunition and other supplies, as well as to pick dropped loads up from DZs. The Divisional RASC also took air-landed Carriers in for that reason (e.g. 250 Airborne Coy RASC took 6x Carriers to Arnhem). Two Carriers were loaded per Hamilcar glider. Of course the Carriers could be allotted to other tasks, as the situation required. There are photos of them in Op Varsity being used for patrolling/troop transportation and John Frost recounted in 'A Drop Too Many' how he grouped his pair of Carriers with a couple of armed Jeeps from the Airborne Recce Sqn, to form a 'coup de main squad' to take the southern end of Arnhem Bridge, should an opportunity arise. As mentioned above, 6th Airborne Armoured Recce Regiment also used Carriers. In Normandy the regiment included 6x Carriers for recce duties and 2x Carriers to transport 3-inch Mortars. Jeeps carried the regiment's MMGs. The 6th AARR was reorganised in Oct 44; there were now 12x Recce Carriers, with 2x Carriers now allotted to replace the MMG-carrying Jeeps. The 3-inch Mortars were replaced by 4.2-inch mortars, which were now towed in trailers by Jeeps. |
shaun from s and s models | 04 Dec 2014 4:10 a.m. PST |
I would recommend this book:- link for anyone interested in gb para armour and gliders. |
Andy P | 04 Dec 2014 5:02 a.m. PST |
250 RASC took only jeep sections to Arnhem. 1st platoon took 5x jeeps and 10 trailers, 2nd platoon took 8x jeeps and 16 trailers and 3rd platoon 4x jeeps and 8 trailers. The road party had 13x 3 tonners 1x water truck and 29 x jeeps with26 trailers. The bulk carrying Hamilcars were loaded with panniers. |
Andy P | 04 Dec 2014 5:16 a.m. PST |
Each Para and Airlanding Battalion at Arnhem took x2 Carriers loaded with stores. The bulk loaded gliders were chalk numbers 913-915. One of the 6th airborne Recce carriers had a car windscreen fitted above the gunners station and a Boyes A/tk rifle. |
Jemima Fawr | 04 Dec 2014 7:25 a.m. PST |
Thanks Andy. Martin Middlebrook lists them, but I expect that his research has been superceded. |
Bobgnar | 04 Dec 2014 3:11 p.m. PST |
DIARY OF A RED DEVIL: By Glider to Arnhem with the 7th King's Own Scottish Borderers has much of a private's view of using the carrier |