LeavingTMP | 21 Apr 2015 10:00 a.m. PST |
I think this has been discussed before, but, particularly in N. Africa how common where these. Playing FoW Axis (I know not the most historically accurate set of rules), I seem to be facing these a lot and them being used as almost light tanks. Who fitted them, how many of them were there and when were they used? Thanks Leigh |
Doms Decals | 21 Apr 2015 10:24 a.m. PST |
Decidedly rare in North Africa – they were most common (still not very) in the infantry brigades of armoured divisions in NW Europe – the usual source for the .50 cals was Sherman equipped armoured regiments ditching their AA mounts. |
christot | 21 Apr 2015 10:26 a.m. PST |
Not common at all in N.Africa, not that common elsewhere either, 11th armoured division motor btns picked up a few surplus ones from tank regts in Normandy- I'm sure others did as well. Picture evidence that springs to mind is some from operation Bluecoat, so relatively later in the campaign |
wargamer6 | 21 Apr 2015 10:29 a.m. PST |
I have never seen photos of these in N Africa but they were used in Normandy from about July onwards. There was probably a glut of .50cal MG's not used on British Shermans available for additional firepower to counter the Panzefaust menace, More commonly though you see pictures of .30Cal Brownings mounted on carriers in Normandy and Holland . |
Coyotepunc and Hatshepsuut | 21 Apr 2015 10:29 a.m. PST |
If they were mounting .50 cals instead of Brens, would they not by definition no longer be Bren carriers? |
Doms Decals | 21 Apr 2015 10:33 a.m. PST |
They weren't Bren carriers anyway – the name was a catch-all for a variety of vehicles. |
christot | 21 Apr 2015 10:38 a.m. PST |
Universal carriers in Normandy anyway ;-) So I guess its ok… Sounds to me like your CW opponents are exploiting some crappy FOW list to the full. |
14Bore | 21 Apr 2015 10:49 a.m. PST |
So it would be Ma's Deuce carrier? |
miniMo | 21 Apr 2015 1:15 p.m. PST |
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shaun from s and s models | 21 Apr 2015 1:34 p.m. PST |
there are pics of them with .50's but not many |
Tgunner | 21 Apr 2015 6:09 p.m. PST |
I seem to remember the US used some on Bataan. They were Canadian vehicles heading to Hong Kong and they were taken over at Manila and converted to carry either .30 or .50 mgs. |
Leadgend | 21 Apr 2015 9:46 p.m. PST |
There was the occasional captured MG fitted as well, even a 20mm cannon in one case. |
Martin Rapier | 21 Apr 2015 11:10 p.m. PST |
I came across an account of one carrier crew in North Africa whose vehicle was equipped with two Brens, two rusty Brownings retrieved from a downed fighter and two MG34s.They kept all the spare guns in the back, not mounted like a ww1 tank. No .50 cals. They used all the weapons in the Snipe battle, dismounted. |
Weasel | 22 Apr 2015 12:25 p.m. PST |
That is one well armed carrier crew :-) |
Griefbringer | 22 Apr 2015 10:53 p.m. PST |
I hope they had some spare room left for the ammo needed for all those guns… |
Martin Rapier | 23 Apr 2015 4:28 a.m. PST |
They did indeed, and handed some of them out to other infantry units dug in the protect the AT guns. The author said they thought it was better to be safe than sorry. He later transferred to the parachute regiment. As with all these things, I would suggest a fleet of carriers armed with six MGs each is probably not very representative. |
mkenny | 23 Apr 2015 9:26 a.m. PST |
There were at least 3 at Villers Bocage
These (and many more new photos) can be seen in the latest Normandie 1944 Magazine.
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Griefbringer | 23 Apr 2015 10:27 a.m. PST |
I would suggest a fleet of carriers armed with six MGs each is probably not very representative. But it would provide a good way of using those spare MGs that have accumulated in bits boxes. And if there would be any evidence of Germans ever having done something like that, there would be a boatload of krautophiles proclaiming that their kampfgruppe of baute-maskinengewehr-carriers – each crewed by a driver and three crewmen (each firing two MGs at the same time, akimbo-style) – is based on solid historical evidence. |
Jemima Fawr | 23 Apr 2015 11:38 a.m. PST |
The Carrier Platoons of 131 (Queen's) Brigade (7th Armoured Division) had them in NW Europe, as well as those of 1 Rifle Brigade pictured at Villers-Bocage above. It doesn't look like they were all armed with .50s, though one or two per Section seems to have been quite common. |