Universal Carrier
Encyclopedia : U : UN : UNI : Universal Carrier
 Bren gun carrier | |
| Universal Carrier | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Crew | 2-5 |
| Length | 3.75 m (12.5 ft) |
| Width | 2.1 m (7 ft) |
| Height | 1.6 m (5 ft) |
| Weight | 3.75 t |
| Armour and armament | |
| Armour | 7-10 mm |
| Main armament | usually .303 Bren Gun or Boys Anti-tank rifle. |
| Secondary armament | none |
| Mobility | |
| Power plant | Ford V-8 gasoline ? hp |
| Suspension | Horstmann |
| Road speed | 50 km/h (30 mph) |
| Power/weight | ? |
| Range | 210 km |
The Universal Carrier, usually known as a Bren Gun Carrier (even when it was not carrying a Bren), was a small, tracked British-designed military vehicle, used widely by Allied forces during World War II. Universal Carriers were usually used for transporting personnel and equipment, or as machine gun platforms.
Development
The design of Universal Carriers was influenced by the Carden-Loyd Mk.IV Tankette, developed during the late 1920s. The first Bren Gun Carriers were produced by Vickers from 1936. There were several different types of Carrier that varied slightly in design according to their function. It was obvious that production of a single model would be preferred and the Universal appeared in 1940. The Universal would be the most widely produced of the Carriers.As with the earlier Carriers, the Universal had the driver and commander at the front sat side-by-side; driver to the right with a vertical steering wheel. The hull in front of the commanders position jutted forward to give room for the Bren gun (or whatever was fixed there) to fire through a simple slit. The engine was in the centre of the vehicle and the final drive at the rear. Either side of the engine were two areas in which passengers could ride or stores be carried.
Universal Carriers were commonly used as platforms for infantry support weapons such as the Vickers machine gun or the Bren or Boys anti-tank rifle or to carry weapons such as the 3-inch mortar along with its crew. The Universal was also used to tow anti-tank guns such as the 2 pounder. When the 6 pounder anti-tank gun came into use the Universal was also used for that role but the subsequent 17 pounder was too much for such a vehicle.
Universal Carriers were only lightly armoured on their fronts and sides, sufficient to protect to some degree from small arms, shrapnel and explosive blasts but were open at the top leaving the occupants completely unprotected from about shoulder height upwards.
The Canadian designed and built Windsor Carrier was a related vehicle. Similar body and mechanicals but some 30 inches longer and with an extra road wheel. Five thousand were built and sent to Europe.
Production
In the UK, several companies contributed to the manufacture of the Universal among them Ford UK.Ford of Canada made 28,000 Universal Carriers. They were also manufactured in Australia and New Zealand.
Variants
- The original model.
- Mk. II
See also
External links
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