The Universal Carrier, also known as the Bren Gun Carrier from the light machine
gun armament, is a common name describing a family of light armoured
tracked vehicles built by Vickers-Armstrong and other companies.
The first carriers – the Bren Carrier and the Scout Carrier with specific
roles – entered service before the war, but a single improved design that could
replace these, the Universal, was introduced in 1940.
The vehicle was used widely by British Commonwealth forces during the Second
World War. Universal Carriers were usually used for transporting personnel
and equipment, mostly support weapons, or as machine gun platforms. With some
113,000 built by 1960 in the United Kingdom and abroad, it is the most
produced armoured fighting vehicle in history.
Design and development The origins of the Universal Carrier
family can be traced back generally to the Carden Loyd tankettes family which
was developed in the 1920s, and specifically the Mk VI tankette.
In 1934 Vickers Armstrong produced, as a commercial venture, a light tracked
vehicle that could be used either to carry a machine gun or to tow a light
field gun. The VA.D50 had an armoured box at the front for driver and a gunner
and bench seating at the back for the gun crew. It was considered by the War
Office as a possible replacement for their "Dragon" artillery tractors and
took 69 as the "Light Dragon Mark III". One was built as the "Carrier,
Machine-Gun Experimental" carrying a machine gun and its crew. The decision
was made to drop the machine gun and its team and the next design had a crew of
three – driver and gunner in the front, third crew-member on the left in the
rear and the right rear open for stowage. A small number of this design
as "Carrier, Machine-Gun No 1 Mark 1" were built and entered service in 1936.
Some were converted into pilot models for the Machine gun Carrier, Cavalry
Carrier and Scout Carrier – the others were used for training.
The carrier put the driver and commander at the front sitting side-by-side; the
driver to the right. The engine was in the centre of the vehicle with the final
drive at the rear. The suspension and running gear was based on that used on
the Vickers light tank series using Horstmann springs. Directional control
was through a steering wheel. Small turns moved the front road wheel
assembly warping the track so the vehicle drifted to that side. Further
movement of the wheel braked the appropriate track to give a turn.
The hull in front of the commander's position jutted forward to give room for
the Bren gun to fire through a simple slit. To either side of the engine were
two areas in which passengers could ride or stores be carried. Initially, there
were several types of Carrier that varied slightly in design according to
their purpose: "Medium Machine Gun Carrier", "Bren Gun Carrier", "Scout
Carrier" and "Cavalry Carrier". However, production of a single model came to be
preferred and the Universal design appeared in 1940; this was the most
widely produced of the Carriers. It differed from the previous models in
having a rectangular body shape in rear section, with more space for crew.
Production Production of Carriers began in 1934 and
it ended in 1960. Before the Universal design was introduced, the vehicles were
produced by Aveling and Porter, Bedford Vehicles, the British branch of the Ford
Motor Company, Morris Motors Limited, the Sentinel Waggon Works, and the
Thornycroft company. With the introduction of the Universal,
production in the UK was undertaken by Aveling-Barford, Ford, Sentinel,
Thornycroft, and Wolseley Motors. By 1945 production amounted to
approximately 57,000 of all models, including some 2,400 early ones.
The Universal Carriers, in different variants, were also produced in allied
countries. Ford Motor Company of Canada manufactured about 29,000 vehicles known
as the Ford C01UC Universal Carrier. Smaller numbers of them were also
produced in Australia, where hulls were made in several places in Victoria and
by South Australian Railways workshops in Adelaide, South Australia. About
1,300 were also produced in New Zealand. The United States of America
manufactured Universal Carriers for allied use with GAE and GAEA V-8 Ford
engines. About 20,000 were produced. Operational history
The Universal Carrier was ubiquitous in all the theatres of war during the
Second World War with British and Commonwealth armies; from the war in the
East to the occupation of Iceland Although the theory and policy was that
the carrier was a "fire power transport" and the crew would dismount to fight,
practice differed. = United Kingdom =
The seven Mechanized Divisional Cavalry regiments in the BEF during 1939–1940
were equipped with the Scout Carriers - 44 carriers and 28 light tanks in each
regiment. There were 10 Bren Carriers in each infantry battalion in the same
period. The Reconnaissance Corps regiments –
which replaced the cavalry regiments in supporting Infantry divisions after 1940
– were each equipped with 63 carriers along with 28 Humber Scout cars.
Universal Carriers were issued to the support companies in infantry rifle
battalions for carrying support weapons. A British armoured division of 1940–41
had 109 carriers in total; each motor battalion had 44.
The British Carrier Platoon originally had ten Universal Carriers with three
Carrier Sections of three Universal Carriers each plus another Universal
Carrier in the platoon HQ. Each Universal Carrier had a non-commissioned
officer, a rifleman and a driver/mechanic. One Universal Carrier
in each section was commanded by a sergeant and the other two by corporals.
All the Universal Carriers were armed with a Bren light machine gun and one
Carrier in each Carrier Section also had a Boys anti-tank rifle. By 1941 the
Carrier platoon increased in strength to contain four Carrier sections and one
Carrier in the Carrier sections also carried a 2-inch mortar.
By 1943 each Universal Carrier now had a crew of four, an NCO, driver/mechanic
and two riflemen. The Boys anti-tank rifle was also replaced by the PIAT
anti-tank weapon. The Universal Carrier's weapons could be fired from in
or outside of the Carrier. A Carrier platoon had a higher number of light
support weapons than a rifle company. To allow the Universal to function as an
artillery tractor in emergencies, a towing attachment that could allow it to
haul the Ordnance QF 6 pounder anti-tank gun was added from 1943. Normally the
Loyd Carrier - which was also used as a general utility carrier - acted as the
tractor for the 6-pdr. = Australia =
Universal and the earlier Bren carriers were used by Australian Army units in
the Western Desert campaign. Variants
The widespread production of the Carrier allowed for several variants to be
developed, manufactured and/or used by different countries.
= British variants = Pre Universal
Carrier, Machine-Gun No. 2 - 1937 Carrier, Bren No.2
Carrier, Scout Mk 1 Carrier, Cavalry MK 1 - 50 built by
Nuffield, discontinued with reorganization of cavalry light tank
regiments of Mobile Division Carrier, Armoured Observation Post
Carrier, Armoured, 2-pounder Carrier, Armored 6-pounder
Mk. I The original model.
Mk. II Equipped with a towing hitch.
Wasp A flamethrower-equipped variant, using
the "Flame-thrower, Transportable, No 2". The Mark I had a fixed flamethrower
on the front of the vehicle fed from two fuel tanks with a combined capacity of
100 gallons. 1000 produced. The Mk II had the projector in the co-driver's
position. The Mk IIC had a single 75 gallon fuel tank on the rear of the
vehicle outside the armour protection, allowing a third crew member to be
carried. Praying Mantis
The Praying Mantis was an attempt to produce a low-silhouette vehicle that
could still fire over obstacles. A one-man design based on Carden Loyd
suspension was not adopted, but the inventor was encouraged to design a
two-man version. This version appeared in 1943 and was based upon the Universal
Carrier. The hull was replaced with an enclosed metal-box structure with enough
room for a driver and a gunner lying prone. This box, pivoting from the rear,
could be elevated. At the top end was a machine-gun turret. The intention was to
drive the Mantis up to a wall or hedgerow, elevate the gun, and fire over
the obstacle from a position of safety. It was rejected after trials in 1944. A
Mantis survives in the The Tank Museum. = Australian variants =
Carrier, Machine Gun, Local Pattern, No. Also known as "LP1 Carrier". Australian
production similar to Bren carrier but welded and some minor differences.
Universal Carrier MG, Local Pattern No. Also known as "LP2 Carrier".
Australian-built variant of the Universal Carrier. Also produced in New
Zealand. Used 1938–1939 Ford commercial axles; the 2A had 1940 Ford truck axles.
2-pounder Anti-tank Gun Carrier The Carrier, Anti-tank, 2-pdr, or
Carrier, 2-pdr Tank Attack was a heavily modified and lengthened LP2 carrier with
a fully traversable QF 2 pounder anti-tank gun mounted on a platform at
the rear and the engine moved to the front left of the vehicle. Stowage was
provided for 112 rounds of 2pdr ammunition. 200 were produced and used
for training. 3 inch Mortar Carrier
The Carrier, 3-inch Mortar was a design based on the 2 Pounder Carrier with a
3-inch mortar mounted in place of the 2 pounder. Designed to enable the mortar
to have 360 degree traverse and to be fired either from the vehicle, or
dismounted. 400 were produced and were ultimately sent as military aid to the
Nationalist Chinese Army. = Canadian variants =
Carrier, 2-pdr Equipped Canadian modification to mount 2-pdr
gun. 213 used for training. Wasp Mk IIC
Canadian version of the Wasp flamethrower variant.
Windsor Carrier Canadian development with a longer
chassis extended 76cm and an additional wheel in the aft bogie.
= United States variants = T-16
The Carrier, Universal, T16, Mark I. was a significantly improved vehicle based
upon those built by Ford of Canada, manufactured under Lend Lease by Ford in
the United States from March 1943 to 1945. It was longer than the Universal
with an extra road wheel on the rear bogie, the engine was a Ford Mercury
delivering the same power. Instead of the steering wheel controlling the
combination brake/warp mechanism, the T-16 had track-brake steering operated
by levers. During the war, it was chiefly used by
Canadian forces as an artillery tractor. After the war, was used by Argentine,
Swiss and Netherlands forces. = German variants =
Fahrgestell Bren Captured carrier of 1940, reused by the
Germans and fitted with a 3.7 cm PaK 36 gun.
Panzerjäger Bren 731(e) Bren carriers captured by the Germans
and fitted with a triple Panzerschreck transport rack. They were not fired from
the Bren gun carrier, only transported. = Italian variants =
Fiat 2800 In 1942, at the request of the Italian
Army, Fiat produced a prototype carrier copied from a captured Universal
Carrier; it was known as the Fiat 2800 or CVP-4. It is uncertain whether
production vehicles were manufactured. Bren carriers captured by the Italians
in the field were often fitted with Breda M37 machine guns.
Users Variants of the Universal Carrier have
been used, among others, by the armed forces of the following countries.
Pre-war and World War II Australia
Canada Czechoslovakia - 15 carriers received
from USSR Germany - Wehrmacht
Free Greece forces Italy - Regio Esercito
Nationalist China - 1,500 supplied from Australian production
New Zealand United Kingdom
United States - 57 carriers en route for Canadian units in Hong Kong were in the
Philippines when the Japanese invaded, 40 were operated by the 1st Provisional
Tank Group. USSR - received 200
Post-war Argentina
French expeditionary corps in Indochina CEFEO
Israel Germany - Bundeswehr
Netherlands Switzerland
Gallery See also
C2P Komsomolets armored tractor
Loyd Carrier M29 Weasel
Raupenschlepper Ost Notes
References Further reading
Watson, Nigel. Universal Carriers Volume 1: Dragon – Armoured MG – Cavalry –
Scout – AOP – Bren – Lloyd - Universal. Watson Books. ISBN 978-0955600906.
Watson, Nigel. Universal Carriers Volume 2: Universal – Mortar – Medium Machine
Gun – T16 – Windsor – Local Pattern – Oxford – Cambridge – Flamethrowers –
Armoured Snowmobile - Variants. Watson Books. ISBN 978-0955600913.
Watson, Nigel. Universal Carriers Volume 3: Variants – Parts – Hull Details –
Restored, Project Vehicles & Wrecks – Veteran Experiences. Watson Books. ISBN
978 0 9556009 2 0. External links
Universal Carrier production and technical data
mapleleafup.net "The Ford Universal Carrier"
diggerhistory.info "Bren Carrier" Britain's Carriers at wwiivehicles.com
Eighth Army Bren Gun carrier in the Middle East, 1941
Bren Gun carrier with German Machine Gun in Gazala, Middle East, 1941
Assembling Bren Gun carriers in New Zealand
Restored Bren Gun carrier being driven by a collector in Australia
Images of ex-Argentinean T16 carriers for sale