My father used one of these as his own personal recon vehicle. He used to risk being put on a charge when scouting out ahead to see what he could confiscate from the enemy. He once drove into a German barracks that had been evacuated due to the allied advance. He found many souvenir's, one being a dress hussar sword which I still have today! Carriers also had a flamethrower variant!!
Spent our childhoods playing in these "Bren carriers" and old Shermans at our local scrapyard. Found unfired .303 rounds and american tankers helmets.👍🇬🇧
At my local scrap yard in the early and mid 60s here in Melbourne, I used to play on 2x Churchill tanks, 1 Sherman, and 3 or 4 Bren Carriers. Great fun for a child brought up on both my parents war service, and my uncle's service in the 2/23 Bn in the defence of Tobruk and later in the Pacific.
It’s often mentioned about it being open topped but many vehicles were open topped, from half-tracks, to gun carriages and tank destroyers. There is always a trade off between protection and weight. It was a tremendous little vehicle which made a great contribution to the war. Good vid. Thank you for posting.
My dad had one with the BEF, and was in Aras when the BBC said Aras had fallen, they were having dinner in the carrier and looked over the top and saw Germans coming towards them, back towards Dunkirk, he got off and went right through till Jan 1946 before been demobeb.
In the 1930s the Vickers company produced several "Carrier" designs, Bren Carrier, Scout Carrier, MMG Carrier and Cavalry Carrier, all slightly different, but using many of the same parts. In 1940 Vickers decided to make just one vehicle, the Universal Carrier which could be adapted to different roles. The Universal Carrier MkII introduced a rear tow bar for anti-tank guns.
My uncle was given one, several were issued to his platoon. He was told to be careful with the engine for the first 500 miles, the engine had to be ‘run in’. He said to his platoon commander, can i use it over the weekend drive it around too ‘run it in’ Yes he was told. So with several jerry cans of petrol,he drove it to his home in Bow London. And back to the camp on Sunday. Deep in Kent, did not go down well with the officer when he found out. Used it during the rest of the war, around europe, looked after it like a baby. Handed it back in almost as good condition as when he first had it.
G'day to you! About 25km or so from me ,there is a Guy with at Least 10 of these and Various other WW2 Vehicles Rusting away in a Paddock, Chevy Tucks etc. Rotten Shame seeing History treated this way! Armadale West Aust.
When you want to get a crew served weapon, like a machine gun, mortar or some such, in position fast, accept no substitutes, or crew comfort. I've had the dubious pleasure of riding in one, seriously hang on to your fillings!
It was - the Oxford Carrier. Both saw service in WW2 and through to the Korean War. There was also a Lloyd Carrier and the Canadians stretched the Universal and called it a Windsor Carrier.
Dad's army mate in 1946 had been at Dunkirk and said that they had to face German Panzers with these things. He said that " he was running, they were all running, even the Colonel. "
My father used one of these as his own personal recon vehicle. He used to risk being put on a charge when scouting out ahead to see what he could confiscate from the enemy. He once drove into a German barracks that had been evacuated due to the allied advance. He found many souvenir's, one being a dress hussar sword which I still have today!
Carriers also had a flamethrower variant!!
Spent our childhoods playing in these "Bren carriers" and old Shermans at our local scrapyard. Found unfired .303 rounds and american tankers helmets.👍🇬🇧
At my local scrap yard in the early and mid 60s here in Melbourne, I used to play on 2x Churchill tanks, 1 Sherman, and 3 or 4 Bren Carriers. Great fun for a child brought up on both my parents war service, and my uncle's service in the 2/23 Bn in the defence of Tobruk and later in the Pacific.
It’s often mentioned about it being open topped but many vehicles were open topped, from half-tracks, to gun carriages and tank destroyers. There is always a trade off between protection and weight. It was a tremendous little vehicle which made a great contribution to the war.
Good vid. Thank you for posting.
No one called it the "Universal Carrier" in those days. It was 'universally' called the "Bren Carrier" by soldiers for obvious reasons.
My dad had one with the BEF, and was in Aras when the BBC said Aras had fallen, they were having dinner in the carrier and looked over the top and saw Germans coming towards them, back towards Dunkirk, he got off and went right through till Jan 1946 before been demobeb.
In the 1930s the Vickers company produced several "Carrier" designs, Bren Carrier, Scout Carrier, MMG Carrier and Cavalry Carrier, all slightly different, but using many of the same parts. In 1940 Vickers decided to make just one vehicle, the Universal Carrier which could be adapted to different roles. The Universal Carrier MkII introduced a rear tow bar for anti-tank guns.
Climbed into one at a museum. A modernised version with roof and covered cabin could still be useful as a tracked jeep.
Australia made 5000 carriers during WWII which became useful farm vehicles afterwards.
The most numerous AFV of all time. A record unlikely to be broken.
My uncle was given one, several were issued to his platoon. He was told to be careful with the engine for the first 500 miles, the engine had to be ‘run in’. He said to his platoon commander, can i use it over the weekend drive it around too ‘run it in’ Yes he was told. So with several jerry cans of petrol,he drove it to his home in Bow London. And back to the camp on Sunday. Deep in Kent, did not go down well with the officer when he found out. Used it during the rest of the war, around europe, looked after it like a baby. Handed it back in almost as good condition as when he first had it.
How about doing a video on captured universal carriers just out of curiosity. Would be interesting to see what the otherside did to them.
G'day to you! About 25km or so from me ,there is a Guy with at Least 10 of these and Various other WW2 Vehicles Rusting away in a Paddock, Chevy Tucks etc. Rotten Shame seeing History treated this way! Armadale West Aust.
Always reminds me of the "Charley's War" comics
Who was the first designer or first idea of this creation??. I'm really sherrish that.
When you want to get a crew served weapon, like a machine gun, mortar or some such, in position fast, accept no substitutes, or crew comfort. I've had the dubious pleasure of riding in one, seriously hang on to your fillings!
Was this the British jeep?
no
@@delcat8168 Why not?
It could and should have been further developed as a larger vehicle.
It was - the Oxford Carrier. Both saw service in WW2 and through to the Korean War. There was also a Lloyd Carrier and the Canadians stretched the Universal and called it a Windsor Carrier.
@@ronhall9394Oxford carrier was post WW2 only. T16 was a larger WW2 era version of the carrier. D
Dad's army mate in 1946 had been at Dunkirk and said that they had to face German Panzers with these things.
He said that " he was running, they were all running, even the Colonel. "
A goid idea. Time to be revived?
Looks like the Polish tankette just a different purpose. I think the same concept design.
Armour plateing? Thing broke down at Normandy on Sean Connery. Kenneth Moore had to strike the thing repeatedly . Not convinced.
More protection and carrying capacity than a jeep.
Weighs 6,000 pounds. Top speed 31 mph. Completely different use-cases.
What engine?
Ford V8
@@rorytaylor3761 flathead or ohv?
@@Iowa599 Flathead (according to Wiki).
Flathead,85 hp ford...1934 style. hardened valve inserts for high alcohol fues (just in case).
Capture one's were popular with the Germans
The narrator’s voice is un convincing. Baritone would be better.