Universal Carrier

[Michael R.]

A lower hull production number with a Canadian 'C' beside it should remove any doubt as to where the hull was manufactured. The lower hull production number will point to the production date.

There are a few indicators of later production (May '44 to 22nd Jan '45), such as:

1)the rear upper hull protecton plate has been punched for mounting of the internal 'clevis assembly - hull lifting' brackets,
2)elimination of the R.F.T. support bracket hole with plug assembly C01UC - 105448 in the left hand protection plate.

It is interesting to see the common failure point of both Canadian cast towing bracket arms.

Without additional information, my thoughts are it would be difficult to say if the carrier was produced for a British SM or Canadian CDLV contract.
Maybe the pictures you have, Shaun, reveal some traces of either 'CT' or 'T' WD numbers? Of course the carrier could have seen post-WWII service, with the subsequent change in WD numbering.