Carriers in U.S. Service

[Rob Beale]

The early Kiwi carriers had the plate on the track guard like the Australian ones.

In later production it was moved to the top of the hull and welded above the instrument cluster. This is possibly to stop loss of the plate.

I think the first 520 NZ carriers were all issued to home based units during the war. 3 NZ Div took some to Guadalcanal but found them unsuitable and converted the carrier platoon to infantry. Given that a number of C8AX puddle jumpers ended up in Australia as war surplus, it is possible that a carrier was left behind.

I have a picture of a field full of carriers and other vehicles brought back to NZ from the Pacific. These include LP, UC and 3" Mortar types

We know some of these were swapped to USMC, but where they went is unknown.

Also the ones sold to the US and given to the Free French in the Pacific were from the later ESGC contract for 650 LP2A.

So, yes, a photo of the plate on top of the instrument panel would help.

Rob