LP2A found and recovered

[ron]

Hello Justin.
Thanks for the update and pics, its looking good, its a very nice straight hull,nice to see that it has found a good home
Regards Ron

[Justin Pollard]

Hello All,
time for a bit of an update on 2753.
I,ve been cleaning it up slowly using a sanding wheel and today found an interesting marking on the front plate,the more i sanded it the clearer it became.

[Justin Pollard]

Anyway i sanded some more and 422 appeared in large flowing script,i have marked it out in chalk exactly as it is.
The number 422 is also stamped into the middle towing lug,
Ron,i reckon this would back up what you were thinking about the METGAS carriers been numbered with some sort of sequential build number.

Justin.

[Justin Pollard]

another pic,just for interest.

[Roddy de Normann]

Jack -

I have been attempting to look at all T-numbers and their national derivitives - especially the three series in Australia and the later UK (ZR & ZT) & S African U series. Shane Lovell quite rightly advised me I was on a hiding to nothing, especially as it would be v difficult to get access to the Rego Books. I am attempting to match UK T number with AIF/AFM, C Series and VRN Series where they match. I have had some interesting hits, especially where one finds the correlation to issue fm UK and their subsequent imports into Australia.

To that end, I was wondering if it would be possible to have access to your pics from those books ? I would be delighted to send on the work I have done to date. If you send me your e-mail address (mine is Roddy1011@yahoo.co.uk) I can send it on. Ultimately, we could then merge our efforts and post it all back here...

Look forward to possible hearing from you

Roddy

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Roddy1011

I am attempting to match UK T number with AIF/AFM, C Series and VRN Series where they match. I have had some interesting hits, especially where one finds the correlation to issue fm UK and their subsequent imports into Australia.

Roddy

I didn't think there would be any matches, what hits have you had? The records of ex-WD softskin vehicles transferred/bought by the AIF in North Africa show the original WD class and numbers just prefixed by AIF.

There are plenty of instances of Ex-British refugee vehicles from Malaya or Singapore being issued with C numbers/ARNs but retaining their WD numbers [url=http://orbit.dnsrouter.com/~mlu/forums/showthread.php?t=7759&page=2(Such as these FGTs)[/url], perhaps due to some legal reason, but I have not yet seen any evidence that the UK Carriers in Australia received an ARN, just retained their WD number. As the C numbers/ARN system was not used for Aust carriers much after the 2nd half of '42 (by which time, I would have thought the "Refugee" supply would have dried up anyway), in leiu of a hull serial number, they seem to have just kept the WD T number.

[Roddy de Normann]

Tony -

You are of course correct as far as the carriers are concerned. Lt Tanks and various other bits & bobs I believe were incorporated. Having said that, do we know how many LP2As etc were left behind in the ME ? Could an AIF numbered veh have been incorporated into the UK system ?

I was very interested to see you say that Rego Books 1 to 4 were solely AIF Nos. What is the no. span therefore ? I was always under the impression that AIF & AMF could be issued side-by-side ? For instance, did the Light Horse Regiments receive AIF numbered vehicles ? Also, if a veh went from an AIF to AMF unit, did the number change to reflect this ? Or had the C System/Hull Numbering come in by then.

I have trawled through any number of the Infantry War Diaries on line, but with very little success in tracking down numbers. The Armoured Regiments have been more forthcoming. Again, thanks to Shane, I do have listings of some Armoured Regiment carriers transfered to either LH or MMG Bns.

I would be delighted to send you what I have if you are interested. Send me your e-mail to mine posted above on my initial request to Jack and I will do so.

Again, many thanks for your insights

Roddy

[RichardT10829]

justin......."Your Great"..... enough said

[Justin Pollard]

Thanks for that Richard,
I hope to post some more progress pics tomorrow night to!.

Justin.

[Justin Pollard]

Hello All,
A bit more progress today,front undercoated,
also removed the other middle bogie assy,and both front idler wheels.

Justin.

[ron]

Hi Justin,
I have just checked my Met Gas carrier its number is 434, and the front towing eye is stamped 415, and on the front glacis plate there is 415,its been done with a small angle grider I would say,it seems they did it when the carriers were being assembled?? may someone else out there with a Met gas carrier could check if they also have this number carved into the glacis plate that also matches the tow eye number , Regards Ron

[JackM]

Ron,

I was recently at the War Memorial and over a couple of days, scrolled through the vehicle record books (27 of them), which allegedly contain the records of all vehicles taken on charge by the Army until around about the 1980s.

Just did a check of the record book pages I photographed and have attached the page relating to Carrier (hull #) 434. Don't know what if anything, you might make of the red ink entries on the left, but at least you can verify your engine #.

It would appear from the entry on the left of the right hand page that your carrier sailed for the Middle East on the "Tarandantes", in July 1941. If that is correct, I guess that makes it one of the few LP2As that were sent to the Middle East - and returned.


Jack

[Justin Pollard]

No worries Ron,
we,ll see what other people have to,i would say your right about using an angle grinder as it seems a very permanent mark.

JackM,would there be my carrier hull numbers in any of the pages you photographed?.


Justin.

[JackM]

Justin,

I'll have a look and get back to you.


Jack