Carriers in U.S. Service

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Makes you wonder what the true story is behind that LP2 carrier in Belgium - if only it could tell!

Possibly a simple explanation to this. It is known that NZ supplied some of their LP2 Carriers to US Forces for use up in the Islands, but it is recorded according to a NZ military historian, that 10 Carriers went to the Free French ........... now in 1940, the Free French were recognised by Tahiti, so maybe these Carriers went there as equipment for those defending the island. As it was the Japs did not venture on Tahiti. This is where it was supposed to have been found ........... now the search will be on for the other nine!

Read the #16 post from Jeff Plowman here, and on the attached link;
http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208...on+Guadalcanal

[Lynn Eades]

Richard, Guess who sent Jeff the picture?

[Lynn Eades]

At least this is what I sent Jeff. I assume he then went to Archives NZ for a better copy.
I note that most of the tools are missing and that the bins are all padlocked.

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Richard, Guess who sent Jeff the picture?

Lynn,
Is was not the picture that I was referring to, it was this quote from Jeff:

"No its definitely an NZ LP2 or LP2A as supplied to the US Marine Corps. We sold about 33 to them of which 10 went to the Free French."

So it looks as though it is a strong possibility that the Carrier got to the island of Tahiti as defence. Further research needed.

The Free French had a submarine on its way to Tahiti as well. Submarine disappeared after leaving Panama canal, but that is another story.

cheers Richard

[Roddy de Normann]

Hanno et al

Ref the pic of the US Carrier with the no. 92843 USA...could this number be the UK census number at the time of building ? The number fits Ford Contract S/M 1131 for Universial Carriers...

Just a thought !

Roddy

[Big D]

Hi all,

I was in Honiara last year with RAMSI and I checked this carrier out. It is at the Betekama Museum/mission.

From what I recall the data plates were gone and unfortunately I didn't check out the rear bulkhead as Tony said. The thing is full of 155mm or similar sized barrels and I was a bit reluctant to go climbing into it.

As Tony also said the tracks on the Australian carriers and NZ carriers are fitted in different directions. The tracks on this carrier are fitted in the same direction as my Australian LP2A carrier. That is, looking at the front of this carrier, the centre strip of the steel track is lower than the strips on the outside, giving a 'V' shape to the track profile. I think I'm right when I say the NZ carriers have the tracks around the other way and the profile of the track is almost like an inverted 'V'.

If you look at the tracks of the carrier in the picture that Lynn sent to Jeff, they have the 'V' shape looking from the rear, so when viewed from the front will give the inverted 'V' appearance, which is what I'd expect from a NZ carrier.

Not sure if I am making sense there, but hopefully so.... and that's assuming the tracks on this one haven't been removed and refitted, and that my Australian one is correct!

I'll see if I can find some more photos of this carrier that I took.

[Rob Beale]

NZ had a brigade on New Caledonia in the mid war, and another on Fiji. They took their carrier platoons there including LP2 NZ and English 3" Mortar carriers. These were all returned to NZ.

After the soul searching following the simultaneous Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour, Hong Kong and Malaya, NZ agreed to leave the 2 NZ Division in North Africa while USA agreed to send troops to NZ to help defend NZ, and also complete their training here.

1 Div USMC had only 6 weeks in NZ before racing to take Guadalcanal in the Solomons before the Japanese completed the new airfield there. 2 Div USMC landed there too, and it took six months to finally subdue the Japanese who were reinforced by sea almost nightly!

The two NZ brigades were withdrawn to NZ and formed the 3 NZ Div who then moved to Guadalcanal and trained in amphibious warfare. Three brigade level actions followed with the capture of Japanese held Vella Lavella, Mono Island and Green Islands.
By this time the carriers had been left on Guadalcanal and the carrier platoons worked on foot.

The garrisons on Fiji and New Caledonia were replaced by US troops.

(We have just commemorated the 2 Marine Div practice landings at Mahia NZ in 1943 prior to the Tarawa landings, so I did a lot of research on USMC and NZ ops in the Pacific!)

Rob

[Lynn Eades]

Rob, and Darryl, don't the Aussie carriers have the I.D. plate above the instrument panel, and the Kiwi ones are on the right front guard? (where are the holes?)
It must be easy enough to identify an Aussie build or a Kiwi build without relying on the way the track is fitted.
I'm more knowledgeable about riveted carriers, than welded ones. Correct me if I have that wrong.
Richard, the story of the sub sounds interesting.
What Rob means by "we have just commemorated" is that he organised the event, so, Rob, How about a run down on the "Marines at Mahia" event?

[Keith Webb]

A friend has just visited this carrier and sent me some fresh photos.

Looks like someone painted over the rust at some time.