Carrier Track Variations

[Perry Kitson]

Lynn, I am no longer in possession of the pins, but I might be able to coerce the fellow who has them to take a few measurements.

Perry

[rob love]

I have plenty of the shorter pins, and a few of the normal ones. I'll get a shot of them after supper and post it.

[BCA]

The so-called Swiss track pins are too short to use in normal track pads. I suspect the Swiss modified the normal track pads by trimming them narrower (why would they do that? No idea.) and producing appropriately shorter pins. These short pins were abundant in USA and very likely came from Southeastern Equipment in Augusta Georgia who sold many ex-Swiss T16s in the 1970’s to early 1980’s. We need someone to inspect their ex-Swiss T16 and see if the track pads are modified Original T16 and Canadian Carriers use the same length of track pin.

[rob love]

We have a Swiss T-16 at the shop. I will drop in there today and measure it. I'll also bring in a couple pins (short and long) and compare.

[Mike Cecil]

As Lynn has pointed out, Australian carriers used track derived from the Vickers light tank Mk.VIA, which had different dimensions to British etc carrier track.

As an aside, this difference caused some logistical problems early in the war when the Brits placed an order for carrier track manufactured in Australia, and received Aust track that didn't fit the Brit carrier. Ooops.

Subsequent overseas orders for track link placed in Australia resulted in the Australian production of British specification track, pins, plugs, sprockets, and suspension arms which were sent to both the UK and ME in large quantities. A mix up/lack of information at the production stage resulted in much of this track being condemned by the Brits due to breakages. It was then re-supplied to the correct specifications and dispatched overseas to ME and UK.

The main Aust manufacturer of track, etc to Brit specifications was H.V. McKay.

So Australian industry was manufacturing both types of tracks, etc: Aust track for LP carriers, and Brit track for Brit carriers. The Aust armies (AMF and AIF) were operating carriers of both origins, so needed spares to suit. The supply chain problem was thus much more complicated than it needed to be by having to maintain two parallel supply lines for carrier spares, and was dependent upon units, when ordering spares, to specify exactly which type of carrier spare was required. Plenty of room for stuff ups, wasted time and resources.

Mike

[rob love]

So I am at the shop now for a short visit (Covid-19 restrictions...we aren't supposed to be at work) and the Swiss track link measures 9" wide, vice the 9-1/2 in width of the UC carrier in front of it. Some of the links have CWC cast into them, along with a TL2948 number on the other side. I have a photo of one links where the pin has crept out. No bushing in the track link that I can see, so it is not like they rebuilt the track.
There are a number of other casting marks that I will get at another time. I don't want too overstay my welcome on the base.

[Lynn Eades]

Thank you all. How do I put this?
Broad statement: (because the pitch and pin sizes are universal)

"Basically all U.C. track is the same". However:

There are two areas where it varies:

1. The two sizes of track in relation to the width between the "horns" or "tongues" (wide or narrow bogie wheels)

2. The pin and how it is located. The lead plug Australian track has a "stop" at the inner end (see earlier post) this stops the pin moving on through. Once fitted in the track links, a lead plug (like a .38" wad cutter) is fitted and punched. This spreads into a groove in the outer hole, which contains the pin in service.
Obviously this pin is shorter (than a pin with a head and a split pin hole)

My question about the Swiss pin is "What form do they take?"
Are they the same as the Aust. lead plug pin? (a straight, plain pin with no head)

With Australian track, a small drilling exercise to remove the "stop" would allow the use of a Canadian or British track joining pin.
To put it another way: A Canadian (or British) link is 9.5" (241mm) wide (where the pin goes through) Is Swiss track narrower?

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

To put it another way: A Canadian (or British) link is 9.5" (241mm) wide (where the pin goes through) Is Swiss track narrower?

If you read my post above, the Cdn that I measured today is 9.5, and the Swiss is 9"