Half-Tracked Universal Carrier

[Roger Lucy]

In December 1943, DND's Directorate of Vehicles and Small Arms proposed a project to convert the Universal Carrier to a half track. Their concern was the Carrier was being forced to fulfil roles for which it was not intended - i.e. carry oversized loads, or tow heavy guns - which overloaded the steering, reduced ground clearance at the rear and did various other bad things. The proposed solution was to take the front end of a Ford Station wagon, including the brakes and suspension, and use it as a rear-mounted steering unit for the UC. The Carrier’s own steering would be locked, and its controls linked to add-on wheeled unit. It was expected this modification would double the Carrier's pay-load capacity in terms of both weight and volume and greatly improve its ride. The project was rather reluctantly approved, and a Carrier and set of Ford spares allocated to it. Work was to be undertaken either at the Ordnance Depot on Murray St. Ottawa, or at the Proving Ground at Montral Rd. Unfortunatley the file at Archives (HQS 8186-60) is silent as to whether it was actually built, and, if so, whether the contraption worked. Does anyone know the outcome, and if it was actually built if there are any pictures of the beast?