Scout T5329

[Lynn Eades]

Tony, those carriers are firstly Universal carriers and the later ones are Australian LP1s. No Scouts in it.

[kevin powles]

Ben, That Boys laying on its side is pretty conclusive regarding your mount being for that gun, what's the distance between the inner faces of clamping arangement for the gun?. I'm sure there's another picture out there that explains it all.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

Tony, those carriers are firstly Universal carriers and the later ones are Australian LP1s.

Yes I was jumping to conclusions about the gun mount. Close inspection shows they're not drilled for the Scout type mount. This would seem to contradict Ben's earlier suggestion that "the only brackets to fit the Boys in a Universal are for stowage or transport, they're saddle type brackets or rests rather than a gun mount." These Australian carrier gun mounts look fully operational to me.

Also of interest is the curved metal strap attached to the hull on some of these Boys equipped carriers, including the experimental roofed version. Presumably it's designed to limit downward travel so the barrel doesn't strike the hull over rough terrain. Instead the monopod would strike the metal strap, even when traversed.

All very interesting but still doesn't shed light on the Scout mount!

Snapshot 3 (14-05-2016 6-03 PM).jpg Snapshot 4 (14-05-2016 6-05 PM).jpg Snapshot 5 (14-05-2016 6-12 PM).jpg Universal Carrier Mk I with experimental armoured hood and Boys anti-tank rifle, Albury Heath, S.jpg

[Ben]

That's not a piece of metal it's a strap. The universal doesn't have a gun mount it has a rest and a strap.

I can't comment on LP carriers. I should've been clear in that my comments were for the British and Canadian types and not the LP family, I've had no experience with LP carriers but I think their construction and fit out probably makes them very close relations rather than siblings.

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Ben

That's not a piece of metal it's a strap.

Aha! I was wondering why they were different lengths and colour! Thanks for the correction.

[Ben]

Following on from David's suggestion I contacted the royal armouries museum.

They sent a list of drawings that were possibilities, there were three which sounded good so i bought copies. The one below seems to be the accepted design, its not quite complete as there must be a sleeve or adaptor that fits the square end and acts like a lock.

The design calls for the gun frame to be modified and the bracket bolted onto the frame. I think between us we came to a similar conclusion to what the drawing shows, an interesting question has been answered I think. Hopefully the drawing for the sleeve will turn up in the achieves, knowing British design it'll be one of hundreds of drawings all called "sleeve", no mention of what its for.

looking at the drawing I suspect it was some sort of forging, post machined to fit the gun and mount. There's enough detail and information to allow me to make an adaptor to fit the mount.

Ben

[David Dunlop]

Brilliant find, Ben!

I must admit I am a bit surprised at the level of engineering for the right side of the adapter. I was expecting a simple square post.

My eyes are not the best, but if you look at the photo in Post 207 closely, I think the right hand wing nut assembly can be seen, particularly the base of the screw assembly where it pivots. What I am not sure of is whether or not to the outside of this wing nut assembly there is a large round fixture. If there is, could this be the missing sleeve? This sleeve would have the square fixture built into it and perhaps some form of floating central core that threads onto the right side of the adapter. If I am reading the drawing correctly, it appears that the right side of the adapter is drilled at the very end, as if a cotter pin could be inserted to keep something captive. The sleeve?

At least we now have an idea of what the adapter looks like. One more thing to look for in the 'Odds and Sods' bin at the local surplus shop.

The other thing that pops to mind is whether or not any Boys Rifles have survived today that have their frames drilled for this adapter?

David

[Tony Smith]

The resolution of the drawing is not clear enough to make it out, but does this detail show something called a "Square Plate"? It seems to show dimensions, does this match the square hole in the bracket? And the Square Plate is offset from the c/l of the round pin, are the square and round holes in the bracket in line, or are they also offset?

A good mystery, keep it coming!