MK-II* Carrier trivia question

[Michael R.]

Originally Posted by Lynn Eades

So Now that Colin has posted, Is it for the pressure gauge?

I believe the rectangular opening in the engine cover ventilation screen of the C31UCW NO-2 MK-II* universal carrier was placed there to accommodate the future installation of the Ronson flame thrower. (RFT)

Canadian carriers were factory prepared for installation of the RFT in a number of locations. A visually clear location appears on the gunner/observer left side protection plate. A hole of about 2” diameter was punched into the armour towards the lower front of the front compartment. The hole was temporarily blanked off with a removable plug, C01UC-105448. Similar plugs appear in the wireless battery cable holes on the back protection plate of the MK-I*, when the hull is used to produce the UC-2 3” mortar carrier C21UCM.

With the adoption of the WASP MK-II flame thrower, some factory preparations related to the original Ronson MK-IV became redundant. While the adapter plate mounting hole found in the left protection plate appeared in MK-I* carriers about production number 17,000 in June, 1943, within a year the hole no longer appeared in the C31UCW carriers. Of note, the RFT preparations do not appear on C21UCG or C21UCM carriers.

Recalling the engine cover ventilation screen found on the MK-I* is smaller than the similarity placed, but larger MK-II* screen may assist explaining the apparent location anomaly from Sketch No. 3 of the Ronson installation guide, page 12. The C31UCW production commenced after 28 January, 1944.

An engine ventilation screen from the MK-II* in red oxide, set on top of smaller MK-I* screen. You can see how the rectangular hole position would be positioned at the corner of the standard MK-I/MK-I* screen.