Armoured Carrier, Wheeled - Indian Pattern

[chrisgrove]

Those Indian Pattern Wheeled Carriers from Korea are New Zealand LPOPs (not entirely sure what that stands for). Very similar to the wartime Indian ones but just slightly different. Driver hatch is nearer the centre of the vehicle for one.
Chris

[Andrew Rowe]

That picture is of New Zealand Wheeled Carriers in Korea, that were used as gun tractors for the 25pdr's. They did not find them that suitable as they were fairly wide for the dykes. They were fitted with a White Scout Car front roller before they were shipped to Korea, as this was not a Standard feature when they were manufactured in WW2, In New Zealand. 76 were manufactured in NZ during the War to full body status, even though 99 chassis's had been imported for the build program. The LPOP, stands for Local Pattern Observation Post.
It was modeled from the "Indian Pattern " wheeled Carrier with welding used to construct the bodies, where as the Indian ones were Riveted, Cheers Andrew.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ed, great picture, thanks.

Chris, further to what Andrew wrote, I'd say LPOP stands for Local Pattern Observation Post. Many types of armoured vehicles were turned into OP's, e.g. Sherman and Ram tanks, but also Universal Carriers. In this case LP refers to the locally built version of the "Carrier, Wheeled, NZ Pattern Mk II"

Also see http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...137#post106137

[Lynn Eades]

Just a small note. "Carrier, Observation Post" was a contract specification, meaning that Carriers were built as armoured oberservation posts. The first of them preceeding the universal carrier. (there were 95 built based on a Scout carrier) None appear to have survived. Then there was the MkII based on a riveted U.C., as was the MkIIIw (welded hull).
Just posted for clarity.

[Andrew Rowe]

"Just Posted for Clarity" ? I thought we were talking about Wheeled Carriers and NOT "Bren " Carriers? Cheers .

[Lynn Eades]

Andrew, read Hanno's post above.

[Rob Beale]

The first vehicle just out of shot will be a FAT towing the second limber for each gun in the troop. The next vehicle after the AOP is another FAT towing a limber and gun, (and the third FAT in the troop will be ahead with the second gun and its limber).

Actually limbers are horse drawn, and these are Artillery Trailers No 27!

The convoy shows another AOP near the back and a couple of larger CMPs, likely 60cwt and a single C8AX with its spare wheel on the bumper.

NZ contributed a Field Regiment and a Transport Squadron.

163 Battery lost some of its guns when the Troopship Wahine ran aground and sank off Masela Island in the Arafura Sea north of Australia in 1951.