General Notice to All Carrier Types

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #1 21-07-03, 23:15

This is to advise you that Tpr SPOELSTRA, Hanno (Dutch Member, MLU, Troops for the entertainment of) has verified that he can actually FIT INTO and DRIVE a T-16 Carrier. No one believed this (guys like him can't actually drive steering-wheeled carriers). But it's true.

Your mission is (whether you choose to accept it or not)....... FIND HIM ONE OF HIS OWN...

Stewart Loy · #2 21-07-03, 23:48

I know of one for sale in Canada.

I bet it would be a lot to ship it that far, but not too much to drive it ( they were waterproof swimmers were they not? ).

Please advise.

Stewart
sweating in MD

rp-21 · #3 22-07-03, 19:57

I was under the impression that all T-16 carriers had Sticks not steering wheels. Can some one set me straight on were the model change occured? Is it the American made T-16's were the only ones with stick steering?

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #4 22-07-03, 20:10

The T-16 was a redesigned Universal, done by American Ford engineers after the U.S. was requested to add carriers to their Lendlease production lines. The major changes were: tiller bar steering, utilizing a controlled differential rather than a sliding crosstube and brakes approach; an extra bogie wheel at the rear to take the load; and a welded hull (they could actually float). The Ford Mercury engine was stronger and more reliable as well.

My reason for posting this smartass thread is that my good friend Hanno, who is 6'6", can't FIT into a Universal carrier, with its lower front hull and steering wheel. He obviously CAN, in a T-16...

rp-21 · #5 22-07-03, 20:28

Geoff,
Thanks for the info. Would you have any pictures of the drivers compartment of the t-16 Hanno was driving or any others? I have never seen one other than mine, and it is highly modified. I am 6'3" and am very comfortable in mine but it does not have the original instrument cluster.

badger1bear · #6 22-07-03, 20:42

The T-16 would have to have one other modification, a cycle carrier on the rear, he would feel naked without his trusty bike

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #7 22-07-03, 20:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Stewart Loy
I bet it would be a lot to ship it that far, but not too much to drive it ( they were waterproof swimmers were they not? )

Well, Canada Post MAY be going on strike, so no use putting it even in Expresspost... and to swim it, we'd have to find a floatable trailer to carry gas and beer. Hmmm...

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #8 22-07-03, 20:54

Quote:

Originally posted by rp-21
Would you have any pictures of the drivers compartment of the t-16 Hanno was driving or any others? I have never seen one other than mine, and it is highly modified. I am 6'3" and am very comfortable in mine but it does not have the original instrument cluster.

Can do, RP... I suspect you have one of those which has had the front armour replaced with flat, angled sheet metal?

Alex, you might be able to post a good scan before I can, but I DO have some stuff somewhere. I'll check back later, will be offline for a bit shortly.

Alex Blair (RIP) · #9 23-07-03, 00:03

Top view...T-16..

Nigel Watson · #10 27-07-03, 11:30

OK so Hanno got into a T16! Its only an excuse to buy that model. If I can fit into a MkI* then so can Hanno! He forgot to tell you how many folk there were on hand to extricate him once he decided to stop playing!!

There were two nice T16s at Beltring. The bike would look great on the top of the bren mount at the back of the T16 Hanno.

Nigel

Hanno Spoelstra · #11 27-07-03, 22:32

Quote:

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
My reason for posting this smartass thread is that my good friend Hanno, who is 6'6", can't FIT into a Universal carrier, with its lower front hull and steering wheel. He obviously CAN, in a T-16...

Well smartass Geoff, thanks for getting everyone's attention! I got to drive T16 s/n 11644 at Beltring - see pics here. When the I got back the Belgian owner asked "did you like it?", I answered "it's sold!" Sadly, this T16 is not for sale but I guess I'm hooked now...

Simon, Nigel, well yes, what's a Carrier without a bike carrier? I've seen a picture of a T16 with a motorbike in the back, so why not run one with a pushbike on the rear?

Hanno Spoelstra · #12 27-07-03, 22:37

Quote:

Originally posted by rp-21
Would you have any pictures of the drivers compartment of the t-16 Hanno was driving or any others? I have never seen one other than mine, and it is highly modified. I am 6'3" and am very comfortable in mine but it does not have the original instrument cluster.

rp-21, here's a shot of the driver's controls on a stock T16. The instrument cluster does get in the way of my right knee. Ideally, it should be further to the right.

Can you share some pictures of your modified T16 with us?

c. ladouceur (RIP) · #13 30-07-03, 00:36

Geoff,does this picture bring someone to mind?

Hanno Spoelstra · #14 19-09-03, 22:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
I got to drive T16 s/n 11644 at Beltring - see pics here.

Here's another shot of T16 s/n 11644 T103640, this time in the role of 6-pdr AT Gun tractor at Ursel:

Source: http://www.wingsandwheels.be/Foto's2003.htm

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #15 19-09-03, 23:05

Seeing that pic, I'm feeling unnatural physical urges right now not entirely suitable for description on a public forum...

Hanno Spoelstra · #16 19-09-03, 23:12

Quote:

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
Seeing that pic, I'm feeling unnatural physical urges right now not entirely suitable for description on a public forum...

Yeah I know, it's a

combo, isn't it?

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #17 19-09-03, 23:22

I think it has your name on it.....

Hanno Spoelstra · #18 23-09-03, 02:09

Quote:

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
I think it has your name on it.....

Yes, that's why I am having my name changed to T103640

#19 23-09-03, 10:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
My reason for posting this smartass thread is that my good friend Hanno, who is 6'6", can't FIT into a Universal carrier,

Me neither, all very well for vertically challenged, compressed Canadian pixies like the esteemed Spinnington-Ball, but some of us are never ever going to have a play in a UC.

R.

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #20 23-09-03, 13:42

Quote:

Originally posted by FV623
Me neither, all very well for vertically challenged, compressed Canadian pixies like the esteemed Spinnington-Ball, but some of us are never ever going to have a play in a UC.

R.

Until Hanno ... er ... T103640 ... gets his T-16, of course...

#21 23-09-03, 19:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball
Until Hanno ... er ... T103640 ... gets his T-16, of course...

Therefore McSpool better get his finger out of the dyke and bring it to my Overlord Show next year so we can all have a little tinker with it. Maybe we'll let him have a whirl in Unterschaftführer Willy Fey's Tiger. . . . . . . . .

R.

Hanno Spoelstra · #22 10-03-04, 15:20

Quote:

Originally posted by badger1bear
The T-16 would have to have one other modification, a cycle carrier on the rear, he would feel naked without his trusty bike

Well, how about this - don't you think a bicycle looks great on the back of a carrier?!?

Source: http://www.bmvt.be.tf/

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #23 10-03-04, 16:23

McSpool, just get your finger out, do the deed, and meet us in Southampton!

G166UC · #24 11-03-04, 06:28

Hanno,

Don"t let these guys give you such a bad time! I am 6' 4" and I have been driving my T-16 all over the place. It will be in its first parade this coming Saturday. I have also driven a Mk 2 carrier. But the T-16 is much better, faster etc. I"ll try to post a picture of it soon.

PS. The 6 pdr looks much better than the bicycle. Rod Shaver

Hanno Spoelstra · #25 22-04-04, 10:50

Quote:

Originally posted by G166UC
PS. The 6 pdr looks much better than the bicycle.

Once you start looking you see bicycles on carriers everywhere - it seems the Dutch "steel steeds" were as popular with our liberators as they were with our occupiers

P.S.: pic shows a Carrier from the 7th Recce (17th D.o.Y's RCH).

Snowtractor · #26 24-04-04, 19:38

Quite the carrier, machine gun, flame thrower, applique armour, mulitple smoke launcher ( I think ) and a bicycle...these guys mean business.
Sean

Hanno Spoelstra · #27 24-04-04, 23:50

Sean,

Quite the carrier indeed - here's a pic of another carrier from 7th recce, this one fitted with a .50 cal MG (both pics courtesy of J.McGillivray).

Hanno