Amphibious Bren Carrier in Burma

You may well be right Sol. My own battalion came back from Kenya (where we had worn 7) in 1962 and found we were to wear 10 in the future - in the same brigade and without a more senior regiment being posted in! However, the Warwicks would certainly have been the senior regiment, so it would have been easier for 7 Worcs to take over their number.

Chris

Yes it would be easier but as you said ToS changed after the fall of France. Except the photo of the carrier I couldn't find photos of vehicles from these three battalions so I can't be 100% sure. Without additional info I can only rely on the that photo. Off course with new info this could be changed.

 

2 Dorset's Straight on for Tokyo refers to 'flotated carriers' for the Irrawaddy crossing. It's said in a manner that suggests a previous mention, but I haven't found it yet.

Andrew thanks for info. Maybe they belonged to them? I'm starting to believe that it's also possible that unit (or whatever it was) was created on the Brigade level with carriers and crew taken form some (or all) units of the Brigade for some specific mission like providing mortar support for the bridgehead (if those were really mortar carriers).

 

I'm starting to believe that it's also possible that unit (or whatever it was) was created on the Brigade level with carriers and crew taken form some (or all) units of the Brigade for some specific mission like providing mortar support for the bridgehead (if those were really mortar carriers).

A case of great minds, maybe? They don't refer to them specifically as 'their' carriers, but it could be inferred:

The 2nd Dorsets were to cross behind the 7th Worcesters and open up the west beach as the main beach for the future administrative build-up.
In the Dorset's area on the north bank plans were made for the few Dukws allowed to us and other vehicles, such as the flotated carriers, to be collected prior to being rushed over once the infantry were firmly ashore.

There are quite a few photos in the book but none show the unit serial. Im getting chucked off the PC now so I will browse a bit more of SofT...

 

The photos which Von Poop included at post 13 are methods described in the Trux section of the Forum (Bridges section) as follows:

Attachment MkI, Carrier Flotation (Assault Boat).
This simple attachment enabled two assault boats to float a carrier across a water obstacle.

Two light steel beams were clamped to the sides of the Universal carrier. Struts connected the beams to the bottom of the bearers of the assault boat. The clamps were quick release so that the carrier could go into action very quickly once it had reached the far bank. Equally important was the fact that the quick release clamps allowed the complete assembly of boats and struts to be lifted off and return for another carrier without delay.

The boats and struts needed to be fitted on dry land, preferably near the water but out of sight of the enemy. It was also important to find a launching site with banks which were not so steep as to cause the boat to swamp when entering the water. The same was true at the far bank. A landing site was required which gave an unhindered passage to the somewhat unwieldly boats and was not so steep as to swamp them. Canvas dodgers could be fitted to the bow and stern to help prevent swamping.


Attachment, Carrier Flotation, Kapok, MkII.
Kapok floats used with special fittings could be used to float a carrier across a water obstacle. The fittings could be used with any type of Carrier, except the T16, as long as it was a welded type and was correctly waterproofed. The Carrier, Armoured Observation Post, had to have the charging engine removed since it was mounted outside the body, and it required an extra float at the rear.

Eight brackets were clamped to the carrier, two at the front, two at the rear and two at each side. Nine kapok floats were used, three vertical at the front, two vertical at each side and two horizontal at the rear.

I believe these were the two "official "methods of swimming a carrier.

Noel

 

Great info Noel, thanks

 

My Dad was in the D.L.I and drove a carrier fitted with a mortar.he told me about crossing the irrawady with oil drums strapped to the sides.He was in the second div.

 

Hello, and welcome to the forum. Thank you for that detail. As 2nd DLI was in 6th Brigade seems that this method of crossing the Irrawaddy was not used only by units from one brigade in the 2nd Division. And it confirms info given by Adam in post #12 that it was used by mortar carriers.

If you want anything else to share with us about your father's time in Burma feel free to post it here and you can create new thread.

Regards
Enes

 

Some photos of experiments on the Nile by NZEF from NZ National Library.
Bren gun carrier transported by collapsible assault boat ferry, Nile River | National Library of New Zealand
Bren gun carrier transported by collapsible assault boat ferry, Nile River | National Library of New Zealand

NZ Engineers experiment with amphibious bren carrier ready with floats attached and lashed on, Nile River at Maadi, Egypt - Photograph taken by George Bull | National Library of New Zealand
NZ Engineers' experimental amphibious bren carrier enters the water of the Nile at Maadi, Egypt - Photograph taken by George Bull | National Library of New Zealand
NZ Engineers' experimental amphibious bren carrier afloat on the Nile at Maadi, Egypt - Photograph taken by George Bull | National Library of New Zealand
NZ Engineers experiment with amphibious bren carrier on the Nile at Maadi, Egypt - Photograph taken by George Bull | National Library of New Zealand
NZ Engineers experiment with amphibious bren carrier on the Nile at Maadi, Egypt - Photograph taken by George Bull | National Library of New Zealand
NZ Engineers' experimental amphibious bren carrier taking ground coming ashore from the Nile at Maadi, Egypt - Photograph taken by George Bull | National Library of New Zealand

Enjoy
Geoff

 

It's been a while but somewhere in the intervening period I saw a mention of carriers being brigaded. I'm fairly certain that this was not specific to the crossing. It was more to do with vehicles being such an encumbrance at the jungly end of Burma that it was easier for all if they were based at brigade and loaned to the battalions as they were needed.