Review by Peter Brown

Infantry units used the true Bren Carrier as its own armoured component mounting the then-new gun of the same name, while the cavalry had the Scout Carrier to operate with their Light Tanks. Both fought in the 1940 campaign in France, after which an improved design capable of being adapted to different roles was introduced. This Universal Carrier was to be built in large numbers by several manufacturers in Britain and also in Canada. Although primarily intended to be used by infantry units, it was modified to carry the 3" Mortar, as an Armoured Observation Post vehicle for artillery, a towing vehicle for anti-tank guns and even to carry the Medium Machine Gun which was turning the wheel full circle.

Covering the whole Carrier story in its many and varied guises would be beyond the usual New Vanguard format but David Fletcher has presented us with a very good account within those limits. The basic types and their development are described, as is the system of designations so you can tell what a No 1 Mark III or a No 2 Mk II were and identify different features which changed as production continued. Coverage is limited to the Universal series, Local Pattern Australian and New Zealand versions, the Loyd towing vehicles and the larger Windsor and T16 types are not included and for some reason the various flame-thrower vehicles are not even mentioned.

We also have accounts of how Carriers were organised and used in action. The text is in the author’s usual relaxed but authoritative style which packs a lot into a small space. Photos show various types from the Vickers-Armstrong D50 through to the final Universals and variations with offshoots like those carrying 2pdr anti-tank guns which did not go into production and even a post-war Dutch vehicle with 106mm recoilless gun. Colour plates give a range of camouflage schemes from pre-war through France 1940, Desert, Italian and NW Europe campaigns. Captions describe the markings and in several cases the weapons and radios are shown separately.

Carriers have been a neglected subject, apart from the old Profile and a series in Airfix Magazine with was expanded in to a book way back in the 1970s. This book will be welcomed and snapped up by anyone wanting to know more about this series from a historical viewpoint as well as by modellers.

Highly recommended

Page created 7 June 2005