I have returned to my Bren Carrier, for a change of scene.
I want to show it after a crash, due to one track coming off, (and the injury of the driver).

Would a German grenade be enough to break the track?
Or would it have to be something more substantial, such as an impact from a AT gun or a mine?

If so, what further damage to the wheels and chassis would this do?
I could not find any images of damage like this on a Bren Carrier.

Many thanks,
Harry

Can any one help?
Thanks

Even a lucky machine gun round can buckle a track plate. I would say that a track pin can be damaged and the track comes apart just like in the metal track kits. As for other damage, a German AT round would do some series damage to a carrier, even at a great distance as their hulls were not that thick. Road wheels can be blasted off by landmines as will tracks. If you show the vehicle damaged, I'd buckle or bend out the area of impact, say the fenders or hull area.
Ironmike

Thanks Ironmike, great help!

Would small arms fire also penetrate the side armour?

Hi Harry,
The infantry company my Dad commanded during the WW II was equipped with Universal Carriers.
Dad says that the carriers weren't very well armoured but would stop some small arms rounds.
He said that the carriers were prone to breaking and throwing their tracks and a well placed grenade, anti-personnel mine or armour piercing round could cause some damage.
Check out the Wiki site's page on the UC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Carrier

Cheers

jjumbo

Harry,
Here's a photo of a destroyed UC.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:TillyBUC.jpg

Sadly, there's not much left and I can't imagine if any of the crew survived.

jjumbo

John, many thanks. Never thought of Wikipedia!

The Carrier in that last photo link seems hit a mine, going on the soldier with the metal /mine detector. I think I'll have to model small arms damage.
Another option, thanks to your info, would be to model it broken down and abandoned, but that's less exciting and dramatic...

Cheers,

Harry

Hi Harry,
Dad says that the connector pins on the UC's tracks had a bad habit of breaking or coming out at the worst times, resulting in the tracks just flying off and causing accidents and casualties.
In his company, they used to assign someone to each UC as an observer, just to watch the vehicle ahead for any signs of track troubles.
He also says that when fully loaded with ammo, mortar rounds and 4 or 5 crew, the UC had a high center of gravity and had a bad habit of tipping over if it went off road at a the wrong angle.
His men to to hang over the sides "outrigger" style like sailboat crews.
That's a idea for a diorama I'd like to do
Will keep an eye out for your dio!!
Cheers

jjumbo

Thanks again John
I will now load the UC up with more weapons, ammo and general accessories to promote the idea that it was quite unstable.
Idea: The UC came under fire, lost a track, swerved, tipped, crashed... etc etc

Good luck with your "outrigger" UC - very unique and interesting!
Harry