Hi Guys,

I've been fortunate enough to get my hands on the new T16 Universal Carrier from Resicast -Thanks Graham.

The review on the kit should be up soon, so I though I'd start the blog and see what additional infomration I could gather up for the build.

The kit can be built as an early or late T16 MK I. Here's a couple of pics of the box art:





I'll put the link in for the review when it's up but it is a sweet kit.

A little general background might be useful if you are unfamiliar with this particular vehicle.

The Ford Motor Company in Canada had their hands full producing and meeting the demand for the Mk I and Mk II universal carrier so The Ford Motor Company at Somerville in Massachusetts took on the job. It was the only place in the US to produce this carrier type. So this is a US Ford vehicle and unique in that aspect.

Being an American build they looked to improve it. It was steered by using steering levers, fully tracked with 2 sets of boggie wheels each side and could cruise at 30mph, with a top speed of 55 mph. It was powered by a 100HP Ford-Mercury V8 Engine.

There were 2 main versions if I've got my info correct an early and later version of the Universal Carrier T16 Mk 1 and a upgraded and slightly altered version the Universal Carrier T16E2 Mk 2. The vehicle was also developed into a 3" Mortar Carrier, 4.2" Mortar Carrier and used as a T16 Anti-Tank version to tow the 6pdr anti tank gun.

If anyone has any pics of the vehicle they would like to share that would be appreciated.

To accompany the build I'll be adding the new towed 6pdr and the new Carrier crew and stowage.


Cheers

Al

Alan,

You are a lucky man to get one of these! I will be following your review with great interest as I have a real passion for Commonwealth Vehicles.

Darryl

Hi Darreyl,

There should be a lot of Canadian interest in this one as it seems mainly to have been issued to them although some did go to British units but I'll have to look for more info.

The review of the kit can be seen here:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/3552

Al

Hi Alan,
congrates. I bought the kit at KMK show / Mol. But this was unfortunately too early. The etch set was not ready at that time. It was promised to send it within a week. Now 5 weeks are gone and nothing happend. Unfortunately not the first time Resicast acts (or better doesn't act) this way. I hope your kit is complete cause i'd like to read your blog.

cheers Harald

Hi Harald,

I'm surprised you haven't had the PE set yet. I assume you've emailed Graham?

Hope you get sorted out OK.

Al

Hi Alan,
yes, i did. He misplace my address.
The kit came without the PE set cause it wasn't finish or arrived too late to be packed with the first kits.

Cheers
Harald

Hi Harald,

Hopefully you will get sorted out.

Hi guys,

Would anyone know which Canadian and British Units used the T16? I'd like to read up on some of them if anyone knows who had them! I'm afraid my knowledge of Canadian anti tank units is very limited.

I know that the South Saskatchewan Regiment had some as did Canadian Scottish. I shall have to find out a bit more info on them. I assume they would also have 6pdr anit tank guns in their support company but I'll need to check.

Here's page 1 and 2 of the build instructions.





I'll need a little more research into the units and then decide whether to build and early or later version.

Al

'Wot' No information?????

Al

Hey Al,

"Tools of the Trade" from Service publications has a couple of photos of the T-16 in use. One being barged across the Afwalnings canal and serving the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor Battalion of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division). A few (likely photographed either in Canada or England) with .50 cals on the front. Another is shown towing a 6lb'er for 2nd Anti Tank Regiment with the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division.

The text of the book tells that the 3rd Canadian was issued carriers as movers for the 6lb'er for the Normandy landings. In 1944 the total requirement for T-16s was 484 vehicles and that this was fulfilled by April of that year. 100 of these were converted for the Canadian Army in NWE for carrying the 4.2" mortar.

Cheers,

Ted

Hi Ted,

Thanks, a good starting point for me, much appreciated.

Al

Hi Guys,

Some good pics here, although it looks like the site sinup for sale so not all the old links are up and running.

http://www.geocities.com/t16carrier/t16_sn6954.html

This is one of the pics from the above site, worth a look, pity it sort of seems in limbo.



Al

Came across this as well,



I've seen this one before somewhere but can't remember where?


Al

Looks like the aircraft version of the 50cal ? Being Canadian I surprised the boys haven't added a second .50 lol.

Darryl

Twin mounted turret version !!!

Thinking on Teds post if 100 went to the Canadians as 4.2" mortar vehicles then with the remaining 384 that's more than I originally thought so the vehicle may have been more common than one might first assume.

Still working on tracking down some additional units, British or Canadian would do

Al

Hi Guys,

Well as I have almost finished my 25 Ton Goods Brake Van I'm about ready to move on with the T 16, This is pretty much going to be a full Resicast build as Il'll be using their new carrier crew and driver plus the towed 6pdr anti tank gun.





Pat McGrath reviewed the towded 6pdr here:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/3655

and I did the cerw ans stowage here:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/3561

I ordered up the new driver last week so he should arrive fairly soon.

All the parts are washed and ready to go so I should get a start made this week.

Cheers

Al

Looks to be a very interesting build Alan. You rather like these resicast items??
Will be watching, but unfortunatly, can´t offer much help.

Hi Frank,

Yip, for the British/Commonwealth genre they have a great range of stuff that just isn't available else where. I've been buying stuff fairly regularly for the last few years, will get around to them all soon or later lol, lol.

I'm part way through a review on the Bedford QLR that I got for Christmas, now that's one I've been wanting to build since I got started again

Been busy lately so not much modelling time, hopefuly that will change, especially with the ARK and AVRE stuff coming out.

Cheers

Al

Hey Al,
I will keep a close eye on this build, the T16 is one of my favorite carriers !!!
Thanks for posting the picture of the Canadian UC mounting the .50 cal, I want to build one of those.
Cheers

jjumbo

Thats an Interesting .50. Strictly speaking it is NOT an Aircraft version. It's an M2HB reciever (Note Barrel Support) with an AN-M2 Barrel and Jacket added.

Hi John,

Yip, I thought this one would interest you

Banshee,

Thanks for the MG info.

Al

Hey Al,
Yeah, showed that picture to my Dad !!
His company had a number of UC's mounting WASP's and a few with Vickers but they never had any with .50's.
The AoS 54 indicates a vehicle attached to a Motorized Battalion in a Canadian Armoured Brigade.
Is there a caption to the original picture ? Any idea what unit ?
Could be the Lake Superior Regiment with the 4th CAB or even maybe the Westminster Regiment with the 5th CAB.
The Westies are one of the local regiments here in the Vancouver area.
Any plans on what unit you're going to make it ?? Hint, Hint........
Cheers

jjumbo

Hi John,

Ted memtion the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor Battalion of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division) as a good possibilty I shall have to check out their history.

Al

Hey Al,
This was such an old thread, I missed what Ted aka Hodson had posted.
I did a quick Google search, there's not a lot about the regiment but these might be of some help:

Lake Superior Scottish Regiment site - this one mentions the .50's

Thunder Bay Museum LSR

LSSR Army.ca site

Cheers

jjumbo

Hi Jophn,

Thanks for the links. I shall have to read up a bit more on 4th Canadian Armoured Divisions activities.

Al

Hey Al,
IIRC, I told you about these books by Terry Copp sometime before, they may be of help:

The Canadian Battlefields in Normandy

The Canadian Battlefields in Northwest Europe 1944-45

These are the latest volumes and apparently have colour photos.
Cheers

John