BaronVonWreckedoften wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2020 4:35 pm
I'm always confused as to whether these were the Indian equivalent of the bren carrier or not. Were they operated by the divisional recce troops (pretty sure the Central India Horse from 4th Inf Div had them), or by the individual infantry battalions (or both)?
Any used in Malaya in '42?
The confusion is mainly one of nomenclature. They were developed from the Guy Wheeled Armoured Carrier design, which was very much like a Universal Carrier but using the Guy Armoured Car chassis. The India Pattern Wheeled Armoured Carrier Mk I was essentially a carbon-copy of the Guy Carrier, though utilising imported CMP 15cwt chassis.
However, despite persistent rumours to the contrary, the India Pattern Wheeled Armoured Carrier Mk I apparently never made it beyond the prototype stage and the Indian Cavalry had an urgent need for Light Recce Cars (LRCs), so the design was radically changed to the rear-engined Mk II that we know and love. However, it kept the 'Carrier' moniker, even though it was really an LRC.
Indian infantry battalions continued to use tracked Carriers in their Carrier Platoons. HOWEVER, the 7/10th Baluchis in Burma appear to have used Wheeled Carriers of some sort, as there is a very specific description of their Carrier Platoon using 'Wheeled Carriers' in concert with the tracked Universal Carriers of the 1st Glosters against a roadblock in Burma during the retreat of 1942. The account even includes a map showing the positions of KOd tracked and wheeled Carriers. It's entirely possible that the 7/10th Baluchis weren't alone in this. It's worth mentioning that this battalion was one of the very first to be 'Indianised' with Indian KCOs, so perhaps their equipment was 'Indianised' along with the officers?
All the Indian Cavalry Regts in North Africa, Italy and the Middle East used India Pattern Carriers to some degree, though they'd largely been relegated to supporting roles such as mortar carriers, command and OP vehicles by the time they got to Italy.
In Malaya the 3rd Cavalry arrived in Singapore with Mk II Wheeled Carriers and Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars, but were immediately converted to infantry. The Australians then nicked the Wheeled Carriers, though I don't know offhand if they ever saw action in Malaya or even left Singapore.
In Burma they only India Pattern Carriers to make an appearance were Cavalry Mortar Carriers (of which there were two in each Armoured Car Squadron HQ), as VSO transport ('Punch' Cowan, GOC 17th Division had one as his personal mount) and for Engineer Recce (Bil Slim describes using an Indian Engineer Wheeled Carrier to conduct a personal recce).
I've seen pics of Mk III Carriers on patrol in Persia. These were a further development of the Mk II; adding an armoured roof and small Bren Gun turret.
Lastly, the Mk IV Carrier was a reversion to the original 'proper' Wheeled Carrier idea, being a development of the original Mk I. This was again very much like a wheeled Universal Carrier and was intended to be used in the same role. However, it doesn't appear to have seen service outside India before the war's end. It was used chiefly for internal security duties and they can be seen in footage of Gandhi's funeral. A load of them were exported to the Dutch East Indies for use by the KNIL.
