Following on from the great value Carrier Section boxed set that we released a few weeks ago, we now have the superb new plastic Universal Carrier available singly!
The new plastic carrier kit allows you to chose whether to build it as a Mk I or Mk II version as it contains parts for both as well as a full complement of crew and passengers!
The Bren (or more accurately “universal”) carrier is possibly unique in all the armies of WW2. A small light weight armoured troop transport capable of carrying up to 6 men, it was used on every front the Commonwealth armies fought on – and even by the Russians via lease-lend and the Germans via captured examples! Their primary role was not recce as many think but simply as a transport to get troops right up to the fighting – and, if needs be, to fight from the carrier itself. Other roles included weapon carrier (3” mortar and Vickers medium machine gun) and towing AT guns as well as artillery observation vehicles.
Every Commonwealth infantry battalion had a carrier platoon of 4 sections of 3 carriers each. The motor battalions of the Armoured divisions used them in platoons of 3 sections. In both cases 2 carriers formed the HQ component. In addition every infantry company had a carrier at HQ simply as the CO’s runabout! Even the Parachute battalions had two each carried by glider! In short – carriers were everywhere!
Remember that we also have the Carrier Section boxed set which contains 3 Carriers supported by a squad of British Infantrymen:
Dan Hewitson
Tom Mecredy
Craig Nixon