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The Sound of WW2 : 29 Tracked Carriers In Convoy

The Universal Carrier, more commonly known as the Bren Gun Carrier, was one of the most widely produced armoured fighting vehicles of the Second World War. In 2015 a record-breaking event brought together 29 restored Carriers in convoy, creating an unforgettable sight and sound for military history enthusiasts.

Built in vast numbers across Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the Universal Carrier was valued for its light weight, speed, and versatility. More than 113,000 were produced between 1934 and 1960, making it the most manufactured armoured vehicle in history.

Despite its popular nickname 'Bren Gun' Carrier, the vehicle was used for far more than transporting the Bren light machine gun. It could carry mortars, anti-tank weapons, supplies, or even tow light artillery. Its flexibility meant it was used by virtually every British and Commonwealth infantry unit during the war.

The vehicles were powered by the dependable Ford V8 engine, which gave them a respectable speed of around 30 miles per hour on roads. Though lightly armoured, their mobility and adaptability made them invaluable across multiple theatres of war, including Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific.

The record-breaking convoy featured 29 restored Carriers travelling together. To qualify for the record, the vehicles had to complete a two-mile course under their own power. Twenty-seven successfully finished (after two overheated), breaking the previous record of 17 held in Australia.

Hearing so many Carriers together is a unique opportunity and the clatter of steel tracks and the roar of multiple Ford V8s bring sback to life the sound of a wartime mechanised column — a sound seldom heard (in NZ at least) since the 1940s.

Events like this highlight the importance of military vehicle preservation. Each restored Carrier is a piece of living history, maintained by dedicated enthusiasts who ensure that future generations can see and hear these vehicles in operation.

The carriers in this gathering included models built not only in Britain, but also in New Zealand and Australia, where wartime production lines supplied local forces and contributed to Allied campaigns. These locally built machines were vital in the Pacific theatre and beyond.

For historians, modellers, and collectors, seeing such a massed display is a rare treat. Most preserved Carriers are scattered among museums and private collections, so to have nearly thirty in one place was an extraordinary achievement.

The Universal Carrier remains an icon of WW2 military engineering. Light, fast, and adaptable, it represented the mobility and ingenuity of Allied forces. Its massive production ensured it played a role in nearly every campaign of the war.

You can watch the full video of this remarkable convoy on our YouTube channel Steel, Steam & Diesel here: [insert video link]. It is a chance to step back in time and hear history roar to life once more.

Reference sources used:

IWM: Universal Carrier

Tank Encyclopedia – Universal Carrier

Australian War Memorial – Universal Carrier

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