Universal Carrier

The Universal Carrier, popularly called the Bren Gun Carrier after its light machine gun, was a British armoured tracked vehicle of the Second World War. It was the end point of a family of light tracked carriers that began with Vickers-Armstrongs, which built the first of them in the 1930s as a commercial venture and then shared production with other firms. A single improved Universal design that could replace the separate machine gun, scout and cavalry carriers appeared in 1940. Its Ford V8 sidevalve engine sat in the middle of the hull, and its suspension and running gear were based on those of the Vickers light tanks. British and Commonwealth forces used it widely for light reconnaissance, carrying personnel and support weapons such as mortars, and as a machine gun platform. Production ran from 1934 to 1960 and was spread across Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.