3in Mortar Carrier from the right
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The Three-inch Mortar Carrier was a version of the Universal Carrier that was used to carry a 3in mortar and its ammunition.
The idea of carrying the new 3in mortar in a Carrier was first suggested in May 1941. In this version the mortar would be carried in the carrier, while its ammo was carried in a No.27 Limber, a two wheeled trailer normally used to carry ammo for the 25-pounder gun. The Mechanisation Experimental Establishment tested the idea at Aldershot and found that the carrier could easily cope with the trailer, although lost 3mph of speed and it needed careful driving on wet roads.
The plan was then changed to carry both the mortar and the ammo in the carrier. The mortar would be carried in a disassembled form across the back of the vehicle. The ammo was carried in racks on the outer sides of the two rear compartments. Each mortar carrier carried the driver and an NCO in the front and three privates in the back.
The first 493 Three-inch Mortar Carriers were accepted in 1941. Production peaked in 1942 with 6,879 accepted, dropped to 5,084 in 1943, 663 in 1944 and one in 1945, for a total of 13,120.
The mortar carriers were used with mortar platoons within the infantry battalions. Each platoon was equipped with seven carriers. One carried the platoon’s commanding lieutenant, a driver, an REME fitter and a ranger taker. The other six each carried a mortar, 66 rounds of ammo (a mix of explosive and smoke) and the crew. In action the crew would dismount, assemble the mortar and fire it from outside the vehicle. Like the Universal Carrier, the Three-inch Mortar Carrier saw service in most theatres where British or Commonwealth troops fought.