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vw82 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Aug 28, 2012 Posts: 46

The Wehrmacht Maultier (Opel & Ford) and the Panzerwerfer 42 use running gear and tracks that look very similar to the British Universal Carrier/Bren Gun Carrier & Vickers Light Tank.
Did the Wehrmacht capture so many Carriers at Dunkerque from the retreating BEF in 1940 that they used them on their own vehicles OR did they just copy them and produce the tracks, etc themselves?

Added Later...The very good photo of the Vickers Light Tank in Samur prompted me to ask.

silviop15 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Oct 03, 2015 Posts: 415

They did use Bren Gun carriers for various roles. I know that it also had its own designation. There is a collector in the US who converted a Bren Gun carrier to a "Captured" Vehicle. He added a Panzerfaust mount and a few other things.

Walter_Sobchak · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Feb 20, 2013 Posts: 122

From what I can gather, the Maultier was intended to use components from the track and suspension of the Panzer 1, which was very similar to the 1930's British Carden Lloyd designs. Since the Universal carrier also had its origins in the Carden Lloyd tankettes, that might explain the similarities between the Maultier and the Universal Carrier. Looking around for production figures for the Maultier online, it seems that a few thousand of the vehicle were made, which would suggest they were making original components for it rather than relying on captured parts. These are my best guesses.

Pzkpfw-e · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jul 21, 2010 Posts: 1202

Several of the Maultiers on display have been restored using Universal or Loyd Carrier running gear.

vw82 · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Aug 28, 2012 Posts: 46

Several of the Maultiers on display have been restored using Universal or Loyd Carrier running gear.

Thank you all for the good imput & answers.
I guess that was my problem in that many of those one see's driving about have replacement running gear from those British vehicles.

Interesting vehicles to watch in action & moving about.

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