Army Beaverettes

[Dave Homewood]

This photo is from the New Zealand Herald on the 24th of March 1942 from their coverage of a Bonds For Bombers parade in Auckland. The caption reads:

"Camouflaged Beaverettes, small, fast armoured cars for infantry use, turn into Customs Street East during yesterday's parade. This is the first time the Beaverettes have been shown in public."



Which NZ Army units used these? Where were the from? (local manufacture or overseas?) Were they very useful and effective? Did the Army use them just for training or did any go overseas? And do any still exist in NZ today?

[30sqnatc]

See antipodeanarmour.blogspot.com/2010/01/reconnaissance-car-beaverette.html

There is more detailed history in one of Jeffery Plowmans books. I will find in tomorrow.

None survived the war as they were converted back into civilian trucks and small vans when the Army no longer need them. Despite what the article says about the RNZAF plan to get some for airfield defence like the RAF the files I've read suggest the plan was shelved.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Paul.

[Dave Homewood]

Really interesting. So whilst they were designed earlier it seems they were almost one of the many knee-jerk improvisations in reaction to the Japanese entry into the war, I guess. I love the fact the article says they were built up till July 1942 and were used up till July 1942, that kind of says it all.

[delticman]

Oct 29, 2018 19:56:34 GMT 12 30sqnatc said:

See antipodeanarmour.blogspot.com/2010/01/reconnaissance-car-beaverette.html

There is more detailed history in one of Jeffery Plowmans books. I will find in tomorrow.

None survived the war as they were converted back into civilian trucks and small vans when the Army no longer need them. Despite what the article says about the RNZAF plan to get some for airfield defence like the RAF the files I've read suggest the plan was shelved.

The ship was the "Port Bowen." The keel is still under the sands at Castlecliff Beach.

[bae]

USA personal would have been very interested in Bevers or Beverettes - national pastime there, to this day.

[eieio]

My Dad mentioned Beaverets as rather useless, took them to a stream to wash them and had to get the yanks and their jeeps to tow them back to terra firma. He was 36 th Battalion

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Bruce.

[30sqnatc]

Oct 31, 2018 19:24:45 GMT 12 eieio said:

My Dad mentioned Beaverets as rather useless, took them to a stream to wash them and had to get the yanks and their jeeps to tow them back to terra firma. He was 36 th Battalion

Just what you'd expect for vehicles 'armoured' with steel plate from a ship that ran aground

[hildaren]

The first Beaverttes prototype was started in August and finished in October 1941 by N.Z.R workshops

And were used by N.Z.A.F.V school. They order 187. But after Japan entered the war this went up to 197 then 207 in April 1942 (208 made) of this 16 were for airdrome defense but were need for L.A.F.V regiments so air force never got them. Most of the plate steel came from Australia, ford chassis and engines from U.S. 19 beverettes were to be used per L.A.F.V regiment till m3 Stuarts came, and were withdrawn in July 1943; some (4 per Platoon) were to be sent to the carrier platoons in Fiji but this never happened I Think.

[Brett]

In the January 2019 issue of Britain at War magazine there is a news article about a Beaverette being purchased for the Bovington Tank Museum. This particular Beaverette was built in 1940 on the chassis of a Standard car, and although it looks slightly different than the NZ models it seems to have had similar performance.

So the New Zealand Beaverettes appear to be based on a British concept and built using local materials.

[30sqnatc]

Yes the NZ version was definitely based in the British design, the key difference was size. UK based on car chassis, NZ based on small truck chassis.

Training value OK as LAFV Regts went from horsed to (improvised) armoured vehicles.

Value in combat, very limited

[ErrolC]

Dec 28, 2018 17:12:14 GMT 12 Brett said:

In the January 2019 issue of Britain at War magazine there is a news article about a Beaverette being purchased for the Bovington Tank Museum. This particular Beaverette was built in 1940 on the chassis of a Standard car, and although it looks slightly different than the NZ models it seems to have had similar performance.

So the New Zealand Beaverettes appear to be based on a British concept and built using local materials.

Talk on the UK ones from The Tank Museum

[eieio]

some (4 per Platoon) were to be sent to the carrier platoons in Fiji but this never happened I Think.
My dad was in Fiji with the 36th batallion so the Beaverettes must have been there ,only mention of his stay on Norfolk island was with the Bren carriers ... and the mashed potatoes [raw] air dropped for Xmas day

[davidd]

Always wondered why they were called Beaverettes, but now we know (or THINK we know!) Named after Lord Beaverbrook - what a hoot! I don't think the name has great connotations!
David D

[Bruce]

You can always make a Beaverette look good though... Park a Semple Tank beside it!

[30sqnatc]

Yes even US officials did not wish to claim that the Semple was based on one of their designs.

[30sqnatc]

Just reading Warrior Craftsmen, Royal New Zealand Electrical & Mechanical Engineers. 1942-1966 by Peter Cook. On pg 56 he mentions that the Army MT Field Workshop in Fiji nearly got involved in building local Beaverettes - 'To equip the infantry with a Beaverette type vehicle, 15 half ton Chevrolet chassis were purchased in Suva in October [1941], Their conversion by PWD workshops was intended. But the armour plate was not available and they were instead given truck bodies. Thirteen Beaverettes were later sent from NZ but were not suited to the conditions'.

The reference is 2 NZEF IP Narrative 1944, Vol 1 Sect III pg 36, War Cabinet Decisions, 15 Aug-29 Sep 41. Archives NZ Bristow 1947 p224.

Paul

[30sqnatc]

Since this thread was started I've been looking for a book, New Zealand Armour in the Pacific 1939-45 by Jeffery Plowman and Malcolm Thomas. As its a long weekend I had time to drag all the boxes out of storage shed and finally success. As above, it also supports that Beaverettes were deployed to Fiji with NZ infantry battalions along with NZ manufactured LP2 carriers. I did have a surprise, sitting inside the front of the book were a number of photocopied photos. I have no recollection it they came with the book or I got them from some else. Anyway while there is no caption, I think it is fairly certain this is photographic proof of Beaverette in Fiji.



Paul

[Dave Homewood]

Excellent, thanks Paul!!