Universal Carrier Mk.II
3rd Canadian Division, Juno Beach 1944

Tamiya 1:35 scale Universal Carrier Mk.II Although first released in 1976, as is typical of all Tamiya kits, the moulding is still crisp and the fit close to perfect. My only criticism would be that the figures are less true to life than those of today’s modern kits. These have what seem to me to be a more ‘relaxed’ almost humorous 1970s look about them!

I’ve gone for Canadian markings for my finished build, not just because I think the figures look a better fit as Canadians than stiff upper lip British troops of the 1940s, but because of a surprise coincidence with an earlier build of mine which I’ll share later.

Tamiya include decals for a Carrier from the 3rd Canadian Division. Further research has lead me to understand that the Arm of Service marking number “55” on a red background, with the Formation (Divisional) Sign of a yellow maple leaf on blue background, denotes the Carrier’s role as a Forward Observer for the Royal Canadian Artillery 12th Field Regiment supporting the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division when they landed on Juno Beach (Nan Sector, between the villages of Courseulles-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer in Normandy) on the morning of D-Day 6th June 1944.

The surprising coincidence is that the Italeri DUKW, which I completed last week and finished in the colours of the British 199 General Transport Company, RASC, was also assigned to Juno Beach on D-Day in support of the same 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. 199 Company were responsible for amphibious transport of stores and ammunition from coasters and LSTs offshore to the 3rd Canadian Division’s beach supply dumps at Courseulles-sur-Mer the Nan sector of Juno.