Does Chieftain Fit Into.... A Universal Carrier? 

That was dangerously close to being less 'Can the Chieftain fit into...?' and more 'Will the Chieftain get stuck...?'

Chieftain’s last words: “Oh Bugger, the Carrier’s on fire”

I met the chieftain once, he really is a man you can look up to. I'll never understand how he became a tank commander and not a M.O.S more fitting his stature, like Humvee hurler.

Chieftain - Veteran, provided years of expert knowledge and presentations into almost all armored vehicles that have graced a battlefield. Given lectures on common and uncommon doctrines, situations and points of view from the complete history of armored warfare, Including a collaboration on a project to provide the most in depth documentary of the second world war that has ever existed. Community - Yes, but dose the big man fit?

Who would've guessed one of the hardest vehicles for Chieftain to operate can't even protect from rain?

In the next episode: Can EMT's cut Chieftain out of a Carro Veloce with the Jaws of Life? You're becoming an excellent contortionist sir!

I find it rather amusing that anytime you watch a movie featuring a tank, there is always room for the crew in the turret to stretch out, reach for things at arm's length, invite in some guests, do a little dancing between battles, etc.

Careful about driving a Bren Carrier from the gunner's seat Chieftain, you might give the French ideas that one-man tanks are a viable option.

It takes courage to throw with signs put there by the people who you may end up putting in a position where they have to decide whether to cut you out of their Carrier or wait a few weeks until you're thin enough to be removed without damaging a valuable museum piece.

"Can you imagine driving with your head down like this?" Not personally, but I think I've an idea of what Hans Moleman may have done in the War.

watching this, I very quickly went from worrying about the Chieftain breaking something in the carrier to worrying that the carrier would break something in the Chieftain. c.e. typo

You could always try taking a Goliath for a ride...

This means that Sofilein would have to drive Nicholas around in a UC one day. She'd like that. We'd like that.

I don't know why we all enjoy watching Nicholas torture himself trying to fit in small armored vehicles... But we do.😈

He fits better in the TKS; just wow.

This is basically every man getting into the car after his wife was driving it.

OK, now I really want to see Chieftain in the CMP. I know they had a reputation to be cramped (as I recall the British specified a certain size for the cab without considering the size of the engines), but surely a full on truck isn't worse than the Universal Carrier

This week on "If Chieftain Fits, Chieftain Sits" (promise I won't recycle this joke again).

But... *what about the track tensioning?*

When I was in the CF we had a Bren Carrier that was used on parades. It was tiny driving with the 113s. The only fellow I ever saw drive it was one of the maintainers. He was about 5' 7.

If he fits he sits

Someone go back in time and invent a super tiny tank for the chieftain to fit in

Chieftain with all due respect we all know you're true nemesis is the AMX ELC BIS at the museum of saumur in France. Now that would be epic. Perhaps you could prove me wrong it would make it all the better

One of these days you are gonna get stuck and will have to live the rest of your life knowing a poor tank had to be blowtorched into pieces to get you out :p

Long Irish lad tries to slide into smol British box thing on tracks. Sounds interesting but also moderately suggestive.

Glad Chieftain was able to determine that the carrier can be driven from the proper side.

My ex father-in-law has a Been gun carrier in his yard in northern Ontario. I was working on restoring it to drivable. I am 5'9" and I had trouble fitting in the drivers area. Gunners seat is far more comfortable.

The carrier. Such a forgotten, mega-important machine in the commonwealth arsenal.

Bless The Chieftain for doing this for our amusement.

"Can you imagine driving with your head down like this?" I take it you've never been to Miami Beach or the Villages? Many 80 year old drivers who have to look through the steering wheel. And their turn signals were never changed from the left indicator.

"And thus the Chieftain parted ways with his right foot. The Valiant way."

My friends dad was a bren gun carrier driver - the Germans nailed him in the NL and he lost an eye. I didn't realize how tight it was to drive. Interesting video, thanks Chieftain!

Considering there is an ‘extra’ half metre or so of vehicle forward of the armour plate, why they didn’t just run flat sloping armour up from the front ‘bumper’, instead of almost horizontal and then vertical just in front of the driver, significantly increase the internal volume, for minimal increase if any in armour weight or area (expensive stuff at the time, me thinks).

I want to see Chieftan go on a fieldtrip to the Polish Army museum and try and fit into their TKS.

I spent a number of years at CFB Borden growing up-loved it

The curator must of loved watching this one.

1:08 Chieftan: I am in... Me: physical pain? Chieftan: Barely Oh

This almost required KY. Never met a tanker taller than 5'8" except my Platoon Sgt in the 101st MP Co. 6'4" (same as me) went tanks in Vietnam to get out of the Infantry, then switched to MP.

I gotta say this.... Nicholas, you are the bestest dude ever! Not ashamed for your humility (esp with pronunciations), your great sense of humour, and your dedication to educating people on the subject you know best, and your service to your country.... Nicholas Moran is a "Man Among Men"....and now.... Oh bugger...the tank is on fire!

Here ya go, Nick; a gift for the armored warrior who has everything . . . except short legs. On Soviet Red Army use of the Universal Carrier: Six men in a Bren are sleeping again, but only one is warm. The radioman hides, the TC chides, and the burp gunners share the storm, The loaders have welts from the ammo belts and the MG man's cold as heck, Only the driver smiles as they shiver(!), he sleeps on the engine deck! -WBC

Maybe they only had short men as drivers? I read that the Russians in one of their tanks T55? Needed the loaders to be less than 5' tall and left handed, but with their manpower pool they were able to get all the left handed short men they needed.

Ahh, his lanky legs strike again! Still, an MG in one hand, a steering wheel in the other and still able to reach the pedals, what's not to like?

As a big man with a fair amount of claustrophobia I admire people who can go in into a tank, very small compartments and most daring, into caves there they have to squeeze themselfs trough small orfices and even go under water and do this. Cudos to the Chieftain and people like him!

"Oh bugger, the Universal Carrier is on fire."

After i saw MasterMilo's homemade tankette again the other day, i realize how small it is compared to this massive machine. AND YET, Chieftain would probably fit into that one just fine. Maybe one day he can come and take a look at their VMP and Type-69-II, along with their tankette. Would be interesting to say the least.

Here's a question for an experienced armored infantryman. Would you rather be in a carrier or be in the line?

What a hoot, Chieftain. I'm the short man in my family (i.e., I'm the only man in 3 or 4 generations who never reached six foot even. Bothered me all my life until I savored this video. Thanks. "I prefer the ferret ..." wow, did that come out of left field or what?

Uni carriers are my favourite vehicle! Great 👍

One thing I've always wondered with the Universal Carrier, did anyone (even as a field expedient mount) attempt to mount one of the US M45 Quadmounts on the back?

If that's a carrier I have to ask what does it launch? drones for airstrikes? Also the ants that crew the flight deck do they still have to wear the brightly colored jackets like they do on American aircraft carriers

I appreciate these videos. I am about the same height and build as Chieftain and it's nice to have a vague idea of what I could or couldn't operate when I finish my time machine.

You gotta hand it to the british though, the universal carrier was basicly world war 2s only viable tankette because the ability to carry cargo and troops actualy gave it purpous.

Nice to see you on again. Love all your videos !

Whatching you sit on the left reminded me of scene from the movie Police Academy 1. Mahony was teaching the tall guy to drive. He didnt in a Pacer so they removed the front seats and sat in the back :D

I’ll be completely honest I saw the video title and went, “What a Chieftain surely can’t fit inside a Uni. Carrier!” I was just entirely confused. Great video! I love it and I will probably start watching them again now.

A carrier section was one of the most heavily armed infantry squads in the war. 3 carriers with 12 guys, 3 Sten SMG, 3 Bren LMG, and 6 rifles. A carrier section could dismount in the blink of an eye. A heavily armed infantry squad with their own battle taxis. What is not to love?

Love to see him get into the 12 Cab Ford in the background

My father drove one of the Australian pattern in the early 1940s. He was 6’2” and did mention the tendency to burn his leg on the engine, but did not otherwise complain. Pity he’s not around to ask...

Reminds me a bit of my local mail-lady. She is a contractor with the USPS and delivers with her own personal vehicle. Of course, a traditional left-hand steering wheel location isn't optimal to deliver mail since almost all mailboxes will be on the right side of the vehicle... so he just sits in the passenger seat and steers/accelerates/brakes like that while having her mail to deliver in the driver's seat. Also, now I want a drawn image of Chieftain sitting in the machine gunner's seat of a UC furiously shooting and driving all at the same time on par with that one British tank commander commenting on the M3 Lee about someone handing him a cheese sandwich while he's telling the driver to move forward but he's reversing, the 37mm turret is firing the wrong way, etc.

May the force be with yo Chieftain🤣

Thank you for sharing

I think the next step is a Renault UE Chenillette, and it's funky armored hoods

No one suffers for his art more than Nick! 😁😁😁😁

I used to play in one of the those in the 1970s in the DLI museum in Durham North East England.

Miracles never cease! Good on ya b'y!

Good Effort, Most amusing

Others of us are girth challenged. Can't traverse the bomb bay of a B-17, can't get in a Sherman.

From one battle to another thanks for the video

Posted 2 days ago, 4700 likes and *zero* dislikes. Also, your film crew was very polite to not laugh at you getting stuck in the thing.

I don't usually get claustrophobic but watching this made me feel woozy?!?!?!? I envisioned the Fire Dept having to cut you out?

Chieftain's videos show us so much about historical vehicles that most books and certainly TV documentaries never mention. I've seen photos and films of people driving a UC, but not getting in or out of the thing. Now we know that driving a UC all day long must have been a challenge for most people.

One of the adverts at the end of this video was for a joint pain relief gel! 😀

Attention all tank enthusiasts! The Australian armor and artillery museum has recently started a video series called "workshop Wednesday". So each Wednesday a fantastic video about tank restoration shows up. They are working on a StuG, Jagdpanther and Goliath now. They really show the restoration, not just pictures before and after. Definitely worth checking out! And no, they didn't send me here, I just like their channel so much.

Kind of reminds me of how I get into my Viper. Still love my Viper. :D

Dad, why doesn't the Chieftain make videos anymore? Well my boy, back in 2021 he tried to fit into a Bren Gun Carrier, couldn't get his foot out from under the pedals, and became a permanent part of the exhibit.

I feel your pain. At 6'2" I have to hunch over to drive my GPW and M3A1. Even the M35A2 I need to tilt my head forward to drive

First line in the advertisement for drivers: "Those over 5' 8"in height need not apply".

No problem, Chieftain on the left with the MG operator in his lap

It's always fun to se Chieftain fit in small vehicles but nothing can compare to drivers spot in IS4

Next up RU-vid, yoga lessons from The Chieftain! All positions carry the name of a tank.🪖🧘‍♂️

Just as cozy as a casket!

It was determined I am too tall to have flown a Hawker Hurricane. I have never been too tall for anything in my adult life. Makes me glad I never tried to be a tanker. I'm probably a few inches wider across the shoulders than you too...

3:41 "Can you imagine driving with your head down like **this**?" Uh, you should see the older people I see driving here in Scotland, I think they'd be happy with it.

I'd love to see "Oh bugger, the tank is on fire."

Fits like a glove!

That dinky little thing was a wonder weapon.

Oh Bugger, I’m stuck!

EMS and Fire Department Personnel: "We got nothin'....By the way, how the hell did he get THAT far into that thing?" Good Old Boy with plasma cutter: " Hell's bells....I'll get him out in a skinny minute....Hold my beer."

The museum staff will walk past in a year and see a big lanky skeleton wearing a cavalry hat sat in the carrier 😀 Though so awesome you tried. Do like a carrier, me. The ultimate Commonwealth workhorse from 39-45. Troops, reinforcements, kit, resupply, recce, platoon assault, diversions, mortars, MGs, anti-tank, flame-throwers (look up the Wasp for the small tracked fiery messenger of death), rockets once, artillery observation, line laying, wireless relay - the carrier will do it all (not at the same time though…).

According to Wikipedia the Universal Carrier was built from 1934 to 1960. The size constraints could be possibly attributed to the fact that most people were a bit smaller in the 1930s. Did later models have more ergonomic designs to adjust to average heights and weights increasing after WWII?

Just for some proper context: a modern Mini is *bigger* than a Universal Carrier - the UC is slightly wider, but the Mini is longer and taller.

The good news is, Private Baldrick will be driving. That’s also the bad news. Fortunately, it’s not an enclosed fighting compartment.

I hope you one day do a video where you go over various track link designs. Most people about the tanks themselves, but nobody really talks about some of the more basic components that might be somewhat unique on a tank to tank or even country by country basis.

When I built the old Tamiya Bren Carrier model kit I cut/bent the driver's legs in several places to make him fit. Fortunately, that wasn't necessary for the Chieftain!

The one question we don’t know we need that answer for :))

"Could drive" is a bit of an overestimation in my opinion. On a flat paved road, yes. But in the field of battle with uneven terrain. . . The next video would have all of us being Forrest Gump. "Chieftain, yah gaht neuw lehgs!" I mean first few bumps and good bye knees.

One day you will get so stuck that they will either 'Winnie the Pooh' you out or they will have to dismantle the vehicle.

love the star on british vehicles, reminder of who's the boss.

For those who wish to laugh, its small size made it an excellent recon vehicle, it provided mobility for the battalion's 3 inch mortars and Vickers machine guns and was the tractor for the 6 pounder (57mm) AT gun which could kill anything up to a Mark IV - see the battle of Snipe - plus it was easy to build in quantity en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_of_Outpost_Snipe#Analysis

Watching this I’m reminded of Jezza Clarkson’s efforts to fit into the GT and GT40.