British Cold War Trucks
British cold war trucks & soft skin military vehicles (1947-1990)
The end of WW2 had the British forces massively reducing its army while having a surplus of military vehicles, and that was true for the commonwealth as well. After six years of wartimle use, most were so worn out as to be in a very poor state and were sent straight to the scrapyard. Development of military trucks in the later 1940s and early 1950s was thus tailored to replace this WW2 park, and also searching for the ideal military vehicle, with the best off-road caracteristics.
The War Office turned to traditional British manufacturers for a family of standard types (as most European countries did) to avoid the WW2 logistical nightmare. This was also encourage by NATO and ther US, that pushed for an universal type, ideally a 4x4 lorry and a 6x6 medum tractical truck. This search was also compounded by looking after new 4x4 light reconnaissance and staff vehicles to replace the Jeep (leading to the Land Rover) and this era was brimming with new ideas.
The Cold War looming large, with the BAOR (British troops in Germany), the need was important, that fear led to create quite creative designs, identified below the new FV numbering system looking as standardising all British military vehicles, armoured or not. Some quite amazing trucks took shape on drawing board, like the Foden and Stalwart but a traditional brand like Bedford did the heavy lifting.
During the Cold War, British military forces used a variety of trucks for logistical support, transportation, and other military purposes. The specific models and types of trucks evolved over the years, but some notable examples include:
Bedford RL: The Bedford RL series of trucks were widely used by the British military during and after World War II, and they continued to be in service during the early years of the Cold War. They were versatile and used for various roles, including cargo transport, troop transport, and as a platform for mounting various equipment.
Foden: The Foden brand produced several military truck models that were used by the British military. Foden trucks were known for their durability and were employed in roles such as cargo transport, recovery vehicles, and artillery tractors.
Leyland DAF 4-tonne and 8-tonne trucks: Leyland played a significant role in providing military trucks to the British Armed Forces. The Leyland DAF series included trucks with different load capacities, and they were commonly used for transporting troops and cargo.
Land Rover Series III: While not a traditional truck, the Land Rover Series III was widely used by the British military for various purposes, including reconnaissance, communication, and light transport. Its versatility and off-road capabilities made it a popular choice.
Scammell: Scammell produced heavy-duty trucks and specialized vehicles for the British military. The Scammell Commander, for example, was a heavy recovery vehicle that played a crucial role in recovering damaged or disabled military vehicles.
List
Stalwart
Foden
Bedford MJ
Bedford RL
Bedford TK/MK
Bedford TM
Scamell Commander
Leyland DAF
Land Rover (general)
Land Rover LW series IIa-III
Land Rover Defender
Land Rover FC
Land Rover CAV100 Snatch Defender
Land Rover LRDG
British Pinzgauer
Austin Champ
Alvis Unipower
Alvis Supacat ATMP
Coyote
Jackal
Land rover RWMIK
land Rover Wolf
Land Rover Defender BFA
Land Rover Perentie
MAN SV (Mark I-III)
Marshall Gasket 3
Toyota Jankel Al-Thalab
Sky Sabre
Also used but not British built: Oshkosh HET (tank transporter), MTVR (tanker), M3 Amphib Rig, MAN SV, MAN EPLS Mk3, Pinzgauer, Toyota Hilux, Polaris MRZR4, Grizzly 450, snowmobile Lynx GLX 5900.
More To come.