WW2 British & commonwealth trucks and cars
About 1,500,000 vehicles of all types between the interwar and 1945
Bedford QLD
The topic of British trucks in World War Two had been much neglected postwar, with the few and most succint publications going back some 40 years old, and not covering all aspects of the topic. We can cite however Les Freathy's book by Tankograd Publishing recently but that's about it. Ths goal of this current page is to analyse manufacturers and their designs, the major truck types used by the British Royal Army in WW2 and their variants but also artillery tractors, and staff cars, knowing that any armoured variants should be treated in Tank Encyclopedia. Wish me luck in this different topic that i expect to cover between books and open internet sources.
David Bocquelet, Tank, Naval and Truck Encyclopedia
British Trucks summary
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AEC Matador
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AEC Armoured Command Vehicle (415)
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Albion CX 22S
-Albion WD.CX24 Tank Transporter
-Austin K2/Y Ambulance (13,102)
-Austin K3/YF (Cargo Truck)
-Austin K30 (Cargo Truck)
-Austin K4/Dropside
-Austin K5
-Austin K6 GS/Gantry
-Bedford MW
-Bedford OXA Armoured
-Bedford OXC Semi-trailer
-Bedford OXD GS
-Bedford OYC Tanker
-Bedford OYD GS
-Bedford QLB Bofors
-Bedford QLD GS
-Bedford QLR/QLC Radio/communications
-Bedford QLT Troop carrier
-Crossley Q-Type
-Guy Ant
-Guy Lizard Armoured Command Vehicle (21 built)
-Humber FWD.
-Karrier K6
-Leyland Hippo Mk II
-Morris CS.8 (15cwt)
-Morris ML Ambulance
-Morris C8 FAT
-Morris Commercial CD series
-Morris Commercial CS8
-Morris Commercial 8x8 GS Terrapin amphibious truck (500)
-Scammell Pioneer Semi-trailer SV1S and SV2S (~500)
British tractors
Scammell Pioneer
In the Boer war, the Royal Artillery used the Thornycroft "steamer" and in WWI the Thornycroft Gun Tractor alongside the Holt type. The British Army started to moved towards a fully mechanized artillery during the 1920s and 30s already, using the
Vickers Medium Dragon and
Light Dragon, which were fully-tracked artillery tractors replacing Holt models from WWI, but in place they were replaced with much faster wheeled vehicles as the Army wanted to catch up with the pace of a fully motorized brigade, notably after the famous exercizes of Salisbury Plains.
This process starting with the Morris CDSW. The Royal Artillery however considered still that it secondary line role meant infantry and vanguards would have secured the terrain first, and persisted with specialist artillery tractors ("Field Artillery Tractors") but eventually adopted 4WD vehicles such as the Morris "Quad", Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) "Quad" and AEC Matador which formed its core during World War II, rather than a more general purpose vehicle. These differed from "General Service" (GS) vehicles by having a dedicated gun detachment compartment behind the cab, separated from the cargo space which had the ammunition and gun stores, parts and maintenance kit. The goal was to have a fully motorized "unit" as part of a battery of three to six vehicles.
Models:
Thornycroft Hathi – UK, 1924; early 4x4
Scammell Pioneer – British, 1937; lorry used for heavy artillery
Morris C8 – UK, 1938; the "Quad" British tractor; towed the 25-pdr gun, 6-pdr AT gun, and 40-mm Bofors AA gun
Karrier KT4 – UK; for the British Indian Army
AEC Matador – UK, World War II; lorry used for pulling medium artillery such as the 5.5 inch gun and 3.7 inch AA Gun
Mack NO – USA, World War II; 6x6 truck (a few by lend-lease)
Dodge WC4 & WC22 4x4 (same)
White Scout Car – USA, 1941; 4x4 utility armored car (same)
CMP FAT – Canadian tractor, mostly Canadian Army;
(More To Come)
British staff cars
Ford WOA2:
The British Ford division created staff cars based on the Ford Model 62. A more powerful engine was introduced in may 1941, as command car for high echelon officers. About 5,000 unités were delivered between may 1941 and july 1944.
FORD WOA2 Data:
- Crew: 1+3/4
- Dimensions: Length: 4.39 m , Width: 1.90 m, Height: 1.78, Weight: 2.17 t
- Engine: Ford V8, gasoline, 85 hp/3600 rpm
- Performances: Top speed flat 76 km/h, Range 280 km
Austin 10 Utility Car
This Small staff car was based on the Austin 10. The passengers aft compartment was replaced by a flatbed protected by a tarpaulin. These vehicles were used on all fronts by British and Commonwealth forces on all fronts as well as USAAF units based in England. Many survived until the Sixties as civilian vehicles.
Chevrolet 1.5 ton
Also called Chevrolet G506 or "1+1⁄2-ton, 4x4, chevrolet", this was a very common light truck delivered by lend-lease to the british Army: About 35,000 over 154,204, although the bulk of exports, some 47,700, went to the Soviet Union. This would be the object of a standalone post in the US section.
Chevrolet Standard 40
No info yet, Chevrolet Master M1940 in British service.
Chevrolet C8
Produced by Canada (Canadian Military Pattern truck): 4x2, 101-inch wheelbase, 8 cwt
Ford C8A
Chevrolet C8A, same Canadian production. Heavy Utility Truck (4x4, 101 inch wheelbase, 8 cwt). Produced in Wireless (HUW), Ambulance (HUA), Personnel (HUP), Machinery ZL (mobile radio repair shop) and Computer (accounting, payroll) configurations. Canada however produced also Dodge trucks but concentrated on the Ford F15 and CMP, also used by the british Army.
Humber FFW
British general-purpose light truck, 400 kg, built in 1939 for the need to mechanize most of the British expeditionary corps. It was used primarily for the second row, as a command vehicle or radio, and with a 85 hp Humber petrol engine.
Humber FWD
The Humber Heavy Utility Car was with Ford 4 X 4 Heavy Utility Car the main staff/command car of the British Army in WW2. It was nicknamed the "Humber Box". Fully British-made four-wheel-drive staff car, introduced in 1941, and produced until 1945 and the used still in the fifties. Its passenger compartment and body were entirely in steel. Later models gained a sunroof. Six seats, four individual and a bunk at the rear, additional folding seats mostly used to carry equipment. There was also at the rear a folding maps table. Two hinged doors on each side, full width double rear door. Many details came from the Humber 8-cwi 4x4. Used tropicalized in North Africa wih a tarpaulin instead of a roof. Few had a sunroof, mostly for high rank officers.
Humber Staff Saloon 4x2 Car
No info.
Humber Super Snipe (1939) 4x2 Car
Only 1500 were made in 1938-1940. 2-door coupe or 4-doors saloon, powered by the same 4086 cc Straight-6 side valve engine.
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Super Snipe
An overview of British interwar truck production
Work in progress
WW2 British and commonwealth transportation
Work in progress
Src
http://panzerserra.blogspot.com/2015/04/leyland-retriever-gantry-version-6x4.html