The AEC armoured car mkIII model is here
History:
At the end of 1941, the armoured car regiments had gained much experience following the fighting in Libya, but their equipment consisted mainly of Marmon-Herringtons too lightly armed to attack the armoured cars of the axis which they were equipped with cannon. It should be noted that the first Humber arrived in September 1941. Southall’s Associated Equipment Company (AEC), middlesex, was already well known before the war because it produced trucks and buses (the famous double-decker buses in London). During the war, the firm AEC produced about 10,000 vehicles from 1941 to 1944, including the powerful artillery tractor Matador. Conscious of the problem of armoured cars, AEC developed on own funds a vehicle on Matador chassis with armament and armor unusual for the time. The idea was to build an armoured car with armament and tank armor. This model presented in London during the Royal Horse Guards Parade in 1941 aroused the interest of the army and a contract for 120 vehicles was passed in June 1941. There were three versions (Mark) in total.
The AEC arrived in North Africa to take part in the fighting at the end of 1942. In order to bring them more firepower, there was usually an AEC by platoon of Humber armoured cars. With the evolution of the fights it quickly appeared that the turret of Valentine and its gun of 2 pounder became obsolete. Several AECs were thus converted locally by the repair shops with a Crusader tank turret and its 6 pounder gun. This modification was then made in the factory in a new turret but even so, even the 6 pounder gun was considered too weak and finally a new QF75 mm gun was adopted in the same turret. These versions came into service during the landing in Sicily and during the Italian campaign. The production was stopped at the end of 1943, the AEC being considered too discreet for its use and also duplicating the Staghound already in service. The AEC was then used during the campaign in Europe in 1944-45 with good results. The AEC was used in the British army until 1958, when it was replaced by Alvis Saladin.
Some vehicles were ceded to the Liberation Army of Yugoslavia in 1944-45 and also after the war to the Lebanese army which used them until 1976.
In the end, the AEC was the most heavily armed and most armed second-world machine gun.
Technical description :
The chassis used was the one already in production of the Matador artillery tractor of the same firm. The vehicle was designed with the front driver and two additional crewmen in the turret. The structure was quite narrow but long and especially high. The wide wheels gave good off-road capabilities, were protected by mudguards with lockers that served as both chests but also protected the crew. The engine was in the back.
The armour from 16mm to 57mm for the first version then to 65mm for the other two was already very efficient (the inclination corresponded to 90mm) given the planned missions. The differences between the versions relate mainly to the turret with its armament and the engine.
Weight: MkI: 11 t – MkII and III: 12.7 t
length: 5,18 m – width: 2,74 m – height: 2,54 m
crew: MkI: 3 – MkII and III: 4
Shield: MkI: 16 mm to 57 mm – MkII and III: 16 mm to 65 mm
armament: MkI: cannon 2 pounder, a Besa machine gun, a Bren rifle
MkII: 6 pounder gun, Besa machine gun, Bren rifle
MkIII: QF75 mm gun, a Besa machine gun, a Bren rifle
Engine: MkI: Diesel AEC195 (7.7 l.) Of 105 HP – MkII and III: Diesel AEC197 (9.6 l.) Of 158 HP
Autonomy: 400 km
Max speed: 65 km / h
Versions:
MkI: Valentine mkI or II turret with 2 pounder gun (40 mm). 129 vehicles built in 1942
MkII: A new turret is designed to carry a 6 pounder gun (57 mm), The front is reinforced. The engine is changed to an AEC197 of 158 HP, the crew passes to four men because the turret is larger. The weight goes to 12.7 t.
MkIII: The only change is the QF75mm gun that is adopted.
AA: anti-aircraft version with a Crusader AA tank turret but not produced in front of Allied air superiority.
In total: 629 vehicles produced from 1942 to 1943
