AEC armoured command vehicle

AEC armoured command vehicles (ACVs) were a series of command vehicles built by the British Associated Equipment Company (AEC) during the Second World War .

AEC 4x4 ACV
AEC command car
Type	Armoured command vehicle
Service history
Used by	British Army
Wars	Second World War
Production history
Manufacturer	Associated Equipment Company Birtley Ordnance Factory Weymann Motor Bodies
Unit cost	£1,576
Produced	1941 - 1948
No. built	415
Variants	Low Power, High Power, AEC 6x6 ACV
Specifications
Mass	12.2 t
Length	20 ft 0 in (6.10 m)
Width	7 ft 9 in (2.36 m)
Height	9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
Crew	7-8 (3 officers, 3 radio operators, 2 drivers)
Armour	10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in)
Main armament	1 x .303 inch Bren light machine gun, carried inside
Engine	AEC 187 6-cylinder diesel engine 95 hp (71 kW)
Power/weight	7.8 hp/tonne
Suspension	wheeled 4x4
Operational range	280 mi (450 km)
Maximum speed	37 mph (60 km/h)

History

An ACV of the 23rd Infantry Brigade HQ at Francolise, 14 March 1944

During the Second World War, the United Kingdom was the only country to develop and widely employ purpose-built armoured command vehicles. Those were essentially armoured buses based on truck chassis.

The most common ACV of the British Army was the AEC 4x4 ACV. The vehicle, based on AEC Matador chassis, entered production in 1941. A total of about 415 units were built. The vehicle was used for the first time in the North African Campaign and remained in service until the end of the war. Big and comfortable, it was nicknamed "Dorchester" by the troops, after the luxury hotel in London.

Captured AEC ACV used by Erwin Rommel in the North African campaign

Three ACVs of this type were captured by the German Afrika Korps. Two of them, named "Max" and "Moritz", were employed by Rommel and his staff throughout the campaign.

In 1944 a larger AEC 6x6 ACV was developed. The vehicle was based on the AEC 0857 lorry chassis and was powered by the AEC 198 150 hp engine. The hull was welded from 9 mm thick rolled steel. The weight of the vehicle reached 17 tons. One hundred and fifty one units were built.

Both vehicles were built in two configurations, called LP (low power) and HP (high power), with different radio equipment.

Some ACVs were conversions of armoured demolition vehicles that used the same bodywork.

An AEC Dorchester at IWM

Variants

High power

One No. 19 wireless set, one R 107 high-frequency reception set. The No. 19 set had a maximum output of 30 watts and maximum range of 45 miles (72 km).

Low-power body

Two No. 19 wireless sets. No. 19 set with a maximum output of 30 watts and maximum range of 45 miles (72 km) for communications with higher commands.

See also

• Guy Lizard