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 Armoured Command Vehicle
AEC 4x4 ACV
Type	Armoured command vehicle
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1941 – 1945
Used by	United Kingdom  Nazi Germany (Captured)
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Associated Equipment Company
Designed	1941
Manufacturer	Associated Equipment Company Birtley Ordnance Factory Weymann Motor Bodies
Unit cost	£1,576
Produced	1941 – 1948
No. built	415
Variants	See versions
Specifications (AEC 4x4 ACV)
Mass	12.0 long tons; 13.4 short tons (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

British service

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

During the World War II, 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 0853 Matador truck 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.

AEC 6x6 Armoured Command Vehicle

In 1944, a larger AEC 6x6 ACV was developed. The vehicle was based on the AEC 0857 truck chassis. It was powered by the AEC 198 150 hp (110 kW) engine, with a welded hull made from 9 mm (0.35 in) thick rolled steel and a weight reaching 17 tons. 151 units were built.

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

An AEC Dorchester at IWM

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

German service

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

Three 4x4 ACVs were captured by the German Afrika Korps. Two of them, named "Max" and "Moritz", were employed by Rommel and his staff throughout the campaign.

Versions

Armoured Command Vehicle

• AEC 4×4 ACV Mk. I – AEC 0853 Matador truck chassis, one large internal compartment.
• AEC 4×4 ACV Mk. II – AEC 0853 Matador truck chassis; Two smaller internal compartments, an office and a radio room.
• AEC 6×6 ACV – AEC 0857 truck chassis.

Variants

High power variant

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 variant

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.

Armored Demolition Vehicle

Created and used by engineering units; mounted equipment such as compressors, jack hammers and other tools used by the sappers.

See also

• Guy Lizard Armoured Command Vehicle