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Great Britain's flag

Great Britain's Associated Equipment Company (AEC) Armored Cars

‹›

Design

Associated Engineering Company Limited made this as a private venture based on the experiences in North Africa.

Chassis

The chassis was based on the Matador artillery tractor.

Crew

The driver was able to raise and lower his seat when his hatch was open to allow him to see better. Otherwise, when the hatch was closed he had to rely on periscopes to see where he was going.

Drive

The AEC could be used as a 4x2 while on roads and a 4x4 over rougher terrain.

Prototype

The first prototype arrived in early 1941 with an order being placed in June.

Production

  • AEC Mk I: 120
  • AEC Mk II:
  • AEC Mk III:
  • Total: 629
  • Manufacturer: AEC (Associated Engineering Company Ltd) of Southall, London

Variants

  • AEC Mk I: Used same turret as Valentine.
  • AEC Mk II: 57 mm / 6 pdr was installed. Had electric powered traversing turret.
  • AEC Mk III: Installed a British copy of the US M3 75 mm tank gun. Had electric powered traversing turret.
  • AEC AA: Prototype only.

Usage

North Africa

Most of the AEC Mk Is and AEC Mk IIs were sent to the 8th Army in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy.

Yugoslavia

A few models were sent to the Yugoslavian partisans in 1944.

Italy

Most of the AEC Mk IIIs were used in Italy.

Northwest Europe

The AEC Mk III was used as a supporting vehicle to other armored cars in armored car regiments.

Post World War II

The Belgian Army used the AECs into the 1950s.

Specifications

‹›
  AEC
Crew 3 or 4
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 11 tons
11,175 kg
Length 17'
5.18 m
Height 8' 4"
2.55 m
Width 8' 10.5", 9'
2.74 m
Ground clearance  
Ground pressure  
Turret ring diameter  
Armament  
Main 2 pdr, 6 pdr, or 75 mm
Secondary  
MG 7.92 mm Besa or 7.7 mm MG
MG - coaxial  
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main  
Secondary  
MG  
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm) 57
Hull Front, Upper  
Hull Front, Lower  
Hull Sides, Upper  
Hull Sides, Lower  
Hull Rear  
Hull Top  
Hull Bottom  
Turret Front  
Turret Sides  
Turret Rear  
Turret Top  
Engine (Make / Model) AEC
Cylinders  
Net HP  
Transmission  
Fuel type  
Octane  
Capacity  
Performance  
Traverse  
Speed - Road 40 mph
65 kph
Speed - Cross Country  
Range - Road 250 miles
400 km
Turning Radius  
Elevation Limits  
Fording depth  
Trench crossing  
Vertical Obstacle  
Suspension (Type)  
Wheels each side  
Tires  
  AEC Mk I
Crew 3
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 24,640 lb
11 tons
Length 17'
5.18 m
Height 8' 4.5", 8' 4.25"
2.55 m
Width 8' 10.5"
2.7 m
Ground clearance  
Ground pressure  
Turret ring diameter  
Armament  
Main 40 mm
Secondary  
MG  
MG - coaxial 7.92 mm Besa MG
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main  
Secondary  
MG  
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm)  
Hull Front, Upper  
Hull Front, Lower  
Hull Sides, Upper  
Hull Sides, Lower  
Hull Rear  
Hull Top  
Hull Bottom  
Turret Front  
Turret Sides  
Turret Rear  
Turret Top  
Engine (Make / Model) AEC
Cylinders 6
Net HP 105
Transmission  
Fuel type Diesel
Octane  
Capacity  
Performance  
Traverse  
Speed - Road 36 mph
58 kph
Speed - Cross Country  
Range - Road 250 miles
402 km
Turning Radius  
Elevation Limits  
Fording depth  
Trench crossing  
Vertical Obstacle  
Suspension (Type)  
Wheels each side  
Tires  
  AEC Mk II
Crew 4
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 28,448 lb
12.7 tons
Length 17' 10"
5.182 m
Height 8' 10"
2.69 m
Width 8' 10.5"
2.7 m
Ground clearance  
Ground pressure  
Turret ring diameter  
Armament  
Main 57 mm
Secondary  
MG  
MG - coaxial  
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main  
Secondary  
MG  
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm)  
Hull Front, Upper  
Hull Front, Lower  
Hull Sides, Upper  
Hull Sides, Lower  
Hull Rear  
Hull Top  
Hull Bottom  
Turret Front  
Turret Sides  
Turret Rear  
Turret Top  
Engine (Make / Model) AEC
Cylinders 6
Net HP 155, 158
Transmission  
Fuel type Diesel
Octane  
Capacity  
Performance  
Traverse  
Speed - Road 41 mph
66 kph
Speed - Cross Country  
Range - Road 250 miles
402 km
Turning Radius  
Elevation Limits  
Fording depth  
Trench crossing  
Vertical Obstacle  
Suspension (Type)  
Wheels each side  
Tires  
  AEC Mk III
Crew 4
Physical Characteristics  
Weight 28,448 lb
12.7 tons
12,903.2 kg
Length 18' 5"
5.61 m, 5.613 m
Height 8' 10"
2.69 m
Width 8' 10", 8' 10.5"
2.69 m, 2.7 m
Ground clearance  
Ground pressure  
Turret ring diameter  
Armament  
Main 75 mm M3
Secondary  
MG  
MG - coaxial 7.7 mm / .303" Besa MG
Side arms  
Quantity  
Main  
Secondary  
MG  
Side arms  
Armor Thickness (mm) 30
Hull Front, Upper  
Hull Front, Lower  
Hull Sides, Upper  
Hull Sides, Lower  
Hull Rear  
Hull Top  
Hull Bottom  
Turret Front  
Turret Sides  
Turret Rear  
Turret Top  
Engine (Make / Model) AEC
Cylinders 6
Net HP 155, 158
Transmission  
Fuel type Diesel
Octane  
Capacity  
Performance  
Traverse  
Speed - Road 41 mph
66 kph
Speed - Cross Country  
Range - Road 250 miles
402 km
Turning Radius  
Elevation Limits  
Fording depth  
Trench crossing  
Vertical Obstacle  
Suspension (Type)  
Wheels each side  
Tires  

Sources:

  1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
  2. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  3. World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006
20th Century American Military History Crucial Site