|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mechanical Transport AP2782A (Section 5) - Armoured Fighting Vehicles
| Car, Armoured, Humber Mks I & IV | |
| RAF Ref No | Unknown |
| Engine | Rootes, 6-cyl. petrol, 90 bhp |
| Transmission | 4 x 4 |
| Performance | Max Speed - 45 mph; MPG - ; Range - 250 miles |
| Dimensions | Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; G/C - ; TC |
| Weights | Unladen - 7 tons; Laden - : |
| Armament |
Mk I - 7.92 mm and 15 mm Besa machine guns plus Vickers 'K' 0.303 machine gun mounted on roof for AA defence. Mk IV - 37 mm gun and 7.92 mm machine in co-axial mounting. |
| Crew | 3 (Mk I), 4 (Mk IV) |
| Armour | 15 mm |
| Tyres | |
| Notes | |
|
Car, 4x4, Light Reconnaissance, Humber Mk III Car, 4x4, Light Reconnaissance, Humber Mk IIIA
Crown Copyright© |
|
| RAF Ref No | 16A/1044 (IIIA) |
| Crew | 3 |
| Engine | 4.1 L 6-cyl inline, side valve, petrol, 80-87 hp (60-65 kW) |
| Power/weight | 29 hp/tonne |
| Suspension | 4 x 2 wheel |
| Performance | Max Speed - 75 mph (121 km/h) on roads; MPG - ; Operational range - 110 mi (180 km) |
| Dimensions | Length - 14 ft 4 in (4.37 m); Width - 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m); Height - 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m); G/C - ; TC |
| Weights | Unladen -3.17 tons ; Laden - : |
| Main armament | Boys anti-tank rifle |
| Secondary armament | 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Bren light machine gun, Smoke discharger |
| Armour | up to 12 mm |
| Tyres | |
| Notes | |
|
Morris, 4x2, Mk I, Light Reconnaissance Car Morris, 4x2, Mk II, Light Reconnaissance Car
Crown Copyright© |
|
| RAF Ref No | |
| Engine | Mounted at rear. Morris EK, 4 cyl, petrol. Bore: 100mm, Stroke: 112mm, Capacity: 3.52 litres. RAC Rating - 24.8 hp. Max BHP - 71 at 3,100 rpm, governed to 2,850 rpm: Max torque - 1,812 lbs/in at 1,600 rpm |
| Transmission |
Gearbox - Drive taken forward to transfer box then
back to conventional rear axle. 4 speed and 1 reverse.
Ratios: 1st - 5.98 to 1, 2nd - 3.37 to 1, 3rd - 1.83 to 1, 4th - 1
to 1, reverse - 7.97 to 1: Transfer Box - Two speed. Ratios: High - 0.77 to 1; Low - 1.18 to 1: Rear axle - ¾ floating, spiral bevel drive, ratio 6.58 to 1 |
| Performance | Max Speed - 50 mph (80 kph); MPG - 10.5; Radius of Action - 145 miles |
| Dimensions | Length - 13 ft 4 inch (4.06 m); Width - 6 ft 8 inch (2.03 m); Height -6 ft 2 inch (1.88 m); WB - 8ft 2 in; G/C - 7¼ in (rear); TC - 36 ft; Track - 5 ft 0-5/8 in (front), 5 ft 3-3/8 in (rear): |
| Weights | Laden - 3.7 tons (less ammunition): |
| Armour | 8-14 mm |
| Body/Crew | Three crew, Commander, driver and gunner. |
| Armament | Main - 0.55 in Boys anti-tank rifle, Secondary - 0.303 in Bren light machine gun |
| Suspension | Independent front wheel springing, semi elliptical rear. Hydraulic shock absorbers. |
| Brakes | Hydraulic foot brakes on all wheels, mechanical hand brake on rear wheels. |
| Tyres | 9.25-16 Run flat. |
| Notes | Mk I: 4 x 2 wheel, Mk II: 4 x 4 wheel Details above refer to Mk 1 |
| Standard, 4x2, Beaverette, Mk I, Light Armoured Car
Standard, 4x2, Beaverette, Mk II, Light Armoured Car
Crown Copyright© |
|
| RAF Ref No | Not stated |
| Engine | Standard, 4 cyl, petrol. Bore: 73mm, Stroke: 106mm, Capacity: 1.776 litres. RAC Rating - 13.23 hp. Max BHP - 45 at 3,000 rpm: Max torque - 948 lbs/in at 2,000 rpm |
| Transmission |
Clutch - Single dry plate Gearbox - 4 speed and 1 reverse. Ratios: 1st - 3.94 to 1, 2nd - 2.45 to 1, 3rd - 1.45 to 1, 4th - 1 to 1, reverse - 3.94 to 1 Front axle - H section Rear axle - Semi-floating, spiral bevel drive, ratio 8.91 to 1 |
| Performance | Max Speed - not stated; MPG - 14; Radius of Action - 170 miles |
| Dimensions | Length - 13 ft 6 in; Width - 5 ft 3 in; Height - 5 ft 0 in; WB - 9 ft 0 in; G/C - 7 in (under axle); TC - not stated; Track - 4 ft 1-1/8 in (front), 4 ft 3½ in (rear): |
| Weights | Laden - 2 tons: |
| Armour | 3/8 in mild steel, backed by 3 in thick oak along the sides and front. |
| Body/Crew | No turret, open body. Two crew, driver and gunner. |
| Armament | 0.303 Bren, which is fired through a vertical slot in the armour (one slot at front, one slot at the rear). |
| Suspension | Semi elliptical. Hydraulic shock absorbers, front and rear. |
| Brakes | Hydraulic foot brakes on all wheels, mechanical hand brake on rear wheels. |
| Tyres | 5.75/6.00-16 |
| Notes | Steering - Cam and lever. A lightly armed, light armoured car mounted on a Standard 14 hp chassis. The engine is mounted in the normal forward and the drive is through the rear wheels only. |
|
Standard, 4x2, Beaverette, Mk III, Light Armoured
Car
Crown Copyright© |
|
| RAF Ref No | Not stated |
| Engine | Standard, 4 cyl, petrol. Bore: 73mm, Stroke: 106mm, Capacity: 1.776 litres. RAC Rating - 13.23 hp. Max BHP - 45 at 3,000 rpm: Max torque - 948 lbs/in at 2,000 rpm |
| Transmission |
Clutch - Single dry plate Gearbox - 4 speed and 1 reverse. Ratios: 1st - 3.94 to 1, 2nd - 2.45 to 1, 3rd - 1.45 to 1, 4th - 1 to 1, reverse - 3.94 to 1 Front axle - H section Rear axle - Semi-floating, spiral bevel drive, ratio 8.91 to 1 |
| Performance | Max Speed - not stated; MPG - 14; Radius of Action - 200 miles |
| Dimensions | Length - 10 ft 2½ in; Width - 5 ft 10 in; Height - 7 ft 1 in; WB - 6ft 2 in; G/C - 7 in (under axle); TC - 32 ft; Track - 4 ft 3½ in (front), 4 ft 7-7/16 in (rear): |
| Weights | Laden - 2 tons 5 cwt (less ammunition): |
| Armour | Hull - 7mm, turret - 7mm. Plate either to Spec IT100 or equivalent in cyanided steel. |
| Body/Crew | Turret - hand traverse, 360 degrees. Two crew, driver and gunner. |
| Armament | Twin Lewis or Winchester on Motley Stalk mounting. |
| Suspension | Semi elliptical. Hydraulic shock absorbers, front and rear. |
| Brakes | Hydraulic foot brakes on all wheels, mechanical hand brake on rear wheels. |
| Wheels/Tyres | 13 x 6.5 Divided/9.00-13 |
| Notes | Steering - Cam and lever (Marles type No 561). A lightly armed, light armoured car mounted on a Standard 14 hp chassis. The engine is mounted in the normal forward and the drive is through the rear wheels only. |
| Tank, Light Infantry, Mark VI
Crown Copyright© |
|
| RAF Ref No | not stated |
| Crew | |
| Engine | |
| Power/weight | |
| Suspension | |
| Performance | Max Speed - ; MPG - ; Radius of Action - |
| Dimensions | Length - ; Width - ; Height - ; G/C - ; TC |
| Weights | Unladen - ; Laden - : |
| Main armament | |
| Secondary armament | |
| Armour | |
| Tyres | |
| Notes | |
|
GMC, 4x4, Type 8447, Light Reconnaissance Car
Crown Copyright© |
|
| RAF Ref No | not stated |
| Engine | GMC 270, 6-cyl. petrol, Valve in head (OHV?), Bore: 96mm (3.78 in), Stroke: 101mm (4 in), Capacity: 4.42 litres (269.5 cu in). Max BHP - 104 at 3,000 rpm: Max torque - 2,664 lbs/ins at 1,000 rpm. RAC Rating - 34.31 hp. |
| Transmission |
Clutch - Single dry plate 11½ dia. Gearbox - 4 speed and 1 reverse. Ratios: 1st - 6.35 to 1, 2nd - 3.31 to 1, 3rd - 1.73 to 1, 4th - 1 to 1, reverse - 7.54 to 1: Transfer Box - Single speed with front axle declutching. Front axle - Steering and driving type. Rear axle - Full floating, spiral bevel drive (Hotchkiss), ratio 6.5 to 1 Overall Ratios - 1st - 41.28 to 1, 2nd - 21.51 to 1, 3rd - 11.24 to 1, 4th - 6.5 to 1, Reverse - 49.01 to 1: |
| Performance | Max Speed - 45.5 mph, governed to 3,000 rpm; MPG - 13.1 (at 25 mph); Radius of Action - 350 miles |
| Dimensions | Length - 14 ft 10¾ in; Width - 7 ft 0 in; Height - 7 ft 10½ in; WB - 8ft 5½ in; G/C - 8¾ in; TC - 49 ft 0 in; Track - 5 ft 10 in (front), 5 ft 10½ in (rear): |
| Weights | Laden - 4 tons 17 cwt: |
| Armour | Armour plate are up to 12mm thickness and to Spec IT100. Front - 12mm, Sides - 6-8mm, Rear - 6, 10 and 12mm, Top - 12mm, Engine - 6-10mm, Turret - 8mm, Hull - 10mm. |
| Body/Crew | Irregular shaped armour plated hull with manually operated turret with a 360 deg. trverse. Turret - fitted with spring-loaded (Ground or AA) mounting for Bren gun. Three crew, Commander (on left of driver), driver and gunner (in turret). 2 entrance doors on sides. |
| Armament |
Bren gun in turret and Boys AT Rifle with mounting,
which can be fired from the Commander's seat. Ammunition - 38 magazines 0.303 for Bren gun, 24 magazines for Boys AT Rifle. Rifle - 1 box 0.303 rifle grenades. Smoke discharger mounted in centre of front panel. 6 Generators for discharger. |
| Suspension | Front and rear semi-elliptical. Double acting shock absorbers, front and rear. |
| Brakes | Foot hydraulic 2 shoe internal expanding type, one-piece external band acting on the propeller shaft in rear of auxiliary box. |
| Wheels/Tyres | GM Split disc type 8 studs 6.00-16/9.00-16 Run flat. |
| Notes |
Steering - Right hand drive, Worm and nut.
A lightly armed, armoured light reconnaissance car with a machine gun turret. The engine is mounted in the normal forward position and the drive is through all four wheels. Wireless - No 19 Wireless set carried on some vehicles in place of Boys AT Rifle. |
This page was last updated on 18/03/25©
