Car Gear

2 Responses to “What kinds of cars did the British army use in WW1?”

1. bearstirringfromcave Says:
   February 17th, 2009 at 8:45 am

   Many of the cars that served Britain during the First World War were made by the Austin Motor Company as well as Leland Motor Company, and Talbot was another known manufacturer, but why not go for the best - - - Rolls-Royce not only prestigious but tough and reliable

   The Brtish also utilized French and Italian Vehicles; from Rance the Peugot and Renault and from Italy the Lancia…
   American Packards were also prized; great cars for an Officer tooting around the battlefield..

   this link has great photos..
   “”"Leyland Motors manufactured 4 heavy armored cars in 1915 for service in East Africa. The cars had no mud guards and had solid rubber tires. Drawbacks included a high center of gravity and a narrow wheel base. Later they were fitted with flanged wheels that allowed them to be driven on railroad tracks.
   Peerless Armored Car
   The first cars appeared in 1915. They were based on a US 4 x 2 truck chassis that the RNAS armored and armed with a pompom gun and a machine gun. The vehicle had chain drive and solid tires. Wolseley Motor Company assembled 16 for the RNAS, but by 1915 they had no need for them and turned them over to the army. The 17th Bn of the Tank Corps used these cars in Ireland for internal security. The vehicle was robust, slow, and had terrible cross country performance. The Peerless was in use as a training vehicle at late as 1939.
   Lanchester - England

   Designed to support air bases and retrieve downed pilots, the Lanchester was the most numerous armored car in service after the Rolls-Royce. When the army took control of the armored car forces in 1915, it was decided to phase this unit out. Remaining units were sent to Russia - along with their naval crews. There they served with distinction in Galicia, Romania, and Persia. Considered reliable and fast, they served as reconnaissance units before being shipped back to the England.”

   AND YES IT WAS ROLLS-ROYCE in Palestine!!
   “”"Rolls-Royce

   In 1914, the Royal Naval Air Service noted how the Belgians were using the Minerva armored car to carry out raids on the German Army. The RNAS decided to convert some of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost cars in their possession. The conversion was a success, and the Admiralty gave permission for an official armored car based on the Silver Ghost chassis. With strengthened suspension and added armor, the Rolls-Royce saw service all over the world from March 1915, notably in Africa and the Arabian peninsula, were they proved to have excellent cross country mobility. They were most at home in terrain where they could roam far and wide. They were considered an important arm in the Arabic army led by the famous Lawrence of Arabia. Officially phased out of service in 1922*, some continued to serve in India during WW2. Also the the entry on the Fordson Armored Car.

   I received this letter. As I learned in the military myself, there is a vast difference between “Officially Phased Out” and actual practice. I suppose the best one is that I learned of was HF radio transmitters still in use in Germany that simply had their Swastika’s painted over in the late 1970’s.

   “Bill,

   The section I was referring to was under the heading of Great Britain and ‘other vehicles’ It states that the Rolls Royce was officially phased out in 1922. Whilst this might have been the case within the Army and Royal Navy it definitely wasn’t the case with the Royal Air Force. My granfather was a Cpl driver with The RAF in Iraq & Palestine from 1922 to 1926 Using Rolls Royce Armored Cars.

   I’ve also referred to “War Cars - British Armored Cars in the First World War” by David Fletcher

   3rd & 4th Armored Car Companies (ACC) were based at Egypt & Palestine. 1st, 2nd & 6th ACC were stationed at Iraq - The majority of these cars were the 1914 pattern R-Royces. In 1922 The RAF took responsibility for security in Iraq.. they inherited many of the older cars whilst adding to their strength WITH NEWLY BUILT R_ROYCES of their own. Fletcher even goes on to say that some of these 1914 & 1920 cars survived into the second world war - when the R-ROYCE chassis wore out the bodies were placed on Fordson chassis.

   The Air Ministry finally scrapped the cars in 1944.

   The Royal Air Force cars were built at the instruction of Lord Trenchard - the Father of the RAF. The War Office wouldn’t authorize the use of Army Tactical vehicles by the RAF so Trenchard after a bitter dispute with Churchill authorized the RAF workshops to start building its own cars - they were delivered between 1921 and 1922. The reason the RAF were in Iraq/TransJordania was because Trenchard was trying to prove that with only a small number of aircraft peace could be maintained by a very small ground force over a massive area. The Royal Navy and Army in turn were fighting against the concept with a view to closing the RAF and regaining control ovedr their respective flying forces. (Source “Trenchard” by Andrew Boyle approx 1956)

   One final story my grandfather used to tell me, since confirmed, was that they used to drag a plough across the Iraq desert as a navigation aid for the new airlines and military flights over the Middle East. Each time their was a sand storm they would have to go back out again and re plough the line!!

   I hope the above has been of some interest and help.

   Charles Sanderson Flt Lt RAF Retired

   ps Third Generation of the family in the Royal Air Force”

   Specifications Crew 3 or 4
   Weight 7480 lbs
   Length 16′ 6″
   Height 8′ 4.5″
   Width 6′ 3″
   Range 150 miles
   Armor 9mm
   Armament One .303 MG
   Engine 40/50hp Rolls Royce
   Performance 60 mph “”"

   Pax———————

2. boggle10 Says:
   February 18th, 2009 at 5:54 pm

   Very tough information to find. Try this link…it’s the best I could come up with:

   Look under this link

   Color Photographs of British Military Vehicles (1915)

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