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

Photos

AEC Mk II armored car:	AEC Mk II armored car:	AEC Mk II armored car:	AEC Mk III armored car:
AEC AA 1944 armored car:

Design

Associated Engineering Company Limited made this as a private venture based on the experiences in North Africa.^2,3

Chassis

The chassis was based on the Matador artillery tractor.^2,3

Crew

The driver was able to raise and lower his seat when his hatch was open to allow him to see better.² Otherwise, when the hatch was closed he had to rely on periscopes to see where he was going.²

Drive

The AEC could be used as a 4x2 while on roads and a 4x4 over rougher terrain.^2,3

Prototype

The first prototype arrived in early 1941 with an order being placed in June.²

Production

• AEC Mk I: 120^2,3
• AEC Mk II:
• AEC Mk III:
• Total: 629^2,3
• Manufacturer: AEC (Associated Engineering Company Ltd) of Southall, London²

Variants

• AEC Mk I: Used same turret as Valentine.³
• AEC Mk II: 57 mm / 6 pdr was installed.^2,3 Had electric powered traversing turret.²
• AEC Mk III: Installed a British copy of the US M3 75 mm tank gun.^2,3 Had electric powered traversing turret.²
• 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.³

Yugoslavia

A few models were sent to the Yugoslavian partisans in 1944.²

Italy

Most of the AEC Mk IIIs were used in Italy.²

Northwest Europe

The AEC Mk III was used as a supporting vehicle to other armored cars in armored car regiments.³

Post World War II

The Belgian Army used the AECs into the 1950s.^2,3

Specifications

	AEC	AEC Mk I	AEC Mk II	AEC Mk II
Crew	3 or 41	32,3	42,3	42,3
Physical Characteristics
Weight	11 tons1 11,175 kg1	24,640 lb 11 tons2	28,448 lb 12.7 tons2	28,448 lb 12.7 tons2,3 12,903.2 kg3
Length w/gun	17'1 5.18 m1	17'2 5.18 m2	17' 10"2 5.182 m2	18' 5"2,3 5.61 m3, 5.613 m2
Length w/o gun
Height	8' 4"1 2.55 m1	8' 4.5"2, 8' 4.25" 2.55 m2	8' 10"2 2.69 m2	8' 10"2,3 2.69 m2,3
Width	8' 10.5", 9'1 2.74 m1	8' 10.5"2 2.7 m2	8' 10.5"2 2.7 m2	8' 10"3, 8' 10.5"2 2.69 m3, 2.7 m2
Ground clearance
Ground pressure
Turret ring diameter
Armament
Main	2 pdr, 6 pdr, or 75 mm1	40 mm2	57 mm2	75 mm M32,3
Secondary
MG	7.92 mm Besa or 7.7 mm MG1
MG - coaxial		7.92 mm Besa MG2		7.7 mm / .303" Besa MG3
Side arms
Quantity
Main
Secondary
MG
Side arms
Armor Thickness (mm)	571			303
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)	AEC1	AEC2	AEC2	AEC2,3
Cylinders		62	62	62,3
Net HP		1052	1552, 158	1552,3, 158
Transmission
Fuel type		Diesel2	Diesel2	Diesel2,3
Octane
Capacity
Performance
Traverse
Speed - Road	40 mph1 65 kph1	36 mph2 58 kph2	41 mph2 66 kph2	41 mph2,3 66 kph2,3
Speed - Cross Country
Range - Road	250 miles1 400 km1	250 miles2 402 km2	250 miles2 402 km2	250 miles2,3 402 km2,3
Turning Radius
Elevation Limits
Fording depth
Trench crossing
Vertical Obstacle
Suspension (Type)
Wheels each side
Tires