Military Trucks Archive: AEC Military Vehicles
Military Trucks Archive 06: AEC Military Vehicles, 65 Years of Front Line Service
AEC can trace its origins back to 1909 when it was established to build buses for the London General Omnibus Company. In 1914 AEC diversified into commercial vehicles, eventually producing some 10,000 ‘V Type’ 3-ton trucks, many of which were supplied to the War Office.
But AEC is probably best known for the iconic Matador. More than 10,000 examples were produced during WW2, with most bodied as artillery tractors, but the Matador was also adapted to 6×6 configuration, as well as providing the basis for an armoured car, and 4×4 and 6×6 armoured command vehicles. The first specialised post-war military product was the lO-ton six-wheeled Militant, supplied as a cargo or tipper truck, tractor for semi-trailer, aircraft refuelling tanker, artillery tractor, and mobile crane. An eventual 3000 examples were built, with a much-improved Mk 3 Militant appearing in 1966, for the heavy recovery and cargo roles.
In its heyday, AEC enjoyed a worldwide reputation for the quality of its trucks and buses, and especially of military vehicles, and at one time had manufacturing plants in a half-dozen countries, but trouble was brewing following the company’s take-over by Leyland in 1962, and the days of the specialised AEC military vehicle were numbered.
The book is illustrated throughout with black and white photographs
65 Years of Front-Line service
More than 195 Rare Images
Ideal for anyone interested in British military vehicles
