Matador Dorchester (Armoured Command Vehicle)

[Louis]

The AEC Matador was an artillery tractor built by the Associated Equipment Company for British and Commonwealth forces during the Second World War.- AEC had already built a 4 x 2 lorry, also known as the Matador (all AEC lorries received 'M' names).-

The Matador was distinctive with its flat fronted cab with gently curved roof, wheels at the corners and a flat load carrying area covered by a canvas or tarpaulin tilt. The cab was made from Ash and clad in steel. It was equipped with a winch (7-ton load in its case) like all artillery tractors. -

In addition to the basic model on the "Matador" chassis several armored vehicles for different purposes were created. The first of them was an armored personnel carrier Dorchester.-

This APC was created in 1940 by installing on the "Matador" chassis a big armored wagon body with 10-12 mm armor. - Crew was 7-8 people. The first APC arrived to British military units in North Africa in 1941 and worked at headquarters.-

In Africa, three of these armored vehicles were captured by the Germans, while one of them was used as a personal staff car of General Rommel.-

Total since 1941, 416 Dorchesters were made.-

wiki
airlandsea.info

 

[Louis]

 

[Louis]

Cleaning or replacing broken images.

 

[Louis]

Rommel's favourites command vehicles were 2 captured British AEC Armoured Command Vehicles, they were named "Max" & "Moritz". Named after two mischievous boys from an 1865 children’s book by Wilhelm Busch. Big and comfortable were employed by Rommel and his staff throughout the campaign. In the pic the Matador named "Moritz".

 

[Gunner]

Looks like a bit of a mobile oven....