MYSTERY VEHICLE

Help please
Jimmy Johannsen , our Rendsburg based contributor, has kindly sent me a number of photographs relating to the British Army presence in Schleswig Holstein in the 1945/1946 era
There is one which is a complete mystery



This was taken in Summer 1945 in the agricultural hamlet of Moldenit a few miles north east of Schleswig and shows a lightly armoured four wheel vehicle believed to owned by Headquarters 29 Armoured Brigade
Does anyone recognise the vehicle type and its use? Could it be some form of office wagon/command post or alternatively a Royal Signals Rear Link vehicle?

Any thoughts much appreciated.
JPW posted by Steve

This appears to be an AEC ACV. A form of early Armoured Command Post Vehicle. The last time I saw anything similar was at 7 Sigs Reg't, 1978. The design was very similar even then, apart possibly 6x6 Whl Drive.

Interesting looking vehicle, it does look like the AEC 'Dorchester'. Here's a closer pic.

http://www.warwheels.net/images/AEC%20DorchesterACV2_HP_Haugh%20(3).jpg


And the post 1944 6x6 version:

I've just read that Rommel used two captured 'Dorchesters' in his desert campaign, and apparently there are just five left. If what I'm reading is to be believed there are three in museums, one in a scrap yard in Scotland and another has turned up in Australia of all places.

Is it a vehicle, looks like a trailer to me?

Could be a Royal Signals Golden Arrow Detachment
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/weapons-technology-equipment/21788-golden-arrow-wireless-4-wireless-group.html

Could be a Royal Signals detachment, the guys standing around look pretty scruffy.

Yep, a Dorchester ACV, based on the Matador chassis.

I don't care what the thing is . . .get a bloody cam net over it !

At first I thought it was a trailer but on closer look at internet sites found this photo of a 6 Armoured (Way to Go) Division Dorchester .. as 6 Div were in the desert campaign I wonder if it was one of theirs that Rommel snaffled.

Len (Ciphers)

brum wrote:

I don't care what the thing is . . .get a bloody cam net over it !

definately an armoured naafi wagon , or maybe sally ann canteen , ginger .

I remember being shown an armoured command veh while I was on a course at Bovington, in the early 60s.
This was the monster AEC 6x6 job and we were assured that it was "Monty's Command Post".

And Brum, this was mine ..

Len (Ciphers)

Gentlemen

Thank you for your enlightening and informative responses to my original query. Now all I have to establish which unit was in Moldenit in Summer 1945. HQ 29 Armoured Brigade Echelon?Their supporting Signals Squadron? Or both?

It never ceases to amaze me the wealth of accurate historical military information (often based on personal experience) which can be revealed by members of this site.

ciphers wrote:

And Brum, this was mine ..

Len (Ciphers)

Yep, that'll be the one.

Is it just me, or do you never see 2 Scaleys dressed the same?

Shelldrake

Same detail applies to REME. It was often said that if two REME soldiers (particularly officers) were identically turned out, one was improperly dressed

We like our individuality Shelldrake..

JPW wrote:

Shelldrake

Same detail applies to REME. It was often said that if two REME soldiers (particularly officers) were identically turned out, one was improperly dressed

I was a Tech Storeman and you wouldn`t catch me wearing greasy overalls.

Not after I changed from `A` Mech that is.

Vehical in Post #1 was the AEC 4x4 ACV. The vehicle, based on AEC Matador chassis, entered production in 1941. A total of about 415 units were built.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEC_Armoured_Command_Vehicle

In 1944 a larger AEC 6x6 ACV was developed. The vehicle was based on AEC 0857 lorry chassis and was powered by the AEC 198 150 hp engine. The hull was welded from 9 mm thick rolled steel. The weight of the vehicle reached 17 tons. One hundred and fifty one units were built. These 6x6's remained in service in BAOR till the 60's

The man on the left individually dressed smart and intelligent unlikely to be cypher Cpl. The man on the right possibly Scottish. ?

Bang on Dulaigh, SMART and INTELLIGENT Cipher(Cypher) Cpl. .... and the other guy ....
L/Cpl 'Jock' McMillan ... psychic are ye the noo.

Len (Ciphers)

No Len I failed my Army IQ test

Nearly as scruffy as the QOH in Hohne 1986 !! LOL
atb
Pinky
HUSSAR