📌 AEC Matador Medium Artilley Tractor, IWM Duxford.
The AEC Matador was a Heavy 4x4 Truck and Medium Artillery Tractor built by the Associated Equipment Company for the British and Commonwealth forces during World War Two. AEC had already built a 4x2 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. As an Artillery Tractor, rather than a cargo vehicle, the wooden sides were fixed in place without folding down, but did have a narrow crew door on each side. Two transverse bench seats were provided for the Gun Crew, accessed through the side doors, at the first side bay on the left and the second on the right. The cab was framed in ash and clad in steel. It was equipped with a 7 ton winch like all Artillery Tractors. The O853 provided the basis for the ''Dorchester'' Armoured Command Vehicle.
AEC also produced a larger 6x6 vehicle, model O854, based on components from both the AEC Marshal 6x4 and the Matador 4x4. These were produced in both petrol and diesel and were also referred to as Matadors. The O854 provided the basis for the O857. A small number of petrol engined 4x4 Matadors were also built, these were given the model number 853.
About 9,000 Matadors were built, some going to the Royal Air Force, for the British Army, it fulfilled a role between Field Artillery Tractors (FAT's) such as the Morris C8 Quad, which towed smaller Guns such as the 25-pounder Howitzer Field Gun, and the Scammell Pioneer, used for towing the 7.2 inch Howitzer Field Gun. It was commonly used to tow the 5.5 inch Medium Gun and the QF 3.7 inch Anti-Aircraft Gun. The Matador was found to be a generally useful vehicle and was adapted for other roles, including carrying a 25-pounder Gun.
The RAF used Matadors in the Flat Bed form for load carrying, the 6-wheeler Matador Type A was fitted with refuelling pumps and equipment by Zwicky Ltd and used as a refuelling tanker, capable of carrying 2,500 Imperial gallons of fuel and also for towing ashore Short Sunderland Flying Boats at their stations. Six Armoured Flamethrowers, the 'Heavy Cockatrice' on the 6x6 chassis, were used by the RAF for Airfield Defence. In 1942 / 1943, for the North African Campaign, some Matadors mounted the 6-pounder Anti-Tank Gun to give the AEC Mk.I Gun Carrier ''Deacon''. The Canadian Army also used the Matador during World War Two.
Post-War, the Matador was found in civilian use as a recovery truck, a showman's vehicle, and general contractor use. It was also useful for forestry work because of its good off-road performance. When used as a bus fleet recovery truck, many were fitted with lifting jibs for suspended towing and re-bodied with semi-enclosed bodies, often based on bodywork from scrapped buses.
▪︎Type: Medium Artillery Tractor
▪︎Place of Origin: United Kingdom
▪︎Manufacturer: AEC (Associated Equipment Company)
▪︎Produced: 1938 to 1953
▪︎Mass: 7.75 tons
▪︎Length: 20ft 10in / Width: 7ft 10in / Height: 9ft 7in
▪︎Crew: 1
▪︎Armour: none
▪︎Powerplant: AEC 7.6 litre diesel, 95hp
▪︎Payload Capacity: 4 tons
▪︎Suspension: Wheel, 4x4
▪︎Maximum Speed: 30mph.
📌 AEC Matador Medium Artilley Tractor, IWM Duxford.
The AEC Matador was a Heavy 4x4 Truck and Medium Artillery Tractor built by the Associated Equipment Company for the British and Commonwealth forces during World War Two. AEC had already built a 4x2 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. As an Artillery Tractor, rather than a cargo vehicle, the wooden sides were fixed in place without folding down, but did have a narrow crew door on each side. Two transverse bench seats were provided for the Gun Crew, accessed through the side doors, at the first side bay on the left and the second on the right. The cab was framed in ash and clad in steel. It was equipped with a 7 ton winch like all Artillery Tractors. The O853 provided the basis for the ''Dorchester'' Armoured Command Vehicle.
AEC also produced a larger 6x6 vehicle, model O854, based on components from both the AEC Marshal 6x4 and the Matador 4x4. These were produced in both petrol and diesel and were also referred to as Matadors. The O854 provided the basis for the O857. A small number of petrol engined 4x4 Matadors were also built, these were given the model number 853.
About 9,000 Matadors were built, some going to the Royal Air Force, for the British Army, it fulfilled a role between Field Artillery Tractors (FAT's) such as the Morris C8 Quad, which towed smaller Guns such as the 25-pounder Howitzer Field Gun, and the Scammell Pioneer, used for towing the 7.2 inch Howitzer Field Gun. It was commonly used to tow the 5.5 inch Medium Gun and the QF 3.7 inch Anti-Aircraft Gun. The Matador was found to be a generally useful vehicle and was adapted for other roles, including carrying a 25-pounder Gun.
The RAF used Matadors in the Flat Bed form for load carrying, the 6-wheeler Matador Type A was fitted with refuelling pumps and equipment by Zwicky Ltd and used as a refuelling tanker, capable of carrying 2,500 Imperial gallons of fuel and also for towing ashore Short Sunderland Flying Boats at their stations. Six Armoured Flamethrowers, the 'Heavy Cockatrice' on the 6x6 chassis, were used by the RAF for Airfield Defence. In 1942 / 1943, for the North African Campaign, some Matadors mounted the 6-pounder Anti-Tank Gun to give the AEC Mk.I Gun Carrier ''Deacon''. The Canadian Army also used the Matador during World War Two.
Post-War, the Matador was found in civilian use as a recovery truck, a showman's vehicle, and general contractor use. It was also useful for forestry work because of its good off-road performance. When used as a bus fleet recovery truck, many were fitted with lifting jibs for suspended towing and re-bodied with semi-enclosed bodies, often based on bodywork from scrapped buses.
▪︎Type: Medium Artillery Tractor
▪︎Place of Origin: United Kingdom
▪︎Manufacturer: AEC (Associated Equipment Company)
▪︎Produced: 1938 to 1953
▪︎Mass: 7.75 tons
▪︎Length: 20ft 10in / Width: 7ft 10in / Height: 9ft 7in
▪︎Crew: 1
▪︎Armour: none
▪︎Powerplant: AEC 7.6 litre diesel, 95hp
▪︎Payload Capacity: 4 tons
▪︎Suspension: Wheel, 4x4
▪︎Maximum Speed: 30mph.