Rolls-Royce 1920 Armoured Car
Formally known as the Armoured Car, Rolls Royce 1920 Pattern Mark I. Within weeks of the outbreak of war in August 1914 the RNAS was operating armoured cars in Flanders. They soon discovered that Rolls-Royces were the most durable and reliable and by Christmas of that year a new, turreted version had been built. This proved so successful that in 1920, when the War Office required new armoured cars they more or less copied the original Admiralty design.
The chassis is the 40/50hp Silver Ghost, slightly modified with stronger rear springs and twin Michelin steel disc wheels at the back. Armour covers the engine and crew compartment with hinged doors at the front to protect the radiator. The hand-operated turret contains a single Vickers water-cooled machine-gun. The rear section is an open tray, flanked by wooden lockers for the stowage of tools and other small items.
This particular car left Derby Works in 1920 and was issued new to 5th Armoured Car Company in Dublin in January 1921 (formed May 1920 from 17 Tank Battalion). They served in Ireland until 1922, then in Scarborough until 1927. It was shipped to Shanghai in 1927 and formed part of the British contingent of the League of Nations International Force. It then served in Egypt from 1929 to 1932, with the RTC. The 5th Armoured Car Company were re-equipped with light tanks in 1932 so the car was handed over to the 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales') and on their departure to the UK in 1934 to the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own). In 1938 they upgraded to the new Morris AC9 and this car was shipped back to the UK.
It was issued to the 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry in 1939, and took part in anti-invasion patrols along the north-east coast. In 1940 it was transferred to the D&M School at the Army AFV School, at Bovington. In 1946 it was handed over to the present Tank Museum. The car is painted as it was in Shanghai in 1927, one of four cars of No. 4 Section, 5ACC. The commander of the section was Lt. G W Richards, MC. In May 1997 it was employed to transport Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, during her visit to the Tank Museum.
Rolls-Royce 1920 Armoured Car
Formally known as the Armoured Car, Rolls Royce 1920 Pattern Mark I. Within weeks of the outbreak of war in August 1914 the RNAS was operating armoured cars in Flanders. They soon discovered that Rolls-Royces were the most durable and reliable and by Christmas of that year a new, turreted version had been built. This proved so successful that in 1920, when the War Office required new armoured cars they more or less copied the original Admiralty design.
The chassis is the 40/50hp Silver Ghost, slightly modified with stronger rear springs and twin Michelin steel disc wheels at the back. Armour covers the engine and crew compartment with hinged doors at the front to protect the radiator. The hand-operated turret contains a single Vickers water-cooled machine-gun. The rear section is an open tray, flanked by wooden lockers for the stowage of tools and other small items.
This particular car left Derby Works in 1920 and was issued new to 5th Armoured Car Company in Dublin in January 1921 (formed May 1920 from 17 Tank Battalion). They served in Ireland until 1922, then in Scarborough until 1927. It was shipped to Shanghai in 1927 and formed part of the British contingent of the League of Nations International Force. It then served in Egypt from 1929 to 1932, with the RTC. The 5th Armoured Car Company were re-equipped with light tanks in 1932 so the car was handed over to the 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales') and on their departure to the UK in 1934 to the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own). In 1938 they upgraded to the new Morris AC9 and this car was shipped back to the UK.
It was issued to the 1st Derbyshire Yeomanry in 1939, and took part in anti-invasion patrols along the north-east coast. In 1940 it was transferred to the D&M School at the Army AFV School, at Bovington. In 1946 it was handed over to the present Tank Museum. The car is painted as it was in Shanghai in 1927, one of four cars of No. 4 Section, 5ACC. The commander of the section was Lt. G W Richards, MC. In May 1997 it was employed to transport Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, during her visit to the Tank Museum.