AEC Matador
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| General characteristics | |||
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| Role | Medium Artillery Tractor | ||
| Crew | 1 | ||
| armour | none | ||
| Capacity | 10-ton | ||
| - | |||
| Length | 20 ft 10 in m | ||
| Width | 7 ft 10 in m | ||
| Height | 9 ft 7 in m | ||
| Weight | 7.75 tons t | ||
| Power plant | AEC 7.6 litre diesel 95 hp, ( kW) |
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| Suspension | Wheel, 4 x 4 | ||
| Speed | 30 mph km/h road km/h off-road |
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| Range | km | ||
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 vehicles 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. It was equipped with a winch (7-ton load in its case) like all artillery tractors.
There were some 6 wheel AEC vehicles, model O854, which were generally, if not officially, also called Matador.
[edit] Service
About 9,000 Matadors were built, some going to the RAF.
For the British Army, it fulfilled a role between the Morris C8 Quad pulling smaller guns such as the 25 pdr Gun-Howitzer and the Scammell Pioneer used for the 7.2 inch howitzer, and was commonly used for the 5.5 inch Medium Gun and the QF 3.75 inch AA gun. It was also found to be a generally useful vehicle and adapted for other roles including carrying a 25 pdr gun on the back.
The RAF used theirs in the flat bed form for load carrying. The 6-wheeler Matador was 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.
In 1942/43 for the North African campaign some Matadors mounted the 6 pounder anti-tank gun to give the AEC Mk1 Gun Carrier "Deacon".
Post war the Matador was found in civilian use as a recovery truck, a showmans vehicle, and general contractor use.
[edit] See also
- Bedford QLD - 3 ton general service truck four wheel drive, 4WD, introduced 1941.
- Austin K2
- Canadian Military Pattern Field Artillery Tractor
| British unarmoured vehicles of World War II |
|---|
| Artillery tractors |
| AEC Matador | Morris C8 Quad | Scammell Pioneer Canadian Military Pattern |
| Trucks and lorries |
| Bedford QLD | Austin K2 | Morris 15 cwt |
| Tank transporters |
| Diamond T tank transporter | Scammell Pioneer Semi-trailer |
| Armoured fighting vehicles |
| British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II |
