Armoured Bedford

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I have placed a similar note on the Armoured forum...I have an official photo of an armoured Bedford census # L4332619 which is initially from a batch of 30-cwt 4 x 2 A/Tk trucks. Any ideas please?

[Pete Ashby]

Hi David

what are you looking for? I have some information to hand, and if I can find the right article may be able to proivde chapter and verse
regards

Pete

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Richard F has replied to the posting on the Armoured forum...I also found serial and engine numbers with serials by Model Year! If you CAN add anything please let me know.

[gordon]

As a 30cwt basic truck it would be a Bedford OX I suppose, although to carry all that tin about it would have been easy enough to swap out the suspension with 3 ton OY units.

Gordon

[Steve Guthrie]

Hi there

There is a photo in Fletcher's 'The Great Tank Scandal' that shows these beasties under construction. These particular trucks have radiused corners to the 'fighting compartment'.

Don't know if they are early or late production.

Steve

[Pete Ashby]

David

I have at last found the articles I was looking for regarding the 30cwt Bedford OXA anti-tank truck.
Source: Classic Military Vehicle March and June 2002 and Allocation by Central Census of B Vehicle WD numbers Central Ordnance Depot Chilwell, Data book of wheeled vehicles Army Transport 1939 -1945

950 units produced in two contracts:

4410861 to 4411060 orders placed 12/07/40 on contract V4104 for 200 units
4332566 to 4333315 orders placed 12/12/40 on contract V4070 for 750 units
Note the census numbers and the dates do not match, I have checked this out via another source and it seems to be correct, a warning here for those of us that try to date trucks on census numbers alone!!.

Conceived to fill the need for tanks in 1940, issued to the new Reconnaissance Regiments operating in the south east of England.

Frame and running gear standard for 30cwt Bedford

1050x16 tyres, runflat fronts, cross country rears

Bodies produced by various manufactures, Wrightson & Co Stockton on Tees, Alexander Finlay Motherwell, Wessops Darlington and Dorman Long & Co

All up weight 6 tons 9.5 cwt

Armament: 1 Boyes anti tank rifle, 1 Bren gun plus crew rifles x 4

Withdrawn for service 1941 and put into storage

200 units issued to the Air Ministry in 1941 for airfield defence

Unknown number issued to Home Guard units

Unknown number converted to GS load carries post 1942

None known to have survived

Now this would make a really interesting replica project who's up for it

Hope this is of some use

Pete

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Thank you Sir!!