Great Britain's Dorchester Command Vehicle
Photos
Design
Canopy
Early models had a canopy that could be unrolled and had side panels that formed an extended work area.1
Chassis
The chassis of the Dorchester was a modified AEC Matador.1 The fuel tank was relocated and the winch was replaced by a generator that powered the radios.1
Prototype
Production
- 1941 - 1945: 3801
Variants
Usage
The Dorchesters were used in Europe and North Africa.1
Afrika Korps
The Afrika Korps captured three Dorchesters in July 1941.1 Two were used by Rommel as his HQ vehicles and were named "Max" and "Mortiz."1 They were designated Mammute (mammoths).1
Specifications
| Dorchester Command Vehicle | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 71 Driver, radio operators (2), officers (4)1 |
| Physical Characteristics | |
| Weight | 10.33 tons1 10,500 kg1 |
| Length w/gun | 20' 9"1 6.32 m1 |
| Length w/o gun | |
| Height | 10' 2"1 3.1 m1 |
| Width | 7' 10"1 2.4 m1 |
| Ground clearance | |
| Ground pressure | |
| Turret ring diameter | |
| Armament | |
| Main | 1: 0.303" Bren light MG1 1: 7.7 mm Bren light MG1 |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| MG - coaxial | |
| Side arms | |
| Quantity | |
| Main | |
| Secondary | |
| MG | |
| Side arms | |
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 121 |
| Hull Front, Upper | |
| Hull Front, Lower | |
| Hull Sides, Upper | |
| Hull Sides, Lower | |
| Hull Rear | |
| Hull Top | |
| Hull Bottom | |
| Turret Front | |
| Turret Sides | |
| Turret Rear | |
| Turret Top | |
| Engine (Make / Model) | AEC1 |
| Cylinders | 61 |
| Net HP | 951 |
| Transmission | |
| Fuel type | Diesel1 |
| Octane | |
| Capacity | |
| Performance | |
| Traverse | |
| Speed - Road | 36 mph1 58 kph1 |
| Speed - Cross Country | |
| Range - Road | 360 miles1 579 km1 |
| Range - Cross Country | |
| Turning radius | |
| Elevation limits | |
| Fording depth | |
| Trench crossing | |
| Vertical obstacle | |
| Suspension (Type) | |
| Wheels each side | |
| Tires |
Sources:
- World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006
