Lanchester,
Armored Car, Lanchester (Admiralty Turreted Pattern)4:

Use in World War I

The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was supposed to use the armored cars for guarding air bases and retrieving downed airmen.4 However, by 1915 the cars were being formed into squadrons that were members of the Royal Naval Armored Car Division.4

Design

The Lanchester was very similar to the Rolls-Royce armored car, but it has sloping armor over the front of the engine.4

British Army Use

The armored cars were handed over to the British Army in August 1915 and they decided they wanted to standardize on the Rolls-Royce armored car.4 In October 1915 all the Lanchesters were moved to England and in the following year they were organized as the No. 1 Squadron of the Royal Naval Armored Car Division and were shipped to Russia.4 Little is known what operations they participated in.4

After the Brusilov Offensive in mid-1917 the Lanchesters were shipped back to the United Kingdom with 53,000 new miles added to their odometers.4

Lanchester 6x4 Armored Car:

Use in World War II

Saw service with the Selangor & Perak Battalions of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force (1938-1942) and with the Singapore Volunteer Corps Armored Car Company.

  Lanchester (Admiralty Turreted Pattern)4 Lanchester 6x4 Armored Car
Crew 44 41
Physical Characteristics    
Weight 4.8 tons4 4.8 tons1, 6.26 tons3
4,877 kg1
Length w/gun 16'4
4.88 m4
16'1
4.87 m1, 6.1 m3
Length w/o gun    
Height 7' 6"4
2.286 m4
7' 6"1
2.82 m1,3
Width 6' 4"4
1.93 m4
6' 4"1
1.93 m1, 2.01 m3
Ground clearance    
Ground contact length    
Ground pressure    
Turret ring diameter    
Armament    
Main   12.7 mm (.5 cal) Vickers MG1
.5" Vickers MG3
Secondary    
MG   7.7 mm (.303 cal) Vickers MG1
.303" Vickers MG3
Optional MG in hull1
Side arms    
Quantity    
Main    
Secondary    
MG    
Side arms    
Armor Thickness (mm)   93
Hull Front, Upper   101
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) Lanchester4 Lanchester1
Cylinders    
Net HP 604 883
Transmission    
Fuel type Gasoline4  
Octane    
Capacity    
Performance    
Traverse    
Max Speed 50 mph4
80 kph4
45 mph, 50 mph1
75 kph3, 80 kph1
Cross Country    
Road radius 180 miles4
290 km4
180 miles1
290 km1
Turning Radius    
Elevation Limits    
Fording depth    
Trench crossing    
Vertical Obstacle    
Suspension (Type)    
Wheels each side    
Return rollers each side    
Track length    
Tires    
Track width    
Track centers/tread    
Production   Mk I: 183
Mk IA: 43
Mk II: 73
Mk IIA: 63

Sources:

  1. The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
  2. The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
  3. Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles The Complete Guide, Leland Ness, 2002
  4. Tanks - Over 250 of the World's Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles, Chris Chant, 2004
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