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Leyland Armored Car

1935 COLD WAR WORLD WAR 2

The history of Leyland armored vehicles

The First World War (1914-1918) proved to be the perfect showcase for armored vehicles, with many different types emerging as existing chassis designs were combined with new armored superstructures. Armored vehicles have been in service between the two world wars, proving they are very useful in terms of security, especially on the borders of the various Emporium colonies scattered around the world.

This vehicle was ordered by the Irish Army prior to World War II (1939-1945), supplied by Leyland from 1934, who used it on their "Terrier" truck (a 6x4 vehicle) Armoured superstructure of the existing Peerless armoured vehicle. The twin machine gun turrets of the Peerless were retained, but after an evaluation of the pilot vehicle it was decided to concentrate the weapons in one turret. Three more hounds were ordered in 1935, and the armoured turret of the Swedish light tank L60 was adopted for its more powerful armament.

Gone are the dual .30 caliber machine guns, now being replaced by the 20mm Madsen cannon and .30 Madsen combination. Armor protection for the four crew members reaches 13mm at its thickest point. The car weighs 8 tons and measures 21 feet long, 7.2 feet wide and 8 feet high.

On the outside, the Leyland car showcases a very multifaceted approach to design. The engine remains in its usual position in front of the cab, drawn in by the horizontal louver grille. All wheels are covered with arched fenders.

The cab remains at the center of the design and features a viewing slot. The driver sits in the front right. The turret is placed at the rear of the hull and rotates 360 degrees together with the main weapon.

The vehicle will be powered by a Leyland Terrier 6-cylinder petrol engine with up to 80 hp. The engine is mated to a transmission that offers four forward gears and two reverse gears.

The wheel arrangement is in keeping with the Leyland truck and the 6x4 layout, and the dual rear axle handles twin tires to handle the weight of the armored superstructure. Leyland cars have a range of 150 miles and road speeds in excess of 40 mph.

By 1939, the Irish Army had accepted all four Leyland cars that would eventually be completed. These men then served in the 1st Armoured Squadron and led their presence during World War II. In the post-war years, the front end of the line was revised and the original Terrier engine was replaced by a more powerful (155 hp) American Ford V8 model. Export. American Brown.

The 303 machine gun then replaced the original Madsen accessories and added a second machine gun position (via the ball mount) in the hull next to the driver's position.

The Leylands were preserved until the 1970s to make room for the incoming French Panhard AML cars. Over time, the entire Irish army replaced all of them, although one example ended up in the Bovington Tank Museum in southern England as a preserved display.