"British armoured cars on the western front 1918" Topic

I've been trying to find out what armoured cars the British had available on the Western Front in 1918. Am I right in thinking they were caught on the hop and most had been sent to other theaters by 1918?

In fact the only reference I have found is to 16 Austin's originally destined for Russia that were diverted. As far as I can tell there were no Rolls Royce armoured cars on the Western Front by 1918, would this be correct?

I am not aware of RR armoured cars on the Western Front in 1918. Austins were involved in the Battle of Amiens, for example, and in several actions in the Last 100 Days.

Robert

ok thanks, that ties in with what I've found out, the Austins appear to have been 17th Bn Tank Corps who hastily converted to armoured cars and were then sent to France in April 1918

The Canadian Armoured Autocars (1 Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade) were active in countering the 1918 German offensive. Detailed info available here (especially pp 7-9):
link

The paper notes that 1 CMMGB was the only British armoured car unit on the Western Front at the time.

My Grandfather was in the Motor Machine Gun Corps in 1918 on the Western Front. I don't know what they were armed with though; he was a motorcycle dispatch rider and was awarded the military medal.

Thanks willthepiper that looks like a very useful article, and that would also be consistent with 17th Bn and their Austins only arriving later.

17th Battalion [British] Tank Corps was the armoured car unit in the British army, yes. Their exploits make for fascinating reading. Real Boys Own stuff, particularly when operating behind the German lines. The battalion came to prominence during the Battle of Amiens in August 1918.

The Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade used open-topped purpose-built 'Autocars', rather than armoured cars with all around protection. Each autocar had two Vickers machine guns but these were not protected by a turret. As noted, the MMGB was very effective during the German offensive in March/April 1918.

Robert

A bit of googling shows the Motor Machine Gun Brigades were active in 1918. Not exactly armoured cars though… see picture at bottom of the vehicles in 1918. link

you can get both Austins and Autocars from shapeways, I've ordered some of each :)

I thought the Naval Brigades had some 'armoured' trucks fitted with machine guns too?. I seem to remember them from an Airfix magazine article from the dim and distant past.

Yes, here is an example:

link

There was at least one other open-topped vehicle that I have seen photos of but can't find the details at the present.

Robert

Here are photos of the Wolsleys that were used in 1914:

Robert

And here is the one I was thinking of – the Seabrook armoured lorry:

Robert

And a photo of the Seabrook:

Robert

Nice !

Were any RNAS armoured lorries or cars on the Western Front in 1918?

Not that I know of. Some served in the Middle East. Nothing to stop a 'what if' though ;-)

Robert

Nice synopsis of 17th Btn's exploits here:

link

Robert