"AEC Mk I" Topic

I would like to know if the AEC Mk I Armoured Car was used in the Italian Campaign…

Google.

Although better armed and armored than any other wheeled vehicle of the time, the AEC was neither agile, nor fast for a wheeled vehicle. Its height made it an easy target to spot. Tactically, reconnaissance units used a few AECs for support. The first use of the vehicle came in 1942, when the first production vehicles were sent to the North African front. It is not known, however, if they participated in the El Alamein battle in November, but they were affected to the VIIIth army. These vehicles were noted as transitional models or early Mark 2s, being fitted with Crusader tank turrets mounting a 6 pounder (57 mm/2.24 in) gun. AECs were mostly used in the latter part of the campaign, until the end of the Tunisian campaign, by British forces and the British Indian Army, in complement to US-built Staghounds. These vehicles also participated in the operations in Italy, while most Mark 3s served in Western Europe, Northern France and the Low Countries, until 1945.

Yeah, that's about the first thing I found, but it's Wikipedia IIRC, so not the best of sources.
On top of that there's discussion regarding the existence of the "transitional models" and early Mk II's with Crusader turrets Wikipedia mentions.
The only thing I can find on that is that in Tunisia half a dozen Mk I's supposedly got Crusader turrets fitted, but I can't find any photographic evidence to support it, and the Mk II came fitted with a 6pdr as standard, so why put a Crusader turret on top that one anyway.
The only armoured car that I'm sure got fitted with a Crusader turret at some point is the Staghound.
And the "these vehicles also served in Italy" doesn't clearly mention which type(s) it relates too.
The main problem is that the Mk. I's 2pdr was considered inadequate in North Africa, which makes me wonder if they bothered to take them with them to Italy, they left a lot of "inadequate" stuff behind in North Africa.
It wouldn't surprise me if they only took the 6pdr armed Mk II's with them, but evidence is proving hard to find…

I had a query about whether the AEC MkII saw any use but similarly came away with no better understanding.

This was one placed I asked at and has a couple of external links that might be of relevance.

link

As to the AEC in North Africa, I did get some AFV returns for that theatre some years ago. I understand you were asking about Italy and the Med, but perhaps this gives an insight into how few AECs there were around there in late 42, early 43.

States for Armoured Cars dated 21.10.42

2 AECs each with 11H, 12L, Royals, 2 Derby Yeo, HCR*, 4SAAC Regt and various HQs. *HCR only had 1 AEC. Total with units 13.

States for Armoured Cars dated 24.02.43

1 AEC each 12L and Royals, 2 for HCR (in Syria) and 16 with KDGs. Total 20.

There's no reference to the main armament of the AECs or mention of conversions. The KDGs were the only unit that had enough AECs to fit out a Sqn at that date. Prior to that there was a note that a couple would be held by Armd Car Regts additional to WE. I get the impression they really didn't know what to do with the very few they got.

Gary

Hi Gary,

I hadn't found the WW2Talk link yet, but I did find the others.
The visual differences between a Mk II and a Mk III where small indeed.
Apart from the different cannon and the extra smoke extractor between the turret hatches I also noticed a small location shift in what I presume is an aft looking periscope (behind the left turret hatch, but this also might have been a modification introduced during Mk II production.)
And apparently it also had an (yet again) improved engine, which isn't visible on the outside of course.
During my internet search I did come across a couple of images of Mk II's in what could have been
Italian scenery, in which case I presume they where used like the Mk III's were used later on, in the heavy troop.
And I guess they never made it to the ETO, all AEC's used in Western Europe seem to have been Mk III's.
But the 2pdr armed Mk I wasn't really usable as a CS vehicle, so if they used them in Italy, early in the campaign, they probably used them as HQ vehicles, like they did with the Staghounds.
But I can't find any evidence to confirm that.
The other, more likely, option is they left them behind, and they were further used in North Africa and the Middle East, I did run across a picture of one somewhere in Syria.
Anyway, thanks for the effort ;)