Lanchester 4x2 Armoured Car
Encyclopedia
The Lanchester Armoured Car was a British
armoured car produced during the First World War. It is not to be confused with an interwar period six-wheeled design
.
. It was originally designed to support air bases and retrieve downed pilots.
In 1915, the Lanchester underwent hull remodelling and was formed into armoured car squadrons. 36 Lanchesters were delivered to the Royal Naval Air Service
. Three squadrons of 12 vehicles were formed and sent to France
in May. One of these squadrons served with the Belgian Army
. In addition, Belgium received 10–15 car on loan from RNAS.
The Russian Army
received 22 vehicles in December 1915. 19 of them were later rearmed with 37-mm naval Hotchkiss gun
instead of MG. With the establishment of the mountain-to-coast trench system of the Western Front, armoured cars were of less use and the British Army taking over all armoured car use standardizes on the Rolls-Royce pattern. The Lanchesters were then sent to Russia
in January 1916 with the RNAS expedition force. The expedition force was deployed in Caucasus
, Romania
and Galicia in support of the Russian forces there; detachments were sent as far as Persia and Turkey
and the Lanchesters clocked up many thousands of miles. In early 1918 the expedition force departed Russia via Murmansk
. Most of the Russian Lanchesters were used by the White Russian forces
in the Russian Civil War
.
During most of its service life, the Lanchester was considered a fast and reliable vehicle.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
armoured car produced during the First World War. It is not to be confused with an interwar period six-wheeled design
Lanchester 6x4 Armoured Car
Lanchester Armoured Car was a British armoured car produced in limited numbers in late 1920s and early 1930s. The vehicle remained in service with the Territorial Army and colonial units until early 1940s and saw action in the Battle of Malaya...
.
History
In 1914, the Lanchester was the second most numerous armoured car in service after the Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce Armoured Car
The Rolls-Royce armoured car was a British armoured car developed in 1914 and used in World War I and in the early part of World War II.-Production history:...
. It was originally designed to support air bases and retrieve downed pilots.
In 1915, the Lanchester underwent hull remodelling and was formed into armoured car squadrons. 36 Lanchesters were delivered to the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
. Three squadrons of 12 vehicles were formed and sent to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in May. One of these squadrons served with the Belgian Army
Belgian Army
The Land Component is organised using the concept of capacities, whereby units are gathered together according to their function and material. Within this framework, there are five capacities: the command capacity, the combat capacity, the support capacity, the services capacity and the training...
. In addition, Belgium received 10–15 car on loan from RNAS.
The Russian Army
Imperial Russian Army
The Imperial Russian Army was the land armed force of the Russian Empire, active from around 1721 to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In the early 1850s, the Russian army consisted of around 938,731 regular soldiers and 245,850 irregulars . Until the time of military reform of Dmitry Milyutin in...
received 22 vehicles in December 1915. 19 of them were later rearmed with 37-mm naval Hotchkiss gun
Hotchkiss gun
The Hotchkiss gun can refer to different products of the Hotchkiss arms company starting in the late 19th century. It usually refers to the 1.65-inch light mountain gun; there was also a 3-inch Hotchkiss gun...
instead of MG. With the establishment of the mountain-to-coast trench system of the Western Front, armoured cars were of less use and the British Army taking over all armoured car use standardizes on the Rolls-Royce pattern. The Lanchesters were then sent to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in January 1916 with the RNAS expedition force. The expedition force was deployed in Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Galicia in support of the Russian forces there; detachments were sent as far as Persia and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and the Lanchesters clocked up many thousands of miles. In early 1918 the expedition force departed Russia via Murmansk
Murmansk
Murmansk is a city and the administrative center of Murmansk Oblast, Russia. It serves as a seaport and is located in the extreme northwest part of Russia, on the Kola Bay, from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from Russia's borders with Norway and Finland...
. Most of the Russian Lanchesters were used by the White Russian forces
White movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
in the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
.
During most of its service life, the Lanchester was considered a fast and reliable vehicle.