Staff car
Encyclopedia
A staff car is a vehicle used by a senior military
officer, and is part of their country's white fleet
. The term is most often used in relation to the United Kingdom
where they were first used in quantity during World War I, examples being the Vauxhall D-type
and Crossley 20/25
.
Staff cars are often painted in camouflage
colours, or plain black. In the U.S.A., Brazil
and other American countries the frequent colour is the olive-drab lusterless.
One example is the 1941 Buick Century
Series 60, used during the Second World War. It was generally painted in khaki
, with a white star on the front doors. Another famous example is Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
's, commander in chief of the Allied Forces during World War II
, Packard Clipper
1942 staff car. Another well known staff car is the Plymouth P11 1941.
During the Second World War the German Wehrmacht
(armed forces) also used staff cars for various purposes. These included military models with machine gun mounts like the Horch 108
and converted civilian versions for high ranking officers like the Horch 853. Mercedes Benz also produced vehicles that the Wehrmacht converted for use as staff cars.
episodes The Captain's Car and The Making of Private Pike deal with staff cars; in the former case, the car was donated by a local aristocrat.
Staff cars were also used in the American CBS Television sitcom, Hogan's Heroes
, in which Colonel Wilhelm Klink (Werner Klemperer
) and General Albert Burkhalter (Leon Askin
) both had staff cars which they frequently used throughout the series.
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
officer, and is part of their country's white fleet
White fleet
White Fleet or White fleet may refer to:* White fleet , non-combat vehicles used by the UK military.* The Great White Fleet, the dispatch of US naval forces to the orient between 1907 and 1909....
. The term is most often used in relation to the United Kingdom
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...
where they were first used in quantity during World War I, examples being the Vauxhall D-type
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
and Crossley 20/25
Crossley Motors
Crossley Motors was a British motor vehicle manufacturer based in Manchester, England. They produced approximately 19,000 high quality cars from 1904 until 1938, 5,500 buses from 1926 until 1958 and 21,000 goods and military vehicles from 1914 to 1945.Crossley Brothers, originally...
.
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
colours, or plain black. In the U.S.A., Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and other American countries the frequent colour is the olive-drab lusterless.
One example is the 1941 Buick Century
Buick Century
Buick Century is the model name used by the Buick division of General Motors for a line of full-size performance vehicles from 1936 to 1942 and 1954 to 1958, and from 1973 to 2005 for a mid-size car....
Series 60, used during the Second World War. It was generally painted in khaki
Khaki
This article is about the fabric. For the color, see Khaki . Kaki, another name for the persimmon, is often misspelled "Khaki".Khaki is a type of fabric or the color of such fabric...
, with a white star on the front doors. Another famous example is Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
's, commander in chief of the Allied Forces during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Packard Clipper
Packard Clipper
The Packard Clipper was initially a single model of the Packard Motor Car Company introduced in April, 1941, midyear, much as was the 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang and other new departures. It was manufactured between 1942 and 1947, from the six and junior eight, to the Super-8, where it cost more than...
1942 staff car. Another well known staff car is the Plymouth P11 1941.
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
(armed forces) also used staff cars for various purposes. These included military models with machine gun mounts like the Horch 108
Horch
Horch was a car brand manufactured in Germany by August Horch & Cie, at the beginning of the 20th century.-History at a Glance:The company was established first by August Horch and his first business partner Salli Herz on November 14, 1899 at Ehrenfeld, Cologne. August Horch was a former production...
and converted civilian versions for high ranking officers like the Horch 853. Mercedes Benz also produced vehicles that the Wehrmacht converted for use as staff cars.
Staff cars in fiction
The Dad's ArmyDad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
episodes The Captain's Car and The Making of Private Pike deal with staff cars; in the former case, the car was donated by a local aristocrat.
Staff cars were also used in the American CBS Television sitcom, Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes
Hogan's Heroes is an American television sitcom that ran for 168 episodes from September 17, 1965, to March 28, 1971, on the CBS network. The show was set in a German prisoner of war camp during the Second World War. Bob Crane had the starring role as Colonel Robert E...
, in which Colonel Wilhelm Klink (Werner Klemperer
Werner Klemperer
Werner Klemperer was a comedic and dramatic actor, best known for his role as Colonel Klink on the CBS television sitcom, Hogan's Heroes.-Early life:...
) and General Albert Burkhalter (Leon Askin
Leon Askin
Leon Askin was an Austrian actor best known for portraying the character "General Burkhalter" on the TV sitcom Hogan's Heroes.-Early life:...
) both had staff cars which they frequently used throughout the series.
