LANCHESTER MK.II ARMOURED CAR

The Lanchester 6 × 4 was a British armored car from the interwar period and World War II. The car was 6.1 m long and 2.02 m wide. The car was powered by a single 90 HP 6-cylinder engine. The armament was provided by two or three 7.7mm Vickers machine guns, two of which were housed in a rotating turret. In total, about 35 vehicles of this type were built. The Lanchester 6 × 4 was developed for the needs of the British Army, which in the mid-1920s sought to obtain a new, heavy armored car. The appropriate order was awarded to the Lanchester Motor Company in 1927, and a year later the first prototype was ready. In order to reduce costs, but also accelerate research and development, the manufacturer relied on many elements and subassemblies known from the Lanchester 4x2 car from the Great War. In the course of field tests, the Lanchester 6 × 4 showed some shortcomings (especially too weak suspension), which, however, were quickly removed by the supplier. Finally, a car was created with good off-road characteristics and easy to use or drive, but at the same time relatively heavy, quite unstable and with too low top speed - especially off-road. For these reasons, carts of this type were intended primarily for service in the colonies. They took a limited part in World War II, fighting in Malaya from 1941-1942.