Bedford MW
Maximum speed
The Bedford MW was a general service truck used by the British Armed Forces during the Second World War.
Design
The Bedford MW was a 15 cwt (760 kg) 4x2 truck, powered by a Bedford 72 bhp (54 kW) six-cylinder inline 210 cu in (3.5 L) petrol engine through a four speed transmission.[1][2]
Despite lacking four wheel drive and so being unsuited for off-road use, the MW's powerful engine, short wheel base, low centre of gravity and relatively light weight gave it excellent acceleration and almost sports car like handling.[2]
The early MWs were open cabbed with a folding windscreen and a collapsible canvas tilt, from 1943 an enclosed cab with doors and perspex side screens was added, retaining the canvas top. The vehicle had a distinctive wide bonnet, necessitated by the need to accommodate a special extra large air filter that was never fitted to production vehicles.[1][2]
History
In 1935 the War Office issued specifications for a new 15 cwt 4x2 military truck for service with the British Army, inviting manufacturers to submit designs to take part in annual comparative trials in north Wales, one entrant was a modification of a Bedford Vehicles 2-ton rear wheel drive lorry. Following these trials Bedford fitted a larger radiator and larger tyres, the trials were repeated in 1936 after which Bedford modified the chassis to increase ground clearance and installed a new engine cooling system. For the 1937 trials a new special Bedford WD-1 prototype was produced with a 15 cwt payload, it performed admirably and in 1938 the eventual 72 bhp (54 kW) engine was installed.[1][2]
Between 1939 and 1945 Bedford produced over 66,000 MWs, the vehicles remained in British service until the late 1950s.[1][2]
Use
The MW was intended mainly to be a workhorse for the British Army's infantry battalions, but throughout the war it was adapted to a number of roles and was eventually also used by the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, other government departments and some overseas customers.[1][2]
Variants
The Bedford MW was built in multiple variants including:[2]
- Bedford MWD cargo truck with General Service body approx 6 by 6 ft (1.8 by 1.8 m). Main transport of an infantry battalion.[3][full citation needed]
- Bedford MWC water tank truck
- Bedford MWT anti-aircraft gun tractor
- Bedford MWG QF 2-pounder or 20mm Oerlikon portee
- Bedford MWR radio truck
- Bedford MWV Royal Air Force signals van
Gallery
- Water-carrying trucks of XII Corps filling up at a water point, 12 July 1944.
- Bofors gun of 89th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment stranded in flooded land at Elst in Holland, 15 December 1944.
- Bedford MWD trucks in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands
- 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers with French 25mm 34 SA anti-tank gun on the back of a Bedford MWD, January 1940.
- Bedford MWR in camouflage of 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade on the 75th Anniversary of Operation Anthropoid
- Bedford MWC water tank
- Loading a Hotchkiss 25mm SA 34 anti-tank gun onto the back of a Bedford MWG, April 1940
References
- ^ a b c d e f Chris Bishop (ed), The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, London: Metro Books, 1998, page 109, ISBN 1-58663-762-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Pat Ware, A Complete Directory of Military Vehicles, Wigston: Anness Publishing Ltd, 2012, page 106.
- ^ TM 30-410 p182
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Bedford MWC at Danish army vehicles
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