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AEC “Dorchester

Armoured Command Vehicle

Dorchester Mark 2 4x4 (HP) ACV with Extended Nose 


Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by: Great Britain, Commonwealth Countries and Germany (Captured Vehicles)
First Produced/Service Dates:

1941 = 4x4 ACV 

1944 = 6x6 ACV
Manufactured by: (AEC) Associated Equipment Company, Ltd.
Crew: 1+7?
Armament: (1) .303 BREN Gun (Carried Inside)
Engine: (6) Cylinder Diesel
Miscellaneous Info:

Two main versions of the ACV were produced; the 4x4 ACV, which was mounted on the AEC 0853 “Matador” Truck Chassis (See also AEC Deacon) and the 6x6 ACV, which was mounted on the AEC 0857 Truck Chassis.  Both versions were also produced in LP (low power) and HP (high power) variants, with the main difference being different radio equipment for communicating at different distances.

Also, the 4x4 ACV was produced in two variants, the Mark 1, with one large internal compartment and the Mark 2 which had two smaller internal compartments, an office and a radio room.  A small number of captured Dorchester 4x4 ACV’s were used by German Forces in the WWII North African Campaign.

In addition, another similar variant called the Dorchester Armored Demolition Vehicle was created and used by engineering units.  It mounted equipment such as compressors, jack hammers and other tools used by the "sappers".

Data Sheet Available:   None Available

Photos

Reference Source/Provider
  Dorchester 4x4 ACV Photo Chuck Aleshire - Shorewood, Illinois USA
Dorchester 4x4 ACV Photos Don Allen - Ottawa, Canada
Dorchester 4x4 ACV Photos Patrick Keenan - Editor
  Dorchester 1 4x4 (LP) ACV Photo Dave Haugh - Content Editor
  Dorchester 4x4 ACV (with External Truck Camoflage) Photo Dave Haugh
Dorchester 4x4 ACV (HP) "Stowage" Drawings Dave Haugh
Dorchester 2 4x4 ACV (LP) "Stowage" Drawings Dave Haugh
Dorchester 2 4x4 ACV Photos Dave Haugh
Dorchester Armored Demolition Vehicle Photos Dave Haugh

References Available

Online

Reference Source/Provider
Dorchester ACV Information and Photos AEC Society Website
Dorchester 4x4 ACV Information and Photos Trucks Planet Website
Dorchester 6x6 ACV Information and Photos Trucks Planet Website

Printed

Reference Author
  "A Class Apart" (November 2016 Issue of Classic Military Vehicle Magazine) David Fletcher
A Photo History of Armoured Cars in Two World Wars George Forty

"Armoured Command" (December 2013 Issue of Military Machines International Magazine)

Ian Young
Captured Armored Cars and Other Vehicles In Wehrmacht Service in World War 2 Werner Regenberg
Encyclopedia of Armoured Cars Duncan Crow & Robert J. Icks
  "Serving the Desert Fox" (Building 1/76 Dan Taylor Modelworks' Dorchester ACV Conversion) (March 2016 Issue of Airfix Model World Magazine) John Bonanni
World War II AFV Plans: British Armored Fighting Vehicles George Bradford

Hobby Modeling

Kits and Accessories

Model Kit Manufacturer Scale Other Information
AEC "Dorchester 4x4 ACV Model Kit (AF35227)

Photos of the model via AFV Club can be seen here.
  AFV Club 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic; New Tooled.
AEC "Dorchester 4x4 (Early Type) ACV Model Kit (AF35049)
  AFV Club 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic; New Tooled. Coming as of November 2015.

Rommel's "Mammoth" DAK AEC (Dorchester) Armored Command Car (AF35235)

  AFV Club 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic; New Tooled.
AEC "Dorchester" 4x4 ACV Model Kit (CK19) Cromwell Models 1/35 Resin
AEC "Dorchester" 4x4 ACV Model Kit (7206) ExtraTech 1/72 Multi-Media
AEC "Dorchester" 4x4 (LP) ACV Model Kit ACV (MV003) Firing Line 1/76 Resin
AEC "Dorchester" 4x4 ACV Model Kit Panzer Resin Models 1/35 Resin
AEC "Dorchester" 4x4 ACV Model Kit (SKP060) SKP Models 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic.
German DAK AEC "Dorchester" 4x4 ACV Model Kit (Limited Edition) SKP Models 1/35 Injection Molded Plastic.
       
Aftermarket Set Manufacturer Scale Other Information
AEC Dorchester Accessory Set (T35202) Black Dog 1/35 Resin; For AFV Club Kits.
Dorchester ACV Conversion (C-76105) Dan Taylor Modelworks 1/76 Resin & Photoetched details; Conversion for the Airfix AEC Matador Truck model kit.
AEC Dorchester DAK Decals ['Max' & 'Moritz'] (P35D-003) Passion Models 1/35 Decals
British 14.00-20 Wheel Set (SKP 262) SKP Model 1/35 Resin; For Use with AEC Heavy Armored Cars & Dorchester ACV.
"Armoured Cars in Polish Service -Vol.1: Egypt 1942 - Italy 1945" (35D36) Toro Model 1/35 Decal Set; Includes Markings for the AEC Dorchester ACV, C15TA Armored Truck, Otter LRC, M3A1 Scout Car & Marmon Herrington Mark 2 Armored Car.
AEC 4X4 Dorchester Command Vehicle Detail Set (35649) Voyager Models 1/35 Photo Etched Brass; For AFV Club Kit.

Model Photos

Reference Source/Provider
Dorchester ACV Model (1/72 Scratchbuilt) Bill Powers - Birmingham, Alabama USA