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Rolls-Royce/Talbot/Wolseley

First Admiralty Pattern Armored Cars

Wolseley

Specifications

Country of Origin/Used by:	Great Britain
First Produced/Service Dates:	1914 (Mid/Late September)
Manufactured by:	Base Vehicle: Clement-Talbot, Ltd., Rolls-Royce, Ltd. and Wolseley Motors, Ltd.; Armor: Royal Navy Dockyard at Sheerness & Vehicle Manufacturers.
Crew:	2-3?
Armament:	(1) Maxim .303 Machine Gun; The Improved Talbot cars mounted (2) Maxim MG's.
Engine:	4 Cylinder Gasoline (Talbot); 6 Cylinder Gasoline (Rolls & Wolseley)
Miscellaneous Info:	In mid-September 1914, at about the same time as the Eastchurch Squadon of the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) had built the first Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce First RNAS Pattern Armored Cars, Squadron Commander Charles R. Samson R.N had already realized further improvements to the cars were necessary. As a result, Samson contacted the British Admiralty Air Department (AAD) proposing his ideas for a better armored car design. The AAD immediately procured three (3) types of car chassis for the new vehicles, which they also designed, reportedly without much of Samson's input. The AAD quickly bought touring car chassis of the same 40/50 Rolls-Royce already used, as well as those built by Talbot (their 25/50) and Wolseley (the 30/40). The purchases included eighteen (18) Rolls and (21) each of the Talbots and Wolseleys.  Although purchased, there is not sufficient evidence to determine if all the chassis were built into armored cars or not. However, there is evidence to indicate that some of the Rolls chassis were instead utilized in the production of the subsequent Rolls-Royce 1914 Admiralty Turreted Pattern Armored Cars. The AAD design (referred to as the First Admiralty Pattern) consisted of a simple low armored box structure around the car chassis as well as an armored hood to protect the driver.  Although very similar, there are small differences based upon the car chassis used.  The new design was fitted with proper armor (4mm Nickel-Chrome) and backed with oak planking. The only modifications to the base vehicles was the fitting of dual rear wheels and possibly strengthening of the suspensions. My mid to late September, the AAD has already built six (6) cars at the Royal Navy Dockyard at Sheerness and shipped them to France for Samson's use.  Reportedly, subsequent cars were also built at the Royal Dockyard, as well by the individual chassis manufacturers' factories. Later, there were at least another fifteen (15) cars built after the initial six (6), reportedly mostly Talbots and Wolseleys. *We've identified two different styles of armor fitted to the Talbot cars, which we've labeled as "Pattern 1" and "Pattern 2" to distinguish between them. It appears that Pattern 1 vehicles may have been the first version, while the Pattern 2 cars were subsequently improved versions. Again, quickly after the new cars supplemented the early 1st RNAS Pattern vehicles, it was discovered that the newer cars also had problems and would need to be improved if the use of armored cars was to continue.  Only the Rolls based vehicles stood up to the harsh use and environment, with the Talbots and Wolseley cars routinely breaking down due to mechanical problems. The armor was also seen as insufficient because it only protected the driver and vehicle.  Other crew members were exposed to gunfire and shell fragments.  Due to their troubles, most, if not all of the Wolseley cars were later converted into unarmored tender vehicles. The first improvement to the cars was again initiated by RNAS personnel.  Upon a recommendation by Commander Samson at least one Rolls-Royce and one Talbot car were fitted with raised armor panels and roofs. These cars are referred to as First Admiralty (Improved) Pattern Armored Cars.  The second improvement went much further, resulting in another new design.  The new design was created by the AAD, and became the iconic First Admiralty Pattern Armored Cars, which started to be delivered to December 1914. The vehicles fitted with these improvements were the Delaunay-Belleville, Lanchester, Rolls-Royce 1914 Pattern and Talbot Armored Cars.
uadron uado	None Available

Photos

Reference	Source/Provider
Rolls-Royce First Admiralty Pattern Armored Car Photo	The Dave Haugh Collection
Rolls-Royce First Admiralty Pattern Armored Car Photo	The Imperial War Museum
Rolls-Royce First Admiralty Pattern (Improved) Armored Car Photo	The Dave Haugh Collection
Talbot First Admiralty Pattern (*1) Armored Car Photo	The Dave Haugh Collection
Talbot First Admiralty Pattern (*1) Armored Car Photo	The Talbot Owners Club via Wikimedia Commons
Talbot First Admiralty Pattern (*2) Armored Car Photo	The Dave Haugh Collection
Talbot First Admiralty (Improved) Pattern Armored Car Photos	The Dave Haugh Collection
Talbot First Admiralty (Improved) Pattern Armored Car Photo	The Talbot Owners Club via Wikimedia Commons
Wolseley First Admiralty Pattern Armored Car Photos	The Dave Haugh Collection

References Available

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