tanks/vehicles Leyland Armored Car [1940]

[I_Am_Bob224 142]

Leyland Armored Car [1940]:

I would like to suggest the Leyland Armored Car, also known as the Leyland ALV Armored Car, or the Armored Car Mk.III.

 

 

General Background:

The Leyland Armored Car goes back quite a while before World War II, and its legacy continued long after. The first Leyland was constructed in 1934 to serve the Irish Army, designed to replace older and obsolete armored cars used in the Irish Army. It also was relatively important that the hull or chassis of the tank to be constructed on Irish soil, so the country could become less dependent on foreign imports. Three more Armored Cars were constructed by 1940, serving throughout World War II. They did not see much combat but were moderately effective serving with the First Armored Car Squadron. This Armored car also had a very long operation life, serving until 1974 when they were officially retired from service, but some even served as a Training Vehicles until the 1980's

 

 

[In-Game] Statistics : 

Light Tank

RP: 7,900 (2.0) | 8,000 (2.3) | 8,500 (2.7) 

Or

Gold: 500 (2.0) | 750 (2.3) | 1,000 (2.7)

Armament:  20 mm Madsen Cannon (Ammo: 350 - 10 Rounds per Mag)

7.7 mm Madsen Machine Gun (Ammo: 600)

Turret Rotational Speed:  [Unknown] 15 Degrees Per Second (In game Balance)

Vertical Guidance: -4 Degrees down (Estimate), 30 Degrees up

Fire Rate: 250 Rounds Per Minute 

Reloading Rate: [Unknown]

Hull Armor: 12 / 12 / 12 mm

Turret Armor: 12 / 12 / 12 mm (7mm Top)

Armor Penetration:  25 at 100 meters  / 16 at 500 meters / 8 mm at 1,000 meters

Mass: 8 Ton

Engine Power: 33 HP at [Unknown RPM] [6-Cylinder Leyland Terrier petrol]

Max Speed: 40 mph / 64 kph

Maximum Inclination: 60 Degrees

Visibility: 75-80% [Change in-game value]

 

 

History [Taken from Aviarmor]:

In the early 1930's. was the Irish army initiated the construction of an armored car, which was to replace the machines of obsolete types. One of the important conditions was the use of the chassis of cars produced in Ireland, in order to avoid dependence on foreign components. As a basis, the chassis of the Leyland three-axle truck with a 6x4 wheel arrangement was chosen. The wheels of the front axle were single, the wheels of the two rear axles were doubled. Pneumatic tires, the suspension on leaf springs. An armored hull was installed on the chassis of the chassis, with the thickness of armor sheets from 7 to 15 mm. The hull design was in many respects similar to the Swedish Landsever, because L-180 was chosen as the prototype. In the front, under the armored hood, was installed gasoline 6-cylinder Leyland "Terrier" capacity of 80 hp. and the transmission from the truck with a demultiplier. Manual transmission allowed to move at 4 speeds forward and 2 speeds back up. For better cooling in the front sheet of the hood and along its sides, cutouts for the installation of blinds were made. Access to the units of the power plant was provided through two hatches on the roof of the engine compartment.

Because of the longer wheelbase, the length of the combat compartment, which was combined with the control department, accordingly increased. Layout Leyland Armored Car also almost completely borrowed from the "landswerk" with two control posts: the driver's seat (on the right) and the machine gunner (on the left) were placed in front, behind them there were places for the commander of the car and the second driver. Landing of the crew of the car was made through two large doors in the sides of the hull. Nearby there were fastenings for instructions and boxes with spare parts.

In view of the lack of armor and production capacity, the first prototype was equipped with two towers from the old armored car Peerles Armored Car, gradually removed from the armament. Accordingly, the initial armament consisted of two 7.71-mm Vickers machine guns.

 

The tests of the first prototype (number ZC 773), conducted in the mid-1930s, revealed several significant drawbacks, but in general, Leyland met the requirements of the military. The release of serial production (in all, 3 machines with numbers from ZC 774 to ZC 776 were ordered) was scheduled for 1936, but there arose a number of new problems, connected first of all with the unavailability of Irish enterprises to produce combat vehicles, welding was used. It was necessary to send one of the army specialists to the UK, and only after his return, the production of armored cars began.

 

All ordered machines were received from July 1937 to March 1940. From the prototype, they were different modified corps new turrets, obtained from Sweden and similar to those installed on the armored vehicles Landsverk L-180. Armament Leyland reinforced by installing a 20-mm automatic cannon and two 7.7-mm machine gun Madsen, one of which was mounted next to the gun.

Career at Leyland Armored Car was extremely long, although in a battle-worthy state there were no more than 3 cars. For example, by early 1939 the Irish army had only 21 armored vehicles, including 13 Rolls Royce Armored Car, 3 Leyland Armored Car and two Landsverk L-60 tanks from the Cavalry School. However, by the beginning of 1941, the number of armored vehicles of the average type had been increased to 13 units (although how many of them were "Leland" is not reported).

Throughout his career, Leyland Armored Car served in his homeland. So, not participating in combat operations, these machines in 1957 underwent a major upgrade by installing a Ford V8 type 317 engine with 155 hp. The Irish were so used to them that even after receiving new armored vehicles, the "Leland" was not in a hurry to withdraw from the armament - the fighting qualities of these cars were enough to carry out security and police functions. Three production cars in 1972 were first handed over to Forsea Cosanta Aituil, which was part of the 5th Motor Squadron, but in 1979 one of the cars "moved" to the 4th Cavalry squadron stationed in Longford. The last two Leyland Armored Car was finally decommissioned only in the early 1980s. (!) Until the time has come, only one car of this type has survived, which is exhibited at the Bovington Tank Museum.

 

Sources: 

• https://www.aviarmor.net/tww2/armored_cars/ireland/ac_leyland.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leyland_Armoured_Car
• http://www.patriotfiles.com/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=6708&page=1
• https://www.aviarmor.net/tww2/armored_cars/ireland/ac_leyland.htm
• http://www.jaegerplatoon.net/AT_GUNS1.htm
• http://www.warwheels.net/images/ACJfinal28.pdf
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madsen_20_mm_cannon

Irish Tank.pdf

Edited May 11, 2020 by I_Am_Bob224
Formatting

[CherryBlossom 4,210]

Open for discussion. I can't see if this has been suggested before but if it has please can one of the members point it out to myself or another suggestion helper. 

[Milocat 4,857]

+1, this would definitely be fun to see but I don't know where it would be placed.

[WiseMinerva 455]

+1 for Ireland

[eleks12 1,079]

+1

[PrussianOwl 442]

I'd say add it to America because it's not Great Britain but would be on the same side in most scenarios. Or you could add it to France. 

[TerikG2014 1,389]

On 15/12/2020 at 11:41, PrussianOwl said:

I'd say add it to America because it's not Great Britain but would be on the same side in most scenarios. Or you could add it to France. 

Leyland is a British company and it really doesn't make much sense to put it anywhere else.