World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseWhen Australia was drawn into WW2, she discovered that the United Kingdom was unable to provide her Commonwealth forces enough armored vehicles. Instead, the United Kingdom led an effort to help the other forces develop their own armored vehicles. In 1941, Australia began developing what eventually came to be designated as the Light Armoured Car (Aust) vehicles, with the nickname Rover. The armored bodies were manufactured by Ruskin Motor Bodies Pty Ltd of Melbourne, Australia; the 3-ton CMP F60L or F60S truck chassis were manufactured in CAnada by Ford Motor Company of the United States. These vehicles entered service with the Australian Army in Apr 1942 and were used for training operations; the troops who operated them nicknamed them mobile slit trenches due to the long narrow openings on top of the vehicles. Rover vehicles remained in Australia, thus they never saw combat. In 1943, American armored cars began to be imported into Australia, and production of Rover vehicles ceased. Between 1941 and 1943, 238 vehicles were built; 40 of them were with the longer-wheelbase (158.25 inches) F60L chassis and designated Mk I, and 198 were with the shorter-wheelbase (115 inches) F60S chassis and designated Mk II.

SPECIFICATIONS

Mk I

Machinery	One Ford 3.9-liter V8 engine rated at 95hp
Suspension	4x4, leaf spring
Armament	1x7.7mm Vickers machine gun, 1x7.7mm Bren machine gun
Armor	16mm
Crew	5
Length	6.10 m
Width	2.30 m
Height	2.10 m
Weight	5.2 t

Mk II

Machinery	One Ford 3.9-liter V8 engine rated at 95hp
Suspension	4x4, leaf spring
Armament	1x7.7mm Vickers machine gun, 1x7.7mm Bren machine gun
Armor	16mm
Crew	5
Length	5.60 m
Width	2.30 m
Height	2.10 m
Weight	5.0 t

Photographs