AEC Matador

AEC O853 Matador
AEC matador tows 3.7-inch gun, Caen, 7 August 1944.
Type	Medium artillery tractor
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Production history
Manufacturer	AEC Motors
Produced	1938-1953
Specifications
Weight	7.75 tons
Length	20 ft 10 in
Width	7 ft 10 in
Height	9 ft 7 in
Crew	1
Armour	none
Engine	AEC 7.6 litre diesel 95 hp
Payload capacity	4-ton
Suspension	Wheel, 4 x 4
Speed	30 mph

The AEC Matador was an artillery tractor built by the Associated Equipment Company for British and Commonwealth forces during the Second World War. AEC had already built a 4 x 2 lorry, also known as the Matador (all AEC lorries received 'M' names).

The Matador was distinctive with its flat fronted cab with gently curved roof, wheels at the corners and a flat load carrying area covered by a canvas or tarpaulin tilt. As an artillery tractor, rather than a cargo vehicle, the wooden sides were fixed in place without folding down, but did have a narrow crew door on each side. Two transverse bench seats were provided for the gun crew, accessed through the side doors, at the 1st side bay on the left and the 2nd on the right.

The cab was framed in ash and clad in steel. It was equipped with a winch (7-ton load in its case) like all artillery tractors. The O853 provided the basis for the 'Dorchester' armoured command vehicle.

AEC also produced a larger 'Marshall' 6x6 vehicle (model O854) based on the 4x4 Matador which were generally, if not officially, also called Matador. The O854 also provided the basis for an armoured command vehicle, the O857.

About 9,000 Matadors were built, some going to the Royal Air Force (RAF).

For the British Army it fulfilled a role between field artillery tractors (FATs) such as the Morris C8 Quad, which towed smaller guns such as the 25-pounder gun-howitzer, and the Scammell Pioneer, used for towing the 7.2-inch howitzer. It was commonly used to tow the 5.5-inch medium gun and the QF 3.7-inch AA gun. The Matador was found to be a generally useful vehicle and was adapted for other roles including carrying a 25-pounder gun.