Contribution to Victory: Southall’s A.E.C. Factory and WWII A.E.C., working with South African Captain Abraham du Toit, also helped develop a prototype Flail Tank, for mine clearance, known as the Matilda Baron. Whilst innovative, the Baron's problem was that the rotor was powered by external, auxiliary engines that made it too wide to cross a Bailey bridge and which had to be removed if it was to be transported by rail. Curran Brothers of Cardiff constructed 60 Barons, but they were only used for demonstrations and training. Alternative flail tanks based on the Sherman tank model were developed around the same time, independently of A.E.C. The Matador It was a truck whose main role was to haul artillery pieces and to transport stored shells, but it could also carry military personnel such as artillery crews, as well as hauling a range of other loads,²º¹ such as aircraft or tanks. Considered to have a good off-road performance and manoeuvrability, it was commonly used to tow the 5.5-inch medium gun and the QF 3.7-inch AA gun. Some 150 Matadors mounted with a swiveling 6-pounder gun protected by an armoured shield were sent to the Middle East and nicknamed ‘Yellow Devils’ by British troops there.²º² The Matador was also adapted for many other roles including carrying a 25-pounder gun,²º³ a crane-carrying salvage vehicle, an armoured command vehicle, a minelaying vehicle, and a special Signals vehicle used by the R.A.F 6-wheeled armoured command vehicles were built for service overseas in World War Two by A.E.C.²²² These were designed to transport and protect commanders of military formations in the field, or their staffs, besides stowing communications equipment, and maps and plans. Contribution to Victory: Southall's A.E.C. Factory and WWII | CCS
