Bedford MW
{{short description|British WWII truck}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Bedford MW
| image = Rhodesians of 60th KRRC in North Africa, 1942.jpg
| image_size = 300
| alt =
| caption = Bedford MWD 15cwt truck with Rhodesian troops of the 60th King's Royal Rifles, Western Desert, 1942.
| type = General service truck
| origin = United Kingdom
| is_ranged =
| is_bladed =
| is_explosive =
| is_artillery =
| is_vehicle = Yes
| is_missile =
| is_UK = Yes
| service = 1939–late 1950s
| used_by = British Army, Royal Air Force & Royal Navy
| wars = Second World War
| designer = Bedford Vehicles
| design_date = 1937
| manufacturer = Bedford Vehicles
| unit_cost =
| production_date =
| number = More than 66,000
| variants =
| spec_label =
| weight = {{convert|2.1|LT|t|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|14|ft|4|in|abbr=on}}
| part_length =
| width = {{convert|6|ft|6|in|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|7|ft|6|in|abbr=on}}
| diameter =
| crew = 2
| passengers =
| armour =
| primary_armament =
| secondary_armament =
| engine = Six-cylinder inline Bedford OHV {{convert|3.5|L|CID|order=flip|abbr=on}} petrol
| engine_power = {{convert|72|bhp|kW|abbr=on}} at 3,000rpm
| pw_ratio =
| payload_capacity = {{convert|15|long cwt|kg|abbr=on}}
| drive = Wheeled 4x2
| transmission = 4 forward, 1 reverse
| suspension = Live axles on semi-elliptical multi leaf springs
| clearance =
| fuel_capacity =
| vehicle_range =
| speed = {{convert|40|mph|kph|abbr=on}}
| guidance =
| steering =
| ref = Chris Bishop{{r|Bishop}} & Pat Ware{{r|Ware}}
}}
The Bedford MW was a general service truck used by the British Armed Forces during the Second World War.
Design
The Bedford MW was a 15 cwt (760 kg) 4x2 truck, powered by a Bedford {{convert|72|bhp|kW|abbr=on}} six-cylinder inline {{convert|3.5|L|CID|order=flip|abbr=on}} petrol engine through a four speed transmission.{{r|Bishop|Ware}}
Despite lacking four wheel drive and so being unsuited for off-road use, the MW's powerful engine, short wheel base, low centre of gravity and relatively light weight gave it excellent acceleration and almost sports car like handling.{{r|Ware}}{{Additional citation needed|date=May 2025}}
The early MWs were open cabbed with a folding windscreen and a collapsible canvas tilt, from 1943 an enclosed cab with doors and perspex side screens was added, retaining the canvas top. The vehicle had a distinctive wide bonnet, necessitated by the need to accommodate a special extra large air filter that was never fitted to production vehicles.{{r|Bishop|Ware}}
History
In 1935 the War Office issued specifications for a new 15 cwt 4x2 military truck for service with the British Army, inviting manufacturers to submit designs to take part in annual comparative trials in north Wales, one entrant was a modification of a Bedford Vehicles 2-ton rear wheel drive lorry. Following these trials Bedford fitted a larger radiator and larger tyres, the trials were repeated in 1936 after which Bedford modified the chassis to increase ground clearance and installed a new engine cooling system. For the 1937 trials a new special Bedford WD-1 prototype was produced with a 15 cwt payload, it performed admirably and in 1938 the eventual {{Convert|72|bhp|abbr=on}} engine was installed.{{r|Bishop|Ware}}
Between 1939 and 1945 Bedford produced over 66,000 MWs, the vehicles remained in British service until the late 1950s.{{r|Bishop|Ware}}
Use
The MW was intended mainly to be a workhorse for the British Army's infantry battalions, but throughout the war it was adapted to a number of roles and was eventually also used by the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, other government departments and some overseas customers.{{r|Bishop|Ware}}
=Variants=
The Bedford MW was built in multiple variants including:{{r|Ware}}
- Bedford MWD cargo truck with General Service body approx {{convert|6|by|6|ft|m|abbr=on}}. Main transport of an infantry battalion.TM 30-410 p182{{Full citation needed|date=September 2021}}
- Bedford MWC water tank truck
- Bedford MWT anti-aircraft gun tractor
- Bedford MWG QF 2-pounder or 20mm Oerlikon portee
- Bedford MWR radio truck
- Bedford MWV Royal Air Force signals van
Gallery
File:The British Army in Normandy 1944 B7026.jpg|Water-carrying trucks of XII Corps filling up at a water point, 12 July 1944.
File:The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 B12983.jpg|Bofors gun of 89th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment stranded in flooded land at Elst in Holland, 15 December 1944.
File:Trucks and other vehicles in Valkenswaard.jpg|Bedford MWD trucks in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands
File:The British Army in France 1940 F2169.jpg|1st Royal Irish Fusiliers with French 25mm 34 SA anti-tank gun on the back of a Bedford MWD, January 1940.
File:Karlovo nám. 2017 H3. Vojenská vozidla, Bedford MWR-15 CWT.jpg|Bedford MWR in camouflage of 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade on the 75th Anniversary of Operation Anthropoid
File:Bedford MWC, Imperial War Museum, Duxford. (11773504215).jpg|Bedford MWC water tank
File:The British Army in France 1940 F4120.jpg|Loading a Hotchkiss 25mm SA 34 anti-tank gun onto the back of a Bedford MWG, April 1940
References
External links
{{commons category|Bedford MW}}
- [http://www.armyvehicles.dk/bdmwc.htm Bedford MWC ] at Danish army vehicles
{{WWIIBritishSoftVeh}}
{{Bedford vehicles}}
Category:Military trucks of the United Kingdom
Category:World War II vehicles of the United Kingdom