Bedford QL

Bedford QL
A QLR on show
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
Used by	British Armed Forces
Wars	Second World War
Production history
Manufacturer	Bedford (General Motors)
Produced	1941-1945
No. built	52,247
Variants	QL1, QLB, QLC, QLD, QLR, QLT & QLW
Specifications
Mass	7,225 lb (3,277 kg) (empty) 15,400 lb (6,985 kg) (loaded)
Length	5.99 m (19 ft 8 in)
Width	2.26 m (7 ft 5 in)
Height	10 feet / 2.54m
Crew	1 + 11 passengers
Armour	none
Engine	Bedford, 6-cyl 3,519 cc (214.7 cu in) petrol 72 hp (54 kW)
Payload capacity	3 tons
Suspension	Wheel, 4x4
Operational range	156 mi (250 km)

The Bedford QL was a series of trucks, manufactured by Bedford for use by the British Armed Forces in the Second World War.

At the outbreak of WW II, Bedford was contracted by the British War Office to produce a 3 ton 4×4 general service truck. A pilot model was ready in February 1940 and quantity production started in March 1941.^[1] The Bedford QL was in production from 1941 to 1945 and was Bedford's first vehicle series built for the military.^[2]

QL1

Prototype.^[2]

QLB

Bofors gun tractor.^[2] Approximately 5,500 QLBs were built.^[3]

Several QLBs were fitted with shortened GS bodies and recovery cranes to be used as wreckers by the Danish Army (Used until late 1960s).^[4]

QLC

Fire engine.^[2]

Signals vehicle.^[2]

Petrol tanker.^[2]

QLD

General service cargo truck and was the most numerous version in the series.^[2]

Machinery.^[2]

Kitchen.^[2]

Battery storage.^[2]

QLR

Signals vehicle.^[2] Originally mounted on the QLC chassis/cab, special QLR chassis were soon put into production, which differed from the standard type in having special electrical equipment, radio suppression, fitment of a 660 W auxiliary generator driven by the transfer case power-take-off and, like the QLT, two 16 gallon petrol tanks instead of one behind the cab. The interior furniture, partitioning and radio equipment varied with the different functions. On vehicles installed for the wireless role, a tent could be erected at the rear. Between cab and man body were lockers for aerial masts and other equipment. Beneath the body were further lockers and racks for cable drums, batteries, tyre chains, 20 gallon drinking water tank, rectifier box, tools, fuel tank for the auxiliary engine, jerrycans and other items. The basic body shells were produced by Duple, Lagonda, Mulliner, Tickford and others. A revised body was introduced during 1944 for the Command High and Low Power and Wireless High Power roles. This body had an improved L-shaped tent which could be erected alongside the left-hand side and rear of the body.^[5]

QLT

Troop carrier.^[2] From August 1941 and until the end of WW II more than 3,300 QLTs were produced.

QLW

Air portable tipper.^[2]

Lorry, 3 ton, GS Bedford half-track (Bedford-Bren)

Following the fall of Singapore rubber was scarce and so at the request of the Ministry of Supply a Bedford QL was adapted using a Carden Lloyd suspension ^[6] taken from a Bren Gun Carrier. While the Bedford-Bren^[7] was capable of impressive feats of tractive power (which could have been easily produced in its own right as a prime mover) British authorities, unlike the Americans and Germans, did not favour the half-track. The shortage of rubber was not as severe as anticipated and official interest in the project waned. Not only did this British parallel to the German Maultier not go into production, the single prototype was converted back into an all-wheel vehicle.^[8]

Lorry, 3 ton, 4 x 4, Bedford, experimental (Bedford Giraffe)

An attempt to make a motor vehicle capable of deep wading for river crossings and amphibious landing, the Bedford Giraffe was developed as insurance against the shallow wading kits under development not proving effective in deeper water. As a 'plan B' Vauxhall adapted a Bedford GL by mounting its engine, cab and gearbox on an elevated girder frame some seven feet high, with a chain drive transmitting power to the propshaft. The ungainly but effective vehicle demonstrated it was a viable solution should hastily extemporised waterproofing kits fail but they proved effective and so no specialised type was required.^[9]

• Ware, P (2012). The illustrated guide to military vehicles. Wigston: Hermes House. ISBN 978-0-85723-953-2.
• Bart Vanderveen (1989) 'Historic Military Vehicles Directory'

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