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Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars of The RNAS - Middle East
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Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars of The RNAS - Middle East
Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars of The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS), developed in 1914 and used during the First World War as pictured here (possibly in Egypt). In September 1914 all available Rolls Royce Silver Ghost chassis were requisitioned to form the basis for the new armoured car. The following month a special committee of the Admiralty Air Department, among whom was Flight Commander T.G. Hetherington, designed the superstructure which consisted of armoured bodywork and a single fully rotating turret mounting a regular water-cooled.303-in Mk I Vickers machine gun. The armoured cars served on several fronts of the Middle Eastern theatre. Lawrence of Arabia used a squadron in his operations against the Turkish forces. He called the unit of nine armoured Rolls-Royces " more valuable than rubies" in helping win his Revolt in the Desert.
circa 1916
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Media ID 20259881
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Armoured Bodywork Chassis Division Fully Ghost Mounting Regular Rnas Rolls Rolls Royce Rotating Royce Superstructure Turret Unit Water Cooled
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the rugged determination of the Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars of The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) in the Middle Eastern theatre during World War I. Developed in 1914, these armoured cars were created using all available Rolls Royce Silver Ghost chassis, which formed the basis for the new armoured vehicle. In October 1914, a special committee of the Admiralty Air Department, under the leadership of Flight Commander T.G. Hetherington, designed the superstructure. It consisted of armoured bodywork and a single, fully rotating turret, mounting a regular water-cooled .303-in Mk I Vickers machine gun. The Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars served on several fronts, including in Egypt, where they proved invaluable to British forces. Notably, T.E. Lawrence, also known as Lawrence of Arabia, used a squadron of these armoured Rolls-Royces in his operations against the Turkish forces. He famously referred to the unit of nine armoured Rolls-Royces as "more valuable than rubies" in helping win his Revolt in the Desert. This photograph likely dates back to around 1916, capturing the essence of the grit and innovation that characterized the early days of military motorization during WWI. The Rolls-Royce Armoured Cars represented a significant advancement in military technology, paving the way for future armoured vehicles and demonstrating the versatility of the iconic Silver Ghost chassis.
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