Latin American Military - Equipment - Vickers Crossley Model 1926

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Revised: June 8, 2009
Copyright © 1997-2010 by Jean Charles Barroux

Vickers Crossley Model 1926

During the 20s and 30s the Vickers factory produced a number of armoured cars, most of them for service in India or in the Middle East for the RAF. They were normally used for policing duties in the British Empire or as search and rescue vehicles for downed pilots. They were built using a number of different truck chassis, nearly all of them using three axle chassis. One of these was the Vickers-Guys Indian Pattern Armoured Car which was based on a Guy Motors chassis with a 6-cylinder petrol engine and with the "Indian Pattern" turret. This "Indian Pattern" turret was very distinctive with its dome-shaped turret with four ball-mounts for machine guns at equal positions around its circumference. Two machine guns were mounted according to the perceived threat; either all on one side of the turret or one on each side. On top of the turret was an observation cupola with a searchlight. The traditional Indian Pattern Armoured Cars were the Vickers Crossleys which were made using a number of different Crossley truck chassis like the 30/70 (6x4), 38/110 (6x4) and 20/60 (4x2).

The 4x2 model based on the 20/60 Crossley truck chassis was exported at least to Japan and to Argentina and is referred as the Vickers Crossley Model 1926 or "Export" model, and can be recognized easily by the two axles and lack of long spring leaves on the first axle. In Argentina six of them were seen in the traditional parade of July 9, 1928 with a couple each as part of the Sección de Automóviles Blindados of the cavalry regiments Regimiento de Granaderos a Caballo Nº 2, 8 and 10. These were the first armoured vehicles of the Argentinean Army. They apparently were purchased in 1927 and remained in service until 1945 with the Army.

This armoured car was used in Argentina by the Ejército Argentino as its first armour and at the end of its operational life it was transferred to the Policía Federal Argentina, according to Ricardo Sigal Fogliani. But according another historian Dr. George V. Rauch, this is a false rumor based on the International/Bach armoured cars. Confirmation is sought on this matter.

Designation: Vickers Crossley Model 1926
Manufacturer: Vickers, U.K.
Role: Armoured Car
Crew: 4
Chassis: Crossley 20/60
Configuration: 4 x 2
Empty Weight: 5,516 kg
Maximum Load: --- kg
Length: 4.64 m
Width: 1.87 m
Height: 2.62 m
Ground Clearance: ---- m
Track: 1.59 m
Wheelbase: --- m
Maximum Speed: 72 km/h (road)
Range: 240 km
Fuel Capacity: --- lts
Fording: ---- m
Engine: Crossley 6-cylinder petrol
Power Output: 50 hp
Gearbox: ---
Clutch: ---
Transfer Box: ---
Steering: ---
Turning Circle: --- m
Suspension: ---
Tyres: ---
Electrical System: --- V
Armour: Steel 8 mm (0.31")
Armament: 2 x water-cooled Vickers Mk.1 7.7 mm MGs (0.303") 
Year: 1928
Cost: ---
Notes: The MGs had 6,000 rounds of ammunition each. Out of production.

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