Delaunay-Belleville armoured car
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| Delaunay-Belleville armoured car | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Armoured car |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom & France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1914–1918 |
| Used by | Royal Naval Air Service |
| Wars | First World War |
| Production history | |
| Produced | 1914 |
| No. built | 3 |
| Specifications | |
| Crew | 3 |
Main armament | .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun |
| Engine | 6-cylinder 40 hp (30 kW) |
| Drive | Wheeled 4x2 |
| References | Fletcher[1] & Foss.[2] |
The Delaunay-Belleville armoured car was a British armoured car built on the chassis of the luxury French Delaunay-Belleville tourer. It saw service with the Royal Naval Air Service in the early years of the First World War.
The Delaunay-Belleville armoured car was a turreted armoured car, built on the chassis of a Delaunay-Belleville luxury tourer. The layout of the Delaunay-Belleville was similar to the Rolls-Royce armoured car although larger, with an engine (likely six-cylinder 40 hp (30 kW)) at the front, crew compartment in the middle and rear cargo deck. The Delaunay-Belleville’s flat topped circular turret was fitted with a .303 Vickers machine gun, whilst a door was on the left side for crew access.[1][2]
The Delaunay-Bellevilles were amongst the earliest armoured vehicles to have overhead protection for the crew.[2]
History
In 1914 the Admiralty acquired three bare Delaunay-Belleville chassis in Britain awaiting delivery to coach builders, to convert to armoured cars.[1][2]
The armoured bodywork of the Delaunay-Belleville was built and fitted at the behest of Charles Samson, who was unhappy with the early open topped Admiralty designs. The turret was probably designed by Arthur Nickerson, the designer of the Rolls-Royce turret.[1]
It is possible that the armoured bodywork of the Delaunay-Belleville was built and fitted by the firm Forges et Chantiers de France of Dunkirk, although that firm had no access to armour plate so if that were the case they were built from boiler plate.[1]
