SPECIFICATION
Manufacturer:	AEC
Model	2,500 Gallon Petrol Tanker Mk II type O854
Registration No:	started as 131302 later changed to 23AD55
Engine	AEC A196 Compression Ignition, 6 cylinders

BRIEF HISTORY:

After the manufacture of this tanker was completed on 13/01/1943, it was sent for fitting out which was completed on 18/01/1943.

The tanker was then sent to 617 Squadron at RAF Scampton where it served with Bomber Command until 1949.

The following text is from the RAF’s own website about 617 squadron - click here for more details.

“Perhaps the most famous RAF squadron currently flying, 617 Squadron was formed at Scampton on 21 March 1943 specifically to undertake one operation - Operation Chastise - the breaching of dams vital to the German war effort. The Squadron's Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Guy Gibson, was given free reign to comb other Lancaster squadrons for the crews he thought could best undertake the mission. For weeks, not even Gibson was told of the unit's task, only that low-level flying over water was essential, and training was undertaken in around the dams and reservoirs of Derbyshire. Chastise called for the breaching of three enormous dams in the Ruhr - the heart of German industrial production - by dropping a specially designed mine at exactly 60 feet (18.29m) and a speed 220 mph (354 km/h). Nineteen specially modified Lancaster carried out the attack during the night of 16/17 May 1943, successfully breaching the Mohne and Eder dams, but failing with attacks on two others, the Sorpe and Schwelme. Wing Commander Gibson repeatedly flew over the Mohne and Eder dams to draw fire away from the attacking aircraft and was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry. Thirty-two other members of the Squadron were also decorated but a total of eight aircraft and their crews were lost during the night.”

After the end of WW2, the tanker moved around various Maintenance Units including 7MU, 25MU and 236MU.

The tanker finished its service with the RAF at MOD Ruddington (Signals Command) on 23/11/1966.

The tanker then went into civilian use at Lasham, Hampshire with Dan Air and had the overhead fuel booms removed.

POINTS OF TECHNICAL INTEREST:

The engine on this tanker is an air-cooled overhead value diesel engine.

The electrics are run on a 24 volt starting; 12V lighting; balanced 3 wire system.

Maximum speed is believed to be 30mph in high ratio depending on load. The tanker has a built in engine governor fitted.

MAGAZINE ATRICLE ABOUT THESE AEC TANKERS:

We are very grateful to Classic Military Vehicle magazine for allowing us to show the following article that they published in August 2004 about these AEC tankers.

AEC Tanker Article Page 1
AEC Tanker Article Page 2

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