AEC Militant Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids AEC Militant Mk I
AEC Militant, Mk I GS wagon
Type	Medium/heavy artillery tractor, 10-ton cargo truck
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Production history
Designer	Associated Equipment Company
Manufacturer	Associated Equipment Company
Produced	1952–1964
No. built	3,200
Variants	O859 (6x4) O860 (6x6)
Specifications
Mass	Unladen 10.3–10.5 t (10.1–10.3 long tons)
Length	24 ft 1 in (7.34 m)
Width	8 ft (2.4 m)
Height	9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)

Engine	AEC A223 straight-six diesel 150 bhp (110 kW)
Drive	6x4 or part time 6x6
Transmission	5F1Rx2
Suspension	Live axles on semi-elliptical multi-leaf springs inverted at the rear
Maximum speed	25 mph (40 km/h)
References	A complete directory of military vehicles

AEC Militant Mk III
Type	10-ton cargo truck
Specifications
Mass	Unladen 11.85 t (11.66 long tons)
Length	29 ft 9 in (9.07 m)
Width	8 ft 2 in (2.49 m)
Height	11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)

Engine	AEC AV760 straight-six diesel 226 bhp (169 kW)
Drive	6x6
Transmission	6F1Rx2
Maximum speed	33 mph (53 km/h)
References	The illustrated encyclopedia of military vehicles

The AEC Militant, often called "Milly" or "Knocker", was a powerful truck built by the AEC in the United Kingdom. It was developed after World War II and was an improved version of the older AEC Matador truck.

The Militant was much bigger than its predecessor. It had a larger cab and a strong steel frame. It also came with a more powerful 11.3-litre, 6-cylinder diesel engine. Unlike the Matador, the Militant was only made with six wheels. Some versions had four wheels driven (called 6x4), while others had all six wheels driven (called 6x6), making them very good off-road.

What Was the Militant Used For?
- Different Versions of the Militant
The Militant in Action
After Military Service
Images for kids
See also

What Was the Militant Used For?

The AEC Militant was originally designed to be an artillery tractor. This means it was meant to pull large artillery guns for the army. However, after World War II, armies started using more rockets and missiles instead of huge guns. This meant the Militant's main job became less important over time.

Different Versions of the Militant

Even though it was first made to pull guns, the Militant was very versatile. It was also built in other forms:

As a tractor unit for pulling large trailers, like an articulated lorry.
As a General Service (GS) or cargo lorry to carry supplies. These had a longer body.
As a chassis (the base frame) for mounting different types of cranes, often made by a company called Coles.

The Militant in Action

The Militant served with the British Army and other armies around the world. Soldiers had mixed feelings about it.

Driving the Militant

One challenge was that the early Militant models didn't have power steering. This meant it took a lot of strength to turn the steering wheel, especially when moving slowly or in tough conditions. Imagine trying to turn a huge truck's wheels without any help! However, later models, like the MkIII, did get power-assisted steering, which made driving much easier.

Off-Road Performance

Despite the steering challenge, the Militant was known for being excellent off-road. It could handle rough terrain very well. It was often used to rescue other military vehicles, like the six-wheel drive Alvis Stalwart amphibious lorries, when they got stuck in mud or difficult places.

The Powerful Winch

Most Militants had a strong winch mounted on their chassis. This winch was powered by the truck's engine through its gearbox. It was used to help move the heavy guns the truck was pulling or to pull the Militant itself out of tricky situations if it got stuck. This winch was incredibly powerful and reliable.

Why "Knocker"?

The Militant earned the nickname "Knocker" from its military crews. This might have been because of the steady, rhythmic sound of its slow-revving diesel engine.

After Military Service

Many Militant trucks were sold off by the army in the 1970s. They were then bought by civilian companies for various jobs.

Heavy Recovery Vehicles: Many were used as powerful recovery vehicles to pull other broken-down trucks.
Forestry Work: Some were used in forests. However, they weren't as popular as the older Matador for this job. Their extra length and extra axle made them harder to move around in tight forest spaces.
Modified Trucks: Some clever owners even shortened the chassis and removed one axle. This basically turned them into a more powerful version of the Matador, making them more maneuverable.

The AEC Militant Mk1 trucks were still in service with the army as late as 1985. The Mk3 versions were used even longer, until about 1990, before being replaced by newer trucks.