The Bedford QL was a series of trucks manufactured by Bedford for use by the British Armed Forces in the Second World War. It was Bedford’s first vehicle series built for the military, and 52,247 were produced between 1941 and 1945.
Bedford QL at a glance
| Maker | Bedford |
|---|---|
| Production | 1941-1945 |
| Built | 52,247 |
| Type | 3-ton 4×4 general service truck |
| Engine | 3.5-litre six-cylinder petrol, 72 hp at 3,000 rpm |
| Gearbox | four-speed manual |
| Drive | 4×4, with the front axle engageable in the field |
| Fuel | 127 litres |
| Main variant | QLD general service, about 25,700 built |
| Other variants | QLB, QLC, QLR, QLT, QLW |
History of the Bedford QL
Development
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Bedford was contracted by the War Office to produce a 3-ton 4×4 general service truck. Development of a forward-control four-wheel-drive vehicle in the 3-ton class began in October 1939, and a pilot model was ready in February 1940. Quantity production started in March 1941 and continued until 1945. The QL was Bedford’s first vehicle series built for the military, and a total of 52,247 were produced.
The QL was a forward-control design with a 3.5-litre six-cylinder petrol engine of 72 hp at 3,000 rpm. It drove normally on the rear wheels, but the front axle could be engaged in the field for 4×4 traction, which reduced wear on the tyres and gearbox. The two fuel tanks held 127 litres in total, and the spare wheel and tanks were mounted directly behind the cab. In service the QL was sometimes nicknamed Queen Lizzie.
The QL family
The QLD was the general service cargo truck and the most numerous version of the series, with about 25,700 built, or half of the total. The QLB was a Bofors gun tractor for the 40 mm anti-aircraft gun; about 5,500 were built, with space for a crew of seven, 96 rounds of ammunition, a spare barrel and a winch. The QLC could be a fire engine, a signals vehicle or a petrol tanker. The QLR was a signals vehicle, originally on the QLC chassis and cab but soon built on a special chassis with radio suppression, a 660 W auxiliary generator driven by the transfer case power take-off and two 16-gallon petrol tanks behind the cab. Its body shells were produced by Duple, Lagonda, Mulliner, Tickford and others, and a revised 1944 body had an improved L-shaped tent that could be erected along the left side and rear.
The QLT troop carrier entered production in August 1941 and more than 3,300 were built by the end of the war, carrying 29 soldiers. The QLW was an air-portable tipper. There were also special vehicles: the Bedford-Bren half-track used Carden Lloyd suspension from a Bren Gun Carrier, and the Bedford Giraffe mounted the engine, cab and gearbox on an elevated girder frame for deep wading. A lightly armoured QL with a flamethrower, the Cockatrice, was built in small numbers for airfield defence.
Service
The British Army used the QL mainly as a general service truck, and in North Africa some were fitted with a 6-pounder anti-tank gun. Some examples served as fuel tankers with the Royal Air Force. After the Second World War the British Army used the type during the Korean War and only retired it at the beginning of the 1960s.
Design and features
- 4×4 traction: rear-wheel drive in normal use, with the front axle engageable for off-road work.
- 3.5-litre six: a 72 hp petrol engine and four-speed gearbox.
- Forward control: a cab-over-engine layout that gave a large load area behind the cab.
- Specialist chassis: the QLR signals vehicle had a 660 W auxiliary generator and extra radio equipment.
- Many roles: cargo, gun tractor, fire engine, tanker, troop carrier, tipper and radio truck.
Bedford QL versions
- QLD: general service cargo truck and the most numerous version.
- QLB: Bofors 40 mm gun tractor, about 5,500 built.
- QLC: fire engine, signals vehicle or petrol tanker.
- QLR: signals vehicle on a special chassis.
- QLT: troop carrier for 29 soldiers, more than 3,300 built.
- QLW: air-portable tipper.
- Cockatrice: lightly armoured flamethrower version for airfield defence.
The QL was preceded by the Bedford OY and was later replaced by the Bedford RL. More military Bedfords are in the Bedford collection.
Video: Bedford QL
Video by rockola59 on YouTube.
Sources
- Bedford QL, English Wikipedia: history, variants, production
- Bedford QL, German Wikipedia: development and production
- Bedford QLD, Dutch Wikipedia: technical details, QLD production, service
- Bedford QL, Italian Wikipedia: versions and roles
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