ROMMEL'S "Mammute" Dorchester AEC Command Vehicles

The Captured AEC Command Vehicles

Anyone who has followed the Rommel in North Africa story will have heard of his captured Armoured Command Vehicle named "Moritz", captured during the early advances in the Mechili region. In all, three of these AEC "Dorchester" ACV vehicles were captured. These HQ vehicles had left Barce a day ahead of the generals themselves, who followed later in their Humber Snipe staff car. They were caught up in a traffic jam around Derna, and were captured by an advance German motorcycle platoon. The Dorchester ACVs were captured on the outskirts of Mechili.
These HQ vehicles originally belonged to:
1. Lt.Gen. Sir Richard O'Connor, assistant commander of the 8th Army.
2. Lt.Gen. Sir Philip Neams VC, commander of the 8th Army.
3. Maj.Gen. Gambier-Parry, commander of 2nd Armd.Div. by 3rd Reconnaissance unit of DAK.

This all came about when the 2nd Armoured Division headquarters waited too long at Mechili for the stragglers of its armoured brigades, and the HQ vehicles along with 7th Indian Motor Brigade were all captured during April 7 and 8, 1941.

When captured, these British HQ vehicles displayed large numbers (3, 5 and 2 respectively) on their sides. Rommel used number 2 and 3, and number 5 went to Gen. Streich. Rommel referred to his two as "Mammute" (Mammoths). Rommel's two were eventually given the names "Moritz" and "Max" after characters in a German children's story. Rommel adopted "Moritz" as his HQ vehicle, and "Max" was given to his operations staff, Lt.Gen. Westphal (as 1A) and Maj.Gen. F.W. von Mellenthin (as 1C). The Chief of Staff, Col. Bayerlin, always travelled in Rommel's vehicle. "Moritz" and "Max" had their diesel engines modified to run on German tank fuel, which was a somewhat thicker consistency. They were also fitted with German number plates. These vehicles survived the whole war in Africa and were never recaptured, until they were found deserted in the Cap Bon area after the final surrender.

When originally captured "Moritz" appears to have been painted in disruptive bold dark brown, sand and light blue bands. British vehicle registration numbers (WD) appeared on the nose side, and the rear, over the door. Large white numbers (3) appeared on the sides and left of the rear door. Originally large German crosses were added to the front, sides and rear until they could find time for a proper repaint job. It appears that these vehicles were worked over several times and it is hard to pin down one exact camouflage pattern used. An early shot of one of Rommel's "Mammute" soon after its capture and before the name was added. The large white 5 on the front has been overpainted with desert sand over much of the hood. The right photo is likely Gen.Stein's ACV and the German DAK markings have simply been painted on over the British disruptive paint scheme.

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