Danish Army
Specific: The MJP2, designated
as a 4.500 kg truck, entered service in the Danish Army
in 1972. Today replaced by the Magirus
110-16.
The trucks for the Danish Army
were assembled by GM International in Copenhagen,
starting in June 1972. They were supplied in CKD form by Vauxhall Motors Ltd, and
differed from the British parent vehicle in having a
load-sense device, and a 2-line air- and trailer braking
system.
Historical: In the early 1960´s the British
Army issued a requirement for a 4 x 4 4.500 kg truck to
replace the RL-series. Besides the load capacity it should meet
the "medium mobility" cross-country mobility,
have the choice of either a petrol or a diesel engine,
and be air-portable. To meet this requirement 3 different
models were submitted by BMC (Austin FJ), Rootes (Commer CB)
and Vauxhall (Bedford RK).
After comparative trials the Vauxhall model, based on the
civilian 4 x 2 TK truck with it's proved commercial components,
was selected and standardised as "Truck,
Cargo" with a 4.000 kg. payload. After necessary detail modifications a first
contract for 2.000 vehicles in both left- and right-hand drive
configuration was placed in April 1968 and
quantity production started in May 1970.
The initial designation was "RK" but in production it was changed to "MK", the latter signifying a
special multi-fuel version of the 330 diesel engine, but
conventional engines were offered for general use. Thus,
it became known as the "M-type".
Originally designed with a aluminium body to obtain a 5
ton payload. As this proved to expensive, production
models used a steel body produced by Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering)
Limited. The sides were removable and the body floor had lashing points
for securing various types of load. This enabled cargo trucks to be
converted quickly to operate as flat platforms.
Unlike the RL the MK was able to engage four wheel drive on both low and
high range in order to increase off road speed.
Although not finally retired until 2002, the Bedford MK was superseded
in the British Army by the turbo charged MJ, which started service in
1983.
With almost 50.000 (both military and civilian) produced known users are
Ireland, Great Britain, Kenya, the Netherlands and Uganda.
Length: 6.87 m (267 inches).
Width: 2.41 m (93 inches).
Height: 3.30 m (128 inches).
Weight: 9.450 kg (20.790 lb.).
Engine: Own 6-cylinder, type 330-93, 5.420 cm3 (330
cubic inches) displacement, liquid cooled.
Horsepower: 98 hp at 2.600 rpm.
Transmission: 4-speed gearbox.
Transfer case: 2 speed.
Electrical system: 24 volt, negative ground.
Brakes: Hydraulic brakes, servo-assisted.
Tyres: 12.00 x 20.
Fording depth:
without preparation: 0.76 m (29 inches).
with deep water fording kit: N/A.
Fuel type: Diesel.
Fuel capacity: 150 liter (32 gallons).
Range: 400 km (250 miles).
Crew: 1 + 1.
Additional: Some delivered with
ring-mount for 12.7 mm (cal. 0.50) machine gun and some
equipped with a 5 T Sepson 18-05 G winch.
Variants:
Bedford MJP2 trackway-layer (59 kb)
Bedford MJP2 bridge carrier (77 kb)
Bedford MJP2 AA-truck (115 kb)
Bedford MJP2 HF radio (70 kb)
Bedford MJP2 SIT-room (104 kb)
Bedford MJP2 Office van (108 kb)
Bedford MJP2 Communications
Bedford MJP2 NBC-squad truck (122 kb)
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