One of the most famous vehicles of its type, the Austin K2/Y Ambulance was used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces throughout the Second World War, both in the combat zones and on the home front.
Built around the chassis of the Austin K30 light truck, the casualty compartment was developed with the Royal Army Medical Corps and therefore proved to be highly functional. Able to carry either four stretcher cases or ten seated casualties, one of the main reasons why the K2/Y was so successful was because it was so rugged and reliable, requiring only a minimum of maintenance - an ambulance should always be ready when you need it.
The rear cabin was typically constructed of painted canvas on a timber frame, with the highly visible red cross on a white disk prominently on all sides to hopefully ensure the vehicles occupants didn't come under fire. Once the K2/Y had delivered its latest casualty load to the field station, it would invariably head straight back to the combat zone, at speeds approaching 50mph.
15 окт 2024
