Austin K2

The Austin K2/Y was a British heavy military ambulance used by all Commonwealth services during World War II. Built by the Austin Motor Company, it was based on the civilian light truck Austin K30, differing mainly by having simple canvas closures in place of driver's cab doors. The K2/Y could take ten casualties sitting or four stretcher cases. The rear body, known as No. 2 Mk I/L was developed by the Royal Army Medical Corps and built by coachbuilder Mann Egerton. The interior dimensions were approximately 2.6 meters long, 2.0 meters wide and 1.7 meters high. At the rear of the vehicle there were two large doors. From the driver's cab the wounded could also be accessed through a small door with a seat. One veteran of the North African Campaign stated he once managed to carry 27 wounded, with passengers seated on the wings, bonnet, rear steps, and in extra stretchers suspended by rifles across the rear walkway; he was mentioned in dispatches for this feat. A total of 13,102 Austin K2/Y ambulances were built at the company's Longbridge plant almost continuously from 1940 until the war ended. An estimated 50 or more remain today.