Prototypes of the RRAC were unveiled in December of 1914. After a short period of evaluation, they were pressed into service during the early-to-mid portion of 1915 along the front but were quickly outpaced by developments in the war which had now grown into a series of stalled initiatives. As such, the design's limitations shown through for their cross-country capabilities proved lacking - underpowered due to excess weight brought about by the steel armoring and limitations in available armament options. Thusly, its arrival proved too late and many were better served as second-line units in support of advancing troops when concerning the battlefields of Western Europe. The combat tank eventually took the reins of armored warfare during the conflict and armored cars such as the RRAC were eventually sent overseas to the Middle East and across Africa where terrain and engagement environments proved more suitable to the design. RRACs and others like her gave a better account of themselves in fighting apart from Europe proper for even Lawrence of Arabia held the design in high esteem, owing much of his success against the Ottoman Turks to whatever RRACs he could get at his disposal. A total of 120 RRAC vehicles were produced by Rolls-Royce factories during World War 1, manufacture lasting until 1917 to which Rolls-Royce was pressed to produce more aircraft engines for the British aviation effort.
During the interwar years, the RRAC existed in limited numbers with British, Irish and Polish forces. In 1920, the British Army authorized a modernization program to bring the vehicle up to new required standards, producing the RRAC "1920 Pattern Mk I" with its reinforced radiator armor and all-new wheel installations. A further revision of the design that year added a commander's cupola to the roof and this produced the RRAC "1920 Pattern Mk IA" designation. In 1921, the RRAC "1921 Indian Pattern" was formed complete with the 1920 Pattern changes and an elongated armored hull with spherical turret mounting four machine guns. Another foreign modification of the original RRAC was occurring in British Egypt where existing superstructures were mated with Fordson truck chassis to produce the "Fordson Armored Car" - highly suitable for colonial policing duties in the region. By 1940, at least 34 of these vehicles were refitted with the Boys Anti-Tank Rifle coupled with a .303 Bren machine gun which broadened the tactical usefulness of the vehicle. In 1924, another revision added the commander's cupola to the turret roof and this produced the RRAC "1924 Pattern Mk I" designation.
Beyond their use in World War 1, RRACs were also featured in the Irish Civil War (1922-1923) where their policing qualities could be best put to use against unarmored guerilla-type forces in an urban environment. Pro-Treaty forces were supported by the British and eventually claimed the victory over the Anti-Treaty forces. Some 13 RRACs were handed over to the Irish government for the bloody clashes that ensued.
Despite their origination in a World War 1 initiative, the Rolls-Royce Armored Car was still present in the British inventory by the time of World War 2. At least 76 examples were still on hand though many based, again, in the Middle East where colonial security was of paramount importance to the Empire. As such, their fighting contribution was primarily centered in North Africa. World War 2 officially began in 1939 with the German invasion of Poland and quickly spread to include most of the discovered world. By 1941 however, the RRAC had seen its best fighting days behind her. The British eventually invested design and development into more modern armored cars and these proved much better suited to the war at hand. As such, the original Rolls-Royce design eventually faded to history, serving up to or around 1944 before they were given up for good. Irish-owned versions managed to outlive their usefulness into the mid-1950s.
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