As it turned out, the British army did not always use the services of manufacturers of heavy military equipment to update its fleet of trucks and all-terrain vehicles. Occasionally, in search of new solutions and maybe even visions, the Department of Defense turned to large, reputable car companies. One day, Her Majesty's army wanted a truck and ordered it from Land Rover, a company that has established itself as a manufacturer of military off-road vehicles, but never dealt with trucks.
Initially, the novelty was supposed to be a tractor for the 105-mm caliber L118 cannon with the expectation of an additional load of no more than a ton, therefore, at the development stage, the concept was called "Rover for one ton". The final name was influenced by the wheelbase of the car and the position of the driver in the cockpit. The 101-inch axle and the driver's seat in front of it played a decisive role and the truck was born with the name Land Rover 101 Forward Control.
Engineer Norman Busby took up the development in 1967, and after five years the company was able to start mass production of one of the most popular trucks of the British army, which were used everywhere in almost all divisions of both the ground forces and the Air Force and the Navy. The 101FC quickly evolved into a versatile army vehicle.
There were many modifications: they used it as a medical center on wheels, auto radio protection, and even for the usual transportation of heavy artillery. FC was produced until 1978 and has not officially retired until now. Despite the fact that in the mid-90s they were ousted from the market by the Austrian Pinzgauer, a more modern and perfect analogue of the cargo all-terrain vehicle, and part of the FC was written off, they are still used on all five continents. Often giving preference to civilian modifications. Although military tractors are now in service with Australia, some African countries and Indonesia. Naturally, there are enough of them in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.
The inconspicuous 101st became famous thanks to the American action movie "Judge Dredd". The film studio acquired 31 cars and turned them into futuristic taxis using fiberglass elements mounted on the chassis and a dismantled body.
Forward Control is a little-known Land Rover legend, time-tested in combat conditions around the world.
