Group Build 2025

“In military terminology, a soft-skinned vehicle, also known as a ‘B’ vehicle, is a vehicle that is not protected by vehicle armour.  The term soft-skin seems have first been used in military references in the 40s. Soft-skinned or ‘B’ vehicles are often considered wheeled military vehicles such as light utility vehicles  (Tilly or Land Rover) and trucks (Bedford or Opal Blitz), but they can be any unarmoured wheeled or tracked vehicle that is not primarily designed to be employed for offensive purposes, however a BAT-M would seem to be, but Engineer vehicles are classed as ‘C’ vehicles and have a class of their own, there is an overlap as you can see, a mine laying soft skinned half track will be a ‘C’ due to the nature of employment but that same vehicle in a different organisation without mine laying equipment would be a ‘B’.

Soft Skin ‘B’ Vehicles can be purpose-designed models specifically built for military service (Kubelwagen), militarised versions of commercial vehicle models (Land Rover TUM)  or standard commercial civilian vehicles pressed into military service (Mercedes 540k.) In some cases this class of vehicles may be fitted with vehicle armour for crew defence so in effect an armoured soft skin- once again some overlap. I think the rule of thumb is – is it an Offensive vehicle? ie, would it lead into battle?

The Americans heavily armoured there logistic vehicles and armed them with .50cal HMG, that would seem to exclude them from being a B Vehicle/soft skin, yet if we apply the Offensive vehicle rule we can see it is still a B vehicle and all those extras are for defence and do not alter the soft skin or its purpose underneath.”