The Tower of London Ceremonial Lightweight Land Rovers

Since the time of Henry VIII, Royal salutes have been fired by Gun Troop from the wharf which overlooks the river Thames at the Tower of London - and since World War II, this has been done with 4 Royal Ordnance 25-pounder field guns. This batch of ceremonial Lightweights were in service as gun tractors from 1988 to 1999, and operated by the Honorable Artillery Company.

Established in 1537, the Honorable Artillery Company (HAC) is the oldest regiment in the army. Based at the Armory on City Road, a stones throw from the Tower, it is responsible for operating these ceremonial vehicles.

The Land Rovers were housed, along with the guns in a purpose built modern heated building, and seldom ventured outside the short route from the Armory to the Tower.

This building was opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 1996, and by coincidence the Lightweights were refurbished by the REME that same year !

These Lightweights were ideal as gun tractors, as they were man enough to tow the two tonnes of gun, but small and nimble enough to maneuver the guns into the restricted enclosure on the grass embankment between the Tower and the Thames.