Today in motorcycle history, March 3, 1943

  


   




  

  The Bournbrook War effort continues to step up.   From the 22nd of January to the 3rd of March production at Ariel hits 2,250.











  With the outbreak of WWII, Ariel developed the W/NG 350 (348cc) OHV single specifically for military use.   Based on the Val Page designed Red Hunter model that won the Scottish Six-Day-Trials, the W/NG went into production in 1940.




  The French military immediately placed orders for the W/NG, but the British War Office only rated it as "fair – for use only in emergency purposes".  Then following the loss of vehicles caused by the evacuation of Dunkirk in May 1940 the "emergency purposes" became necessary, and Ariel turned over as many motorcycles as possible to the war effort, including converting civilian machines – many of which still carried Ariel tank badges painted over with green or sand paint.






  Ariel models VH & VG (500cc OHV single), NH & NG (350cc OHV single), and VB (598cc single) models were put into military service, although most were used for training and Civil Defense.  The British Army, RAF, Ministry of Agriculture and Women's Land Army all used Ariel W/NG 350's






  Ariel supplied W/NG 350cc motorcycles from 1940 to 1945 which featured dual triangular tool boxes, pannier frames for bags, rear carrying racks and headlight masks.  At the time due to the shortage of rubber the handgrips were made from canvas and footrests from steel.   As the war progressed, aluminium also became scarce and pressed steel was used for the primary and timing covers.