1847
Armstrong Works is formed
In 1847, William George Armstrong, a Newcastle lawyer, gave up the security of his legal practice to pursue a career in engineering based on his own inventions. He successfully designed a hydraulic system applied to cranes on Newcastle Quayside. The demonstration crane was an immediate success and others on the Quayside were converted to hydraulic power. Armstrong thereafter set up his manufacturing business at Elswick.
1897
Armstrong Whitworth is formed
In 1897, Armstrong merged his business with that of another great Victorian engineer, and former rival, Sir Joseph Whitworth. The company was renamed Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd. World War One saw the Armstrong Whitworth business responsible for a huge output of military products. This included the manufacture of tanks at Elswick in 1917, accounting for a major proportion of all tanks used in action during the First World War.
1927
Vickers-Armstrongs is formed
During the production of tanks for World War One, ‘female’ tanks were equipped with Vickers Machine Guns, which brought the companies closer together. During the interwar years, both Vickers and Armstrong-Whitworth had to find new products to manufacture in order to keep their factories occupied. However, by the 1920s, both were finding it hard to survive. In 1927, Vickers and Armstrong Whitworth merged their armaments, shipbuilding and steel interests, forming Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd.
1977
Vickers-Armstrongs becomes Vickers Defence Systems
Vickers-Armstrongs emerged from World War Two as a large and powerful organisation with enormous capability. However, the inevitable reduction in defence spending and the nationalisation of some defence sectors in 1977 reduced the size of Vickers-Armstrong overnight. Shipbuilding ceased but the focus on Armoured Fighting Vehicles remained. From 1977 onwards, the remaining elements of the Vickers-Armstrongs (Engineers) Ltd were heavily dependent upon tank orders. The Vickers group expanded commercial operations, including medical, printing and automotive sectors, the Armstrong name was no longer used, and following the acquisition of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in 1980, a new corporate Vickers ‘V’ logo was introduced.
1999
Rolls Royce buys Vickers Defence Systems
Rolls-Royce plc bought Vickers for its marine propulsion businesses and made no secret of its intention to dispose of Vickers Defence Systems when the right deal was available. The period of Rolls-Royce ownership lasted from September 1999 to August 2002 and the company retained the Vickers name throughout.
2002
Alvis Vickers is formed
Alvis Vehicles of Coventry had a long history of both commercial and military vehicle production and, in 2002, they agreed to buy Vickers Defence Systems from Rolls Royce. The newly formed business, known as Alvis Vickers held Design Authority for circa 95% of the in-service British armoured fleet of vehicles.
2004
BAE Systems buys Alvis Vickers
In 2004, the BAE Systems Land Systems business was formed, following the acquisition of Alvis Vickers alongside Royal Ordnance Defence (already owned by BAE Systems). BAE Systems had been primarily an air and maritime business, but now began to expand into the land sector. The Land & Armaments operating group, as BAE Systems then called it, became the largest land defence business in the world.
2019
Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land is formed
In 2019 German defence company, Rheinmetall, purchased a 55% stake in the BAE Systems' combat vehicles business unit. BAE Systems retained their existing 45%, and dubbed the new joint venture business: Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), bringing us up to present day.
