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Lanchester Armoured Car Highly regarded before the start of the First World War, the Lanchester Sporting Forty touring car was another atural choice to form the basis of an armoured car for the Royal Naval Air Service. The armoured car was protected by 8 mm armour plate and powered by a 65 hp 4.8 litre engine which gave the vehicle a speed of 50 mph on metalled roads. Similar to the Rolls-Royce they were armed with a Vickers 0.5 inch machine gun mounted in a turret, while a Lewis gun could be carried inside. Thirty six were completed by the end of March 1915 which were formed into three squadrons of twelve vehicles and S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 4.7 tons Dimensions: Length 15 ft 11½ ins, Width 6 ft 4 ins, Height 9 ft 3 ins Powerplant: 1 x 65 hp Lanchester petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 50 mph, Range 180 miles Armament: 1 x 0.5 inch Vickers machine gun Armour: Maximum 8 mm Crew: 3/4 sent to France in May. Twenty were supplied to Russia in late 1915, these differed from the others by having a cupola on the turret roof and side shields protecting the cooling sleeve of the Vickers machine gun. With the R.N.A.S. the Lanchester was mainly used for the defence of airfields, but after they were relinquished to Army control they were taken out of service in favour of the Rolls-Royce. Redundant vehicles were sent to Russia in 1916 as part of an expeditionary force to support the Russian Army, where they proved to be very reliable over the long distances travelled during the campaign. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 36

Rolls-Royce Armoured Car When the First World War broke out in August 1914, the Admiralty sent aircraft of the Royal Navy Air Service to France to support the British army. For the defence of their airfields the first British armoured car squadron was formed, manned by members of the Naval Brigade. The vehicles were very crude, and in September all available Rolls Royce Silver Ghost chassis were requisitioned to form the basis of an armoured car which consisted of an armoured body with a fully rotating turret mounting a Mk I Vickers machine gun. The first vehicles were delivered in December 1914, but by then the Western Front S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 3.5 tons Dimensions: Length 16 ft 9 in, Width 6 ft 3 ins, Height 7 ft 7 ins Powerplant: 1 x 50 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 60 mph, Range 150 miles Armament: 1 x 0.303 inch Vickers machine gun Armour: Maximum 8 mm Crew: 4 had settled down to trench warfare and they became surplus to requirements. In August 1915 the R.N.A.S. armoured car squadrons were disbanded and the vehicles taken over by the Army, but they were not ideally suited for the conditions of the Western Front, and most were soon withdrawn. They were then transferred and used on other fronts with great success, most notably by Lawrence of Arabia in the middle east against Turkish forces. In total about 120 were built between 1914-17. The vehicles were steadily modernised in the 1920s, some being virtual rebuilds which survived to serve in World war Two. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 120

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Talbot Armoured Car The Talbot Tourer was a successful sports car before the start of the First World War in 1914, and another natural choice for the basis of an armoured car for use of the the Royal Navy Air Service. The initial version was very basic, having side plates over the dual rear wheels and mudguards over the front wheels. The next version had a raised cupola at the front affording the driver more protection. In early 1915 the Talbot/ Baxter version of the car appeared that was fitted with the same armour as the Rolls-Royce, but with an octagonal turret armed with a 0.303 inch Maxim or Vickers machine gun. In S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: unknown Dimensions: Unknown Powerplant: 1 x 25 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed and range unknown Armament: 1 x 0.5 inch Vickers machine gun Armour: Maximum 8 mm Crew: 3/4 service they proved to be inadequate for their intended job, the weight of the armour being too great for the suspension which seriously reduced their operational use. The Talbot armoured cars were soon withdrawn from service, and in typical naval language were converted into tenders. In their new role the excess weight of the armour and turret was removed and a flat bed installed at the rear. The vehicles were then used to support the R.N.A.S. armoured car squadrons as supply carriers for the rest of their careers. It is not known how many were built. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: Unknown

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Seabrook Armoured Car During the early stages of World War One a successful gunnery action by the R.N.A.S. at Westroosebeke in Belgium was carried out by an improvised B type bus chassis fitted with a 3 pounder gun. This prompted a requirement for an armoured version, and for the chassis the American Standard five ton chassis was chosen which was then being marketed by Seabrook. The driver and commander's positions were armoured, and behind them in an open box hull was a Hotchkiss 3 pounder QF gun protected by a shield with up to four machine guns. The upper sections of the sides could fold down for a better field of fire. S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 10 tons Dimensions: Length 24 ft 9 ins, Width 7 ft, Height 6 ft Powerplant: 1 x 33 hp Continental petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 20 mph, Range 100 miles Armament: 1 x 3 pounder gun, up to 4 x 0.303 inch machine guns Armour: Maximum 8 mm Crew: 6 They entered service in early 1915 and were operated by the Marines, equipping five squadrons each of six vehicles. In France they formed the heavy section of armoured car operations, but with their large crew, armour and armament they were overloaded and soon only allowed to operate on metalled roads. One squadron was sent to Egypt in November 1915 for operations against the Senussi tribesmen, but they were totally unsuited to the conditions. It is uncertain of the career of these vehicle in the latter part of World War One, but were soon withdrawn from France as being unsuitable. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 30 A R M O U R E D C A R

Jeffery Armoured Car In 1915 the US Army developed an armoured car using the chassis, running gear and power train of a four wheel drive Jeffrey Quad 2 ton truck. They were fitted with two manually operated turrets which were each armed with a single 0.30 inch machine gun, these being positioned one behind the other. This was the first armoured car built for the U.S. Army, and at least one accompanied General Pershing on his expedition against Pancho Villa in Mexico during 1916. A number of these armoured cars were purchased by the British in 1916 for use in India, the army modifying them by removing S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 3.5 tons Dimensions: Length 18 ft ½ in, Width 6 ft 5 ins, Height 8 ft ½ in Powerplant: 1 x 28 hp Buda petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 25 mph, Range 100 miles Armament: 1 x 0.303 inch Vickers machine gun Armour: Maximum 8 mm Crew: 4 the rear turret and changing the armament to a Vickers 0.303 inch machine gun. Four semi circular sponsons with loopholes for small arms were also fitted to the hull sides, and a duplicate set of controls provided at the rear of the hull compartment for the co-driver, enabling the vehicle to quickly extract itself if the situation became necessary. After the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland at least 22 were used for internal security in the province. They were then deployed on the North West Frontier of India during the Third Afghan War and for policing duties in the Middle East and Mesopotamia. Country of Origin: USA Number Built: 50 A R M O U R E D C A R

Austin Armoured Car Shortly after the start of the First World War, the Russian government approached the Austin Motor Company to produce an armoured car for their army. Austin came up with an armoured car of simple design which was based on a passenger car chassis with rear-axle drive and wooden spoked wheels with pneumatic tyres, an additional set of wheels with solid rubber tyres being carried for use in combat. The main armament consisted of two Maxim machine guns which were located in dustbin type turrets situated one on each side of the hull. 48 were delivered in early 1915, and in March a further S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 5.3 tons Dimensions: Length 16 ft, Width 6 ft 8 ins, Height 9 ft 4 ins Powerplant: 1 x 50 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 35 mph, Range 125 miles Armament: 2 x 7.7 mm machine guns Armour: Maximum 8 mm Crew: 4/5 order for sixty more was placed of an improved design, which were known as Austin 2nd series. These were based on a 1½ ton lorry chassis and had a more powerful 50 hp engine. Repeat orders for the car with minor modifications were placed in 1916 and 1917, but none of the last order were delivered due the outbreak of the Russian revolution. Sixteen were taken over by the British army and used to equip the 17th (Armoured Car) Battalion of the Tank Corps, after being modified for British use. Later a number of bodies were reused on a Peerless lorry chassis, some of which were still in service in 1939. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 184 A R M O U R E D C A R

Peerless Armoured Car Shortly after the end of the First World War in 1919, the British army decided to increase the number of armoured cars they had in service so they could be used for policing the Empire. As the vehicles were needed quickly, an improvised design was prepared, and from the Army’s pool of reserve vehicles, the Peerless truck was chosen for conversion. These were stripped down to the basics and fitted with an armoured body that was of a twin sponson design each with its own turret armed with a single Hotchkiss 7.7 mm machine gun. Double wheels were fitted to the rear axle to compensate for the increased weight S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 6.79 tons Dimensions: Length 20 ft, Width 7 ft 4 ins, Height 9 ft Powerplant: 1 x 40 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 18 mph, Range 90 miles Armament: 2 x 7.7 mm machine guns Armour: Maximum 10 mm Crew: 4 of the vehicle, and although the vehicle was crude with an antiquated look, it was an acceptable design for the period. The type saw considerable service, most notably in Ireland during the struggle for independence and the Civil War of 1922-23. In the UK the vehicles were later used at training camps during the late 1930s early 1930s, and at the beginning of World War Two many were still in existence. These were rushed back into service for a while after the British lost most of its equipment in France after the withdrawal from Dunkirk in 1940, anything was better than nothing with an invasion expected any day. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 25 A R M O U R E D C A R

Rolls-Royce Armoured Car (1924 Pattern) During the First World War the Rolls-Royce armoured cars first entered service with the Royal Naval Air Service in early 1915, before they were handed over to the Army later in the year. The vehicles remained in service with the Army after World War One and were modernised in 1920 which became the 1920 Pattern. These had thicker radiator armour and new wheels with fully metallic rims, a cupola fitted to the turret for the commander and a new mark of machine gun. Many of these were sent to Ireland during the troubles where they were used for internal security. In 1924 surviving vehicles were further S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 4.7 tons Dimensions: Length 16 ft 2 ins, Width 6 ft 4 ins, Height 8 ft 4 ins Powerplant: 1 x 80 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 45 mph, Range 150 miles Armament: 1 x 0.303 inch Vickers machine gun Armour: Maximum 12 mm Crew: 3 modernised, while those vehicles serving in India were fitted with a roomier interior and increased hull armour. They were usually armed with two machine guns, which was normal for service in India, especially on the North West Frontier, these being housed in an Indian pattern type domed turret with four machine gun ball mount emplacements, two to the front and two to the rear, the guns being distributed to combat any perceived threat. These vehicles soldiered on in the British Army throughout the 1920s and 30s, being mainly used on policing duties throughout the Empire. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 120 A R M O U R E D C A R

Fordson Armoured Car In early 1940 it is believed at least 76 Rolls-Royce armoured cars were still in service with the British Army, 34 of which were stationed in Egypt. The Egyptian cars were hastily taken into local military workshops and upgraded for use against the potential threat from Italy if they entered the war on the side of Germany. The turret was replaced with an open topped unit armed with a Boys anti-tank rifle, a 0.303 inch Bren machine gun and smoke grenade launchers. Balloon tyres were fitted for easier travelling in the desert, while time expired examples were rebuilt on a new chassis from a Fordson truck which were S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 4.7 tons Dimensions: Length 17 ft 6 ins, Width 6 ft 4 ins, Height 8 ft 4 ins Powerplant: 1 x 80 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 50 mph, Range 150 miles Armament: 1 x 0.55inch Boys anti-tank gun, 1 x 0.303 in Bren gun Armour: Maximum 12 mm Crew: 3 known as the Fordson Armoured Car. One of the most notable users of the vehicle was No. 2 Armoured Car Company of the R.A.F. Pre-war they had served in Palestine on Internal Security duties, In the Second World War they were engaged in active service operations on six occasions, serving in the Western Desert on four tour of duties, and were famously part of Habforce during the Iraqi insurgency in the Spring of 1941. This was followed by becoming part of Kingcol force in Syria during the Summer. After the short campaign they remained in Syria where they were used for garrison duties. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 34 A R M O U R E D C A R

Crossley Armoured Car (Indian Pattern) Armoured cars were first used in India by British forces in 1915 to release troops that were urgently needed elsewhere. Here they proved to be successful in their task, particularly in policing the North West Frontier. Shortly after the end of the First World War war the Indian Government purchased sixteen Rolls-Royce cars to a modified design. These proved to be expensive, so subsequent orders were placed with Crossley Motors who produced a tough but cheap 50 hp chassis. The body design was similar to the Rolls-Royce and had a number of interesting features. These included a domed turret with S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 5.43 tons Dimensions: Length 15 ft 3 ins, Width 6 ft 2 ins, Height 8 ft 6 ins Powerplant: 1 x 50 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 45 mph, Range unknown Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch Vickers machine guns Armour: Maximum 8 mm Crew: 4 four machine gun mounts, two at the front and two to the rear, allowing the two machine guns to be mounted depending on the perceived threat, while the dome shape turret was designed to deflect rifle shots from snipers in the high passes. In 1939 the cars were handed over to the Indian Army, but by then they were in poor mechanical condition. The armoured bodies were transferred to a Chevrolet lorry chassis and fitted with pneumatic tyres, resulting in the Chevrolet armoured car (Indian Pattern), and in this form served with Indian forces during the initial years of World war Two. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: Unknown A R M O U R E D C A R

Lanchester 6 x 4 Armoured Car In 1927 the Lanchester Motor Company was awarded a contract by the British army for a six-wheeled armoured car. An order for 22 Mk I vehicles was placed in July 1928, 18 being armed with three Vickers machine guns, two mounted in the turret and one in the hull, and four command vehicles where a radio replaced the hull-mounted machine and the gunner's position occupied by a wireless operator. A further order was placed in October 1929 for eight Mk II vehicles which included three command vehicles. The first vehicles were delivered to the 11th Hussars in January 1929, but because of the slow rate S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 7.14 tons Dimensions: Length 20 ft, Width 6 ft 7 ins, Height 9 ft 3 ins Powerplant: 1 x 88 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 45 mph, Range 200 miles Armament: 1 x 0.5 inch and 1 or 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Armour: Maximum 10 mm Crew: 4 of production it took until 1934 to fully equip the unit. In service the Lanchester 6 x 4 proved to have a good cross-country performance and were considered reliable and easy to maintain, but proved to be too top heavy and too slow for the reconnaissance role they had been designed for. By 1939 the Lanchesters were declared obsolete, although 22 still remained in service in the Far East where they were used for policing duties in Malaya, Singapore and the Straits Settlements, a small number of these being used against the Japanese after they invaded the peninsula in December 1941. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 30 A R M O U R E D C A R

Crossley 6 x 4 Mk I Armoured Car The Crossley 6 x 4 Mk I armoured car was produced in the early 1930’s by the Royal Ordnance Factory to a design based on six-wheeled truck chassis designed and developed by the Royal Army Service Corps. It featured an armoured fighting compartment with turret similar in design used on the Vickers Mk II light tank, armament consisting of two 0.303 inch Vickers machine guns, one in the turret and one in the front of the fighting compartment next to the driver. Drive was to the two rear axles which were fitted with twin wheels, while special tracks were carried that could be fitted around these which S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 4.82 tons Dimensions: Length 15 ft 3½ ins, Width 6 ft 4 ins, Height 8 ft 1 ins Powerplant: 1 x 26 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 45 mph, Range 200 miles Armament: 2 x 0.303 inch Vickers machine guns Armour: Maximum 7 mm Crew: 4 turned the vehicle into a rudimentary half track. Crossley were awarded the contract for the chassis, two prototypes being sent to the Royal Ordnance Factory in Woolwich where their armour plating was fitted. During trials they reached speeds of 40-45 mph and had a range of about 200 miles, but the overall decision was that they were too large for European conditions. Five production vehicles were then built that which were issued to the 12th Lancers in Egypt where they fared poorly in desert conditions. The cars were later returned to the U.K. and used as training vehicles prior to World War Two. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 7 A R M O U R E D C A R

Morris CS9 Armoured Car When it became clear in the mid 1930’s that Germany was ignoring the terms of the Treaty of Versaille, the British government hurriedly introduced a programme to rearm the country which had been neglected for nearly twenty years. The Morris CS9 armoured car was quickly produced as a stopgap design, and based on a Morris Commercial C9 truck chassis, on which an armoured hull was mounted with an open topped turret. Their main armament was either a 0.55 inch Boys anti-tank rifle or a Vickers heavy machine gun, and a 0.303 inch Bren light machine gun. The vehicle was accepted for service in S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 4.5 tons Dimensions: Length 15 ft 6 ins, Width 6 ft 9 ins, Height 7 ft Powerplant: 1 x 96 hp Morris petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 45 mph, Range 240 miles Armament: 1 x 0.55 inch Boys anti-tank rifle 1 x 0.303 in Bren gun Armour: Maximum 7 mm Crew: 4 1937 which was followed by a production order for a further 99 which were delivered by the end of 1938. On the outbreak of World War Two, the 12th Lancers were equipped with the CS9 when they were sent to France as part of the B.E.F. During the fighting in France during the spring of 1940, all of the 12th Lancers vehicles were destroyed or abandoned. A further thirty were issued to the 11th Hussars and participated in the North African campaign, and remained in service throughout the North African campaign before the survivors were withdrawn in early 1943 and replaced by more capable vehicles. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 100 A R M O U R E D C A R

Humber Light Reconnaissance Car The Humber Light Reconnaissance Car was an emergency wartime design that was built on the chassis of the 1938 Humber Super Snipe passenger car. The Mk I was a 4 x 2 vehicle with an open topped hull protected by a maximum of 10 mm of armour, while armament comprised a 0.55 inch Boys anti-tank rifle and a Bren light machine gun. Production of the Mk I commenced in July 1940, and after 200 had been built production was switched to the Mk II in early 1941. The Mk II offered better protection and featured an enclosed roof and a turret for the Bren machine gun, the Boys anti-tank rifle being S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 3.17 tons Dimensions: Length 14 ft 4 ins, Width 6 ft 2 ins, Height 6 ft 2 ins Powerplant: 1 x 80 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 75 mph, Range 110 miles Armament: 1 x 0.55 Boys anti-tank rifle, 1 x 0.303 Bren light gun Armour: Maximum 12 mm Crew: 3 re-positioned in the front of the hull. The definitive version was the Mk III which appeared later in 1941. These had four-wheel drive and wider wheel tracks and a slightly shorter wheelbase. . During World War Two the Humber LRC was mainly used by Reconnaissance units of the Infantry Regiments and the R.A.F. Regiment which was created to defend airfields, although a number were later issued to Canadian, Czechoslovakian, and Polish units serving with the British. Between 1940 and 1943 3,600 Humber Light Reconnaissance Cars were ordered but only around 2,400 were built. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 2,400 A R M O U R E D C A R

Beaverette Mk I/II After the fall of France in 1940 the British Army was dire need for new weapons to replace those lost in france. As an interim solution for a small armoured car the Beaverette was born, the name being accredited to Lord Beaverbrook who was a prominent member of Churchill’s government. The Standard Car Company had around 500 chassis in storage, so a design was quickly prepared using these on which a simple riveted armoured hull was mounted, this consisting of steel plates backed by oak planks and was open at the top and the rear, the Mk II that followed was similar but with protection to the S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 2 tons Dimensions: Length 13 ft 6 ins, Width 5 ft 3 ins, Height 5 ft Powerplant: 1 x 14 hp Standard petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 24 mph, Range 190 miles Armament: 1 x 0.303 inch Bren light machine gun Armour: 11 mm steel backed by 3 inch oak planks Crew: 2 rear of the armoured box. Armament consisted of Bren light machine gun that could be fired through an embrasure at the front, while the original 12 hp engine was replaced by a 14 hp model to cope with the extra weight. They first appeared in the early autumn of 1940 and were distributed between the Army and R.A.F. The weight of the vehicles however caused excessive strain on the suspension and chassis, causing problems with wear and tear and making them hard to control. They were soon replaced when better vehicles became available, many then being handed over to the Home Guard. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 2,800 A R M O U R E D C A R

Beaverette Mk III The Beaverette Mk III was quite different to the Mk I/II. This was based on a short Standard chassis and the main compartment constructed of five armoured plates forming a box, the engine being similarly protected. The Mk III was nearly half a ton heavier than the Mk II, although the extra weight was partly compensated by the shorter wheel-base. A third crew member was carried who operated the armament which was housed in a small turret located on the left hand side of the vehicle. Two types of turrets were used, a simple open faced version with a ring mount for a Bren or twin Vickers machine guns or S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 2.6 tons Dimensions: Length 10 ft 2 ins, Width 5 ft 8 ins, Height 7 ft 1 in Powerplant: 1 x 46 hp Standard petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 24 mph, Range 190 miles Armament: 1 x 0.303 inch Bren light machine gun Armour: Maximum 9 mm Crew: 3 enclosed with a split roof hatch, a few were even fitted with a Boulton and Paul quadruple machine gun turret taken from obsolete Defiant or Roc aircraft for airfield defence. The final version was the Mk IV which differed from the Mk III in having a redesigned armoured glacis plate of increased thickness. By the time production ceased in 1943 over 3,000 had be built, the majority being the Mk II. In service the chassis, suspension and engine were never strong or powerful enough for the vehicle, especially over rough terrain, while the cars were never deemed suitable for service abroad with the British army. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 400 A R M O U R E D C A R

Daimler Scout Car During the late 1930s when the British Army was forming its first armoured divisions, there was a requirement for a small 4 x 4 scout car for general liaison and reconnaissance duties. During trials the design by BSA was the clear winner, and in May 1939 an order for 172 vehicles was placed, by which time the project had been taken over by Daimler. Changes to the design were called for by the War Office, in particular better armour protection which required an improved suspension system and a more powerful engine, but once these changes had been made the vehicle remained virtually unaltered S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 3 tons Dimensions: Length 10 ft 5 ins, Width 5 ft 7½ ins, Height 4 ft 11 ins Powerplant: 1 x 55 hp Daimler petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 55 mph, Range 200 miles Armament: 1 x 0.55 Boys anti-tank rifle or 1 x 0.303 inch Bren gun Armour: Maximum 30 mm Crew: 2 throughout its service life, and proved to be one of the finest armoured vehicles built in Britain. Nicknamed the ‘Dingo’, the car had 5 forward and 5 reverse gears and originally four wheel steering, giving it a tight turning circle, while a low silhouette and a quiet engine aided it in its duty. They entered service in early 1940 and remained in production throughout the war, and were so successful that a replacement was not sought until 1952 when the Daimler Ferret entered service. A few Dingos remained in British service into the 1960’s, many others being supplied to Commonwealth and foreign armed forces. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 6,626 A R M O U R E D C A R

Guy Heavy Armoured Car In 1938 the Guy Motor Company were awarded a contract to build five prototype armoured cars based on a Woolwich Arsenal design. The company’s main product was the Quad Ant artillery tractor, the chassis of which was used as the starting point. The design incorporated a sloped glacis plate and sloped sides, while the interior was divided into three compartments, the driver at the front, the fighting compartment in the middle with turret above that was designed to mount the new 15 mm Besa heavy machine gun, while the engine was located in the rear. Guy won the trials for a heavy armoured car and were S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 5.2 tons Dimensions: Length 13 ft 6 ins, Width 6 ft 9 ins, Height 7 ft 6 ins Powerplant: 1 x 53 hp Meadows petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 40 mph, Range 210 miles Armament: 1 x 15 mm Besa and 1 x 0.303 inch machine gun Armour: Maximum 15 mm Crew: 3 awarded a contract for a further 96 vehicles. The prototypes were of riveted construction, but to speed up production Guy devised a method of welded construction, making them the first British armoured cars produced in this manner. They began to enter service in 1939, but when an order for a further 500 was received they did not have the capacity to produce them, being heavily involved with other vehicles. Guy however still built the hulls and turrets which were then passed to the Karrier Company, who used the chassis of their KT4 artillery tractor which resulted in the Humber armoured car. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 101 A R M O U R E D C A R

Armadillo Mk III After the Fall of France in the early summer of 1940, the threat of the U.K. being invaded was high, and one problem was the defence of airfields against airborne troops. In response the RAF searched for a suitable vehicle that could be converted into an armoured mobile pillbox. They settled on a design which became known as the Armadillo, and was a flat bed truck on which a box fighting compartment was mounted. This was constructed of two layers of wooden planks, between which a 6 inch gap was filled with gravel that would provide protection from rifle and machine gun fire. The fighting compartment had S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 6.75 tons Dimensions: Length 20 ft 5 ins, Width 7 ft 2 ins, Height 11 ft 2 ins Powerplant: 1 x Bedford 72 hp petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 35 mph, Range 240 miles Armament: 1 x 37 mm COW gun, 2 x 0.303 inch machine guns Armour: See text Crew: 5 an embrasure on each side fitted with sliding steel shutters which a Lewis Gun could be used. The driving compartment, fuel tank and engine were also protected by steel plates. The Mk I Armadillo was quickly produced using requisitioned civilian vehicles. The Air Ministry ordered a further 300 vehicles which became the Mk II and was based on a Bedford 1½ or 3 ton chassis, the later Mk III being based only on the 3 ton chassis. The Mk III had a smaller fighting compartment at the front half of the truck’s flat bed, allowing space for a 37mm gun. The Armadillo was withdrawn in mid 1942. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 877

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A R M O U R E D C A R Daimler Armoured Car When the BSA Scout Car was undergoing trials it was decided to use the basic design for a new vehicle known as the ‘Tank, Light, Wheeled’, and like the scout car the project was taken over by Daimler. The vehicle resembled the scout car but was nearly twice as heavy, having a two man turret armed with a 2 pounder gun and co-axial machine gun. Drive was too all four wheels which were independently sprung, and a more powerful 95 hp engine used to compensate for the extra weight. Work commenced on the project in August 1939 and a prototype was ready by the end of the year. During trials problems were S P E C I F I C A T I O N : Vehicle Weight: 7.6 tons Dimensions: Length 13 ft 1 ins, Width 8 ft 1 ins, Height 7 ft 5 ins Powerplant: 1 x 95 hp Daimler petrol engine Performance: Maximum speed 50 mph, Range 200 miles Armament: 1 x 2 pounder gun, 1 x 7.7 mm Besa machine gun Armour: Maximum 16 mm Crew: 3 encountered over the extra weight of the turret and armour which overloaded the transmission which took time to solve, and it was not until April 1941 that the first production vehicles finally appeared. They were first used in action in late 1941 during the North Africa campaign where they proved their worth as a reconnaissance vehicle. They later served in Italy and north west Europe, during which time they gained a good reputation for all-round performance and reliability. The Daimler armoured car remained in service with the British Army after the war well into the 1960s. Country of Origin: UK Number Built: 2,694