Humber Scout Car

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Humber Scout Car

Type armoured car
Production history
Manufacturer Humber
Specifications
Weight 3.4 t
Length 3.83 m
Width 1.87 m
Height 2.13 m
Crew 2-3

Armour up to 14 mm
Primary
armament
0.303 in (7.7 mm) Bren machine gun
Engine 6-cyl. petrol
87 hp (65 kW)
Power/weight 25.6 hp/tonne
Suspension 4 x 4 wheeled
Operational
range
320 km
Speed 100 km/h

Humber Scout Car was a British light armoured car used in the Second World War.

Contents

[edit] History

Although at the outbreak of the World War II the British Army already had the excellent Daimler Dingo, the need for scout cars could not be met by Daimler alone, so other companies were required to produce similar vehicles. One of these companies was Rootes group, which in 1942 built a vehicle similar to the Dingo in layout, but slightly larger and heavier.

The vehicle carried a crew of two, with an emergency seat for a third member. It was equipped with a No. 19 radio set. The armament consisted of one Bren light machine gun with a 100-round drum. This was mounted on a Parrish-Lakeman mounting above the roof, and could be operated from inside the vehicle.

Production of the vehicles continued until 1945. At least 4,298 were ordered and at least 4,102 delivered, 1,698 of them Mk I. They were used by British armoured units (e.g. the 11th Armoured Division) for scouting and liaison and were generally considered less capable and reliable than the Dingo. A number of vehicles were given to the Polish II Corps and the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade. After the war, the vehicle was used by some European armies. Belgian police continued to use the car until 1958.

Humber Scout Car, side view.
Humber Scout Car, side view.

[edit] Operators

Belgium, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom.

[edit] Variants

  • Mk I.
  • Mk II - improved transmission.

[edit] References and external links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
  • George Forty - World War Two Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Self-Propelled Artillery, Osprey Publishing 1996, ISBN 1-85532-582-9.
  • I. Moschanskiy - Armored vehicles of the Great Britain 1939-1945 part 2, Modelist-Konstruktor, Bronekollektsiya 1999-02 (И. Мощанский - Бронетанковая техника Великобритании 1939-1945 часть 2, Моделист-Конструктор, Бронеколлекция 1999-02).
  • Armyvehicles.dk
  • Warwheels.net
  • Photo gallery at Tanxheaven.com
British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II
Languages