Guy Armoured Car

The Guy Armoured Car was a British armoured car produced in limited numbers during World War II. The car saw limited action during the Battle of France.

Production history and description

In 1938 Guy Motors built five Guy Quad armoured car prototypes based on the Quad-Ant artillery tractor chassis. The vehicle successfully completed field trials and in 1939-1940 101 Guy Armoured Cars (initially designated Guy Wheeled Light Tank) were produced.

The vehicle had a welded hull (making it the first British armoured car with an all-welded construction) with a sloped glacis plate. Above the center of the hull was mounted a turret with two Vickers or Besa machine guns. The engine was located at the rear. The vehicle carried a No. 19 radio set.

The body of the Guy vehicle formed the basis of the later Humber Armoured Car, which employed a new chassis.

Deployment history

Six cars were sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Four were used by the mobile guard of the British Royal Family (a troop from 12th Lancers) and two by cabinet ministers. The rest served with different British, Belgian, Danish and Dutch units stationed in Britain. By 1943 they were replaced by more modern vehicles.

Variants

• Mk I - original version. 50 units built.
• Mk IA - was armed with Besa 15 mm and 7.92 mm machine guns instead of the Vickers. 51 units built.

References

• 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).