This release sees the completion of our first Kickstarter – “Wheel of Steel” and now the Brits getting a few extra armoured car choices. These are all available as either physical prints or STL files to print at home.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new units…..
Lanchester 6×4
The Lanchester company developed the Lanchester 6×4 armoured car in the late 1920s and early 1930s for the British Army and Commonwealth forces. It was based on the chassis of the Lanchester Motor Company’s luxury tourer, but with a stronger and more rigid frame to support the weight of the armour and weapons. The car had a six-wheeled drive system, with four wheels powered by a 90 hp petrol engine. It had a crew of four, including a driver, a gunner, and two machine gunners. The main armament was a turret-mounted dual Vickers machine gun, with one .50 inch and one .303 inch caliber. The turret also had a rotating cupola for observation. Additionally there was a hull-mounted .303 inch Vickers machine gun on the left side of the driver. The car had a maximum speed of 72 km/h and an operational range of 320 km.
Originally designed for reconnaissance and patrol missions, the Lanchester 6×4 proved to be too large, slow, and top-heavy for this role. It was also vulnerable to anti-tank weapons and mines. Relegated from a front line role, it mainly saw use with the Royal Naval Air Service and the Territorial Army in various colonial conflicts, such as the Arab Revolt in Palestine and the Anglo-Iraqi War. The Lanchester 6×4 also saw action in the Battle of Malaya during World War II, where it fought against the Japanese invasion.
Ultimately, more modern and agile armoured cars, such as the Daimler Dingo and the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car replaced it in almost every role.
Daimler Dingo
The Daimler Dingo was a light armoured car that was used by the British Army and its allies during World War II. It was designed for reconnaissance, liaison and patrol missions, and could traverse rough terrain with ease. It had a crew of two, a driver and a commander who also operated the wireless set and the Bren gun.
Powered by a 55 hp Daimler 6-cylinder petrol engine, it had a top speed of 89 km/h. The Dingo was equipped with four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering and a low-silhouette hull that offered good protection from small arms fire. It was produced in several variants, such as the Mk I, Mk II and Mk III, with minor differences in armament, equipment and performance.
The Dingo was widely used by the British Army in Europe, Africa and Asia, as well as by other Commonwealth and Allied forces. It proved to be a reliable, agile and versatile vehicle that earned the respect of its users and adversaries alike. Overall, the Dingo is a classic example of a successful military design that combined simplicity, functionality and durability.
Daimler MkII
The Daimler MkII was an armoured car used by the British Army during WWII. Designed to provide reconnaissance and fire support, it was a versatile and reliable vehicle that was capable of handling any terrain and combat situation.
The Daimler MkII had a four-wheel drive system that allowed it to maneuver in mud, sand, snow, and rocky terrain. It also had a powerful 95 hp engine that gave it a top speed of up to 80 km/h on roads. The primary was a QF 2-pounder gun with a coaxial 7.92 mm Besa machine gun, mounted in a fully rotating turret. It had 3 man crew, comprising driver, gunner, and commander. The driver sat in the front of the hull, while the gunner and commander were in the turret.
The Daimler MkII had reasonable armour for its size that could withstand small arms fire and shrapnel. It was also equipped with a smoke generator that could quickly create a smoke screen to conceal its movement or escape from enemy fire.
Rolls Royce 1924 MkI
The Rolls-Royce 1924 MkI armoured car was a British vehicle that saw service from the First World War to WWII. It was based on the chassis of the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Renowned for its reliability and performance, it provided an excellent base for an armoured car.. The armoured car had a steel body with a thickness of 12 mm, which protected the crew of three from small arms fire and shrapnel.
A turret mounted Vickers machine gun provided limited light firepower, but there it had no anti armour capabilities. A six-cylinder petrol engine produced 80 hp and gave a top speed of 45 mph. The car had a range of 150 miles and could traverse rough terrain with its leaf spring suspension and double rear wheels.
The Royal Naval Air Service, the Tank Corps, and the Royal Air Force all used the 1924 MkI in various theatres of war, such as France, Africa, Gallipoli, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Iraq. The car proved to be effective in reconnaissance, patrol, and raiding missions, as well as providing fire support and escorting convoys. The Irish Free State also used it during the Irish Civil War.
In 1940 a new open-topped turret that mounted an anti-tank rifle and Bren light machine gun replaced the older enclosed turret. However, by then the car was obsolete and outmatched by newer armoured vehicles and finally retired from service in 1944.
Humber MkIV
During the Second World War, British forces used the Humber MkIV as one of their main armoured cars. This vehicle had a wide production and distribution across different theatres of war.
Developed from the previous Humber models, it offered better protection and firepower.
It differed from the previous models by replacing the 15 mm Besa heavy machine gun with a US-made M5 or M6 37 mm gun. The Humber MkIV also had a three-man turret, which allowed for a wireless operator to assist the commander and the gunner.
The Humber MkIV was used for reconnaissance, support and protection missions by various British and Commonwealth units in Europe, Africa and Asia. It fulfilled many roles including HQ vehicle, reconnaissance and light fire support. It had a top speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) and a range of 200 mi (320 km). Armour protection was light, with a maximum of 15mm of sloped armour. However, it was still proof against shrapnel and small arms fire. Generally, crews liked this reliable and versatile vehicle.
Humber LRC MkII
Based on the Humber Super Snipe chassis and engine, the Rootes Group produced the Humber LRC (light reconnaissance car) from 1940 to 1943. This British armoured car had a distinctive design and a reliable performance. It had a three-man crew, consisting of a driver, a commander and a gunner.
The primary armament consisted of a Boys anti-tank rifle mounted in the front of the hull and a Bren light machine gun in a turret on the roof. Additionally, it also had a smoke discharger and a No. 19 radio set. The Humber LRC had a maximum speed of 75 mph on road and an operational range of 110 miles.
British and the Czechoslovak forces employed it in various theatres of the Second World War, such as Tunisia, Italy and Western Europe. The Humber LRC performed liaison and escort duties in addition to fulfilling a recon role. RAF Regiments also used the Humber LRC for airfield defence.
The “Special Ironside Saloons” were basically a VIP version of some vehicles, with a door on the passenger side and a luxurious interior. They modified these vehicles to suit the needs of the VIPs. The Humber light reconnaissance car had four variants: the Mk I, which had an open-topped hull and 4×2 drive; the Mk II, which had an enclosed roof and 4×2 drive; the Mk III, which had 4×4 drive; and the Mk IIIA, which had additional vision ports at the front angles of the hull.
Humber Scout car
The Humber scout car was a British armoured vehicle that was used in the Second World War. It was designed to perform reconnaissance and liaison duties, as well as to support infantry and tanks. The Humber had a four-wheel drive system and a low profile, which made it agile and stealthy.
It was armed with a 15 mm Besa machine gun and a 7.92 mm Bren gun, and could carry up to three crew members. The Humber scout car was produced from 1942 to 1945, and saw service in various theatres of war, such as North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. It was also exported to several Allied countries, such as Canada, India, and Poland.
The Humber scout car was praised for its reliability and performance, but also criticized for its limited armour protection and firepower. It was eventually replaced by more advanced armoured cars, such as the Daimler Dingo and the Staghound.
Morris LRC MkII
Morris Motors Limited, a British company, produced the Morris LRC (light reconnaissance car) MKII from 1940 to 1944. This armoured vehicle served as a scout and patrol car during the Second World War. Overall production reached over 2,200 vehicles.
The MKII version had a four-wheel drive chassis that improved its off-road performance. It had a crew of three, with the driver sitting in the middle and the gunners on each side. A small turret held a Bren gun, with a hatch mounted forward facing Boys anti-tank rifle providing light anti-armour capabilities. It also had a radio set and a smoke grenade launcher. The vehicle had a sloped steel hull with an armour thickness of 8 to 14 mm. Powered by a Morris 4-cylinder petrol engine it had a top speed of 50 mph and a range of 240 miles.
The Morris LRC saw action in North Africa, Italy and North-West Europe. As with other light armoured cars, some fulfilled an airfield defence role for the RAF Regiments. The vehicle was less famous than its Daimler counterpart, partly due to reliability issues and limited capabilities. Various experimental adaptations such as the Firefly with a 6-pounder gun, the Salamander with a two-seat configuration and the Glanville Fighter Car with two fixed machine guns also used the Morris LRC as a base. However, none of these reached production.
AEC MkII
During the Second World War, the Associated Equipment Company (AEC) built a heavy armoured car for the British Army – the AEC MkII. Designed to have fire power and protection comparable to those of contemporary British cruiser tanks, it featured a turret mounted 6 pdr gun as its main armament.
It also had a 7.62 mm BESA machine gun, a 2-inch bomb thrower and a No. 19 radio set. The vehicle had a four-man crew and a diesel engine that gave it a maximum speed of 41 mph (66 km/h) on roads. The AEC MkII had a wheelbase of 17 ft (5.2 m) and a weight of 12.7 long tons (12.9 t). The armour thickness ranged from 16 mm to 65 mm, depending on the location.
The AEC MkII was used by the British Army and other Commonwealth forces in various theatres of war, such as North Africa, Italy and Burma. It proved to be a reliable and versatile vehicle that could perform reconnaissance, escort and fire support missions.