Humber light reconnaissance car
| Industry | Automotive, Military vehicle manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Humber light reconnaissance car |
The Humber light reconnaissance car, also known as the Humberette or Ironside, was a British armored vehicle manufactured during the Second World War.
Design
Produced by the Rootes Group, the Humber LRC utilized the chassis of the Humber Super Snipe, sharing its platform with the Humber heavy utility vehicle. Equipped with a Wireless Set No. 19 radio system, over 3,600 units were assembled from 1940 through 1943.
Operational history
This vehicle was mainly assigned to infantry reconnaissance regiments and the RAF Regiment, seeing combat in regions such as Tunisia, Italy, and Western Europe. After the war, it continued to serve with British forces stationed in India and parts of the Far East. The LRC was heavily employed by the Reconnaissance Corps and also operated by the Reconnaissance squadron of the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade. Notably, three Mk I models were modified into "Special Ironside Saloons" for use by members of the British royal family and government ministers.
Variants
- Mk I
The initial version featured an open top and 4×2 drivetrain, with armor thickness up to 10 mm on the front and between 7–9 mm on the sides. It was armed with a Boys anti-tank rifle alongside a Bren light machine gun. Production was limited before transitioning to the Mk II.
- Mk II
Introduced a fully enclosed roof fitted with a machine gun turret while maintaining the 4×2 drivetrain. Armor protection included a 7 mm thick roof and a turret armored to 6 mm.
- Mk III (1941)
Externally resembling the Mk II but upgraded to a 4×4 drivetrain configuration. Production commenced in late 1941.
- Mk IIIA (1943)
Maintained similarities with the Mk III but incorporated additional front-angle vision slits. Armor thickness varied from 12 mm at the front to 6 mm on the turret.
- Ironside Special Saloon
A VIP edition featuring an enhanced interior crafted by Thrupp & Maberly, including a Perspex partition between driver and passengers, a passenger-side door, and a hatch for the driver. Two units served cabinet ministers and royalty; six others functioned as armored staff cars without privacy screens.
Overall, around 3,600 Humber LRCs were produced, with Mk III and Mk IIIA versions being most widely deployed overseas by Reconnaissance Corps and RAF Regiment units.
Surviving vehicles
Numerous examples remain preserved in museums and private collections:
- Dutch Cavalry Museum
- Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History, Brussels
- Royal Air Force Museum London (Mk IIIA)
- National War and Resistance Museum, Overloon (restored Mk III)
- Military College of EME, Trimulgherry (displayed as gate guardian)
- 43rd Reconnaissance Regiment Living History Group (UK) operates a replica based on an LRC Mk IIIA chassis
Additionally, a reproduction is privately held in the Czech Republic. A wooden armored replica constructed on a postal jeep frame is utilized for reenactments in Florida.
See also
References
- George Forty - World War Two Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Self-Propelled Artillery, Osprey Publishing 1996, .
- I. Moschanskiy - Armored vehicles of Great Britain 1939-1945 part 2, Modelist-Konstruktor, Bronekollektsiya 1999-02.
- Doherty, R Morshead, H (illustrator) Humber Light Reconnaissance Car 1941–45 New Vanguard 177 (2011) Osprey Publishing 9781849083102