Humber scout car
| Company type | Light armoured reconnaissance vehicle |
|---|---|
| Industry | Military vehicles |
| Predecessor | Humber Light Reconnaissance Car |
| Founded | 1942 |
| Defunct | 1945 |
| Products | Armoured scout cars |
| Parent | Rootes Group |
The Humber scout car was a British light armoured reconnaissance vehicle deployed during the Second World War. It entered service in 1942 and remained in production until 1945. Designed mainly for scouting and communication tasks between armoured formations, it provided protection solely against small arms fire and was not built for direct combat on the front lines. Its compact dimensions and agility enabled swift withdrawal from danger, a feature that influenced the postwar Ferret armoured car, which began manufacturing in 1952.
History
When World War II commenced, the British Army had chosen the Daimler Dingo for mass production but required additional manufacturers to fulfill the demand. Humber, a member of the Rootes Group already engaged in producing armoured vehicles such as the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car, developed a comparable model in 1942.
To comply with weight limitations, the Daimler Dingo was designed with an open roof; conversely, the Humber incorporated an unarmoured floor. The scout car accommodated two crew members, with an emergency seat available for a third occupant, and was fitted with a No. 19 radio. Armament consisted of one Bren light machine gun equipped with a 100-round drum magazine, and an optional second Bren could be mounted on the roof, operated internally via a firing mechanism resembling bicycle handlebars.
Production persisted through 1945, with orders totaling at least 4,298 units and 4,102 delivered—1,698 of which were Mk I versions. The vehicle served within British armoured formations such as the 11th Armoured Division and Guards Armoured Division for reconnaissance and liaison duties but was generally regarded as less reliable and capable than the Dingo. Several units were also supplied to Allied contingents including the Polish II Corps and 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade. After the war, some European militaries continued to operate the Humber; notably, Belgium employed the Mk II model in tank and reconnaissance roles until 1951 before transferring an unknown quantity to police forces that used them until 1958.
The majority of Humber scout cars were destroyed during British Army live-fire training exercises in the 1960s. Presently, around 20 examples are known to exist.
Operators
- – acquired from the Netherlands.
Variants
- Mk I
- Mk II – featured upgraded transmission and increased armour protection above the steering wheel.
References
- George Forty - World War Two Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Self-Propelled Artillery, Osprey Publishing 1996, .
- I. Moschanskiy - Armored vehicles of the Great Britain 1939-1945 part 2, Modelist-Konstruktor, Bronekollektsiya 1999-02.
- The Tank Museum: CAR, SCOUT, HUMBER, MARK I (E1949.317)
External links
- Humber Scoutcar Mk I at Armyvehicles.dk
- Humber Scout Car Mark 1 & 2 at Warwheels.net
- Surviving Humber scout cars