Humber Scout Car

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


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.


To comply with the government contract to keep the weight down, the Daimler "Dingo" was open top, whereas the Humber had an unarmoured floor.


The vehicle carried a crew of two, with an emergency seat for a third member.


It was equipped with a No. 19 radio set.

Humber Mk I scout car.

The armament consisted of one Bren light machine gun with a 100-round drum.

French patriots help the crew of a Humber scout car spot German positions during mopping-up operations in Le Havre, 12th of September 1944.

A second Bren could be added if necessary.

German prisoners being brought in on the bonnet of a Humber scout car, Caen, 9th of July 1944.

This was mounted above the roof, and could be operated from inside the vehicle using a system looking similar to bicycle handlebars, where the "brake" levers fired the triggers of the bren/s.

Brigadier N W Duncan of 30th Armoured Brigade, 79th Armoured Division, watches the attack on Caen from beside his Humber scout car outside Beuville, on the 8th of July 1944.

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 and the Guards Armoured Division) for scouting and liaison and were generally considered less capable and reliable than the Dingo.

A Humber scout car and trucks of 59th Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery crossing a Bailey bridge at Dreierwalde, 6 - 8 April 1945.

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.

Men of the 8th Royal Scots move forward past a Humber scout car of 31st Tank Brigade during Operation 'Epsom', on the 28th of June 1944.

Operators

Belgium
Canada
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
France
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
United Kingdom.

Canadian Humber Scout Car (right) in Bergen-op-Zoom, early November 1944.

Variants

Humber Mk I scout car.

Mk I.

Mk II - improved transmission.


Humber Scout Car

Type armoured car
Production history
Manufacturer Humber


Specifications

Weight 2.4 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 x1 or x2
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