World War II Database

Contributor: Alan Chanter

ww2dbaseNumerically, the Humber was the most important British armoured car in World War II, with a total of 5,400 vehicles being manufactured.

ww2dbaseIn October 1939 the Rootes Group were contracted to undertake the design and production of a new car which was needed urgently to fill a shortfall in Armoured car production. To save time, Rootes decided to utilise an existing design, the Guy Armoured Car (based itself on a a pre-war wheeled light tank design by Guy Motors of Wolverhampton), and marry its body shape to a chassis that they were already constructing for the Karrier KT4, being manufactured by one of their subsidaries, as an artillery tractor for the Indian Army. By utilising only well-tried components this presented the Rootes factory with very few difficulties in building the new armoured vehicle. The only major changes to the existing chassis required was the moving of the 90hp Rootes 6-cylinder petrol engine to the rear and the strengthening of the suspension. Despite production being undertaken at Karrier Motors Ltd of Luton, the name Humber (another Rootes Subsidary) was chosen in order to avoid confusion with various other military vehicles already known as "carriers".

ww2dbaseThe mechanical side of the Humber was relatively unadventurous; solid axles with half-elliptic springs were used, and the engine and transmission were ex-civilian truck units. Like most British-produced armoured vehicles of the time, the Humber was rugged, reliable and operationally sound. The only defect reported in service being a short engine life.

ww2dbaseWith a three-man crew the Humber was used extensively in the North African campaign from 1941 onwards. Service experience with the Mark I soon suggested that a few improvements would be beneficial, and consequently a Mark II version began rolling off the production line. This was basically similar to the Mark I but included a cleaned-up front end, incorporating the driver's visor in the glacis plate, and a revised radiator intake.

ww2dbaseThe Armoured Car, Humber Mark III, which entered production in 1942 had a more roomy turret than the Marks I and II, which allowed the crew to be increased to four. The first three Marks of Humber Armoured Car all had an armament of two Besa machine-guns, one of 7.92mm calibre and the other of 15-mm. The latter was never an entirely satisfactory weapon, being prone to stoppages, and in the Humber Mark IV Armoured Car the American 37-mm gun was introduced in its place. Because this reduced the turret space available the crew was reduced to three.

ww2dbaseThe Humber was particularly liked as a command vehicle (despite being severely outgunned) since it had more internal room than the alternative Daimler armoured car. They were used by both armoured car regiments (where they tended to be used at regimental and squadron headquarters if Daimlers were also available) and reconnaissance regiments (of infantry divisions) in most theatres of war in which British and Commonwealth troops were engaged until 1946.

ww2dbaseVariants included a special radio carrier, known as Rear Link vehicle, which was fitted with a dummy gun, and an anti-aircraft version fitted with a special machine gun mounting.

ww2dbaseThe Humber gave excellent service, and was still being used by some armies in the Far East well into the early 1960s.

SPECIFICATIONS

Mk I/II

Machinery	One Rootes 6-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 90hp
Suspension	Wheel, 4x4
Armament	1x15mm Besa machine gun, 1x7.92mm Besa machine gun
Armor	15mm front, 15mm turret, 10mm sides, 10mm rear
Crew	3
Length	4.57 m
Width	2.18 m
Height	2.38 m
Weight	7.0 t
Speed	40 km/h off-road; 72 km/h on-road
Range	220 km off-road; 400 km on-road

MK III

Machinery	One Rootes 6-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 90hp
Suspension	Wheel, 4x4
Armament	1x15mm Besa machine gun, 1x7.92mm Besa machine gun
Armor	15mm front, 15mm turret, 10mm sides, 10mm rear
Crew	4
Length	4.57 m
Width	2.18 m
Height	2.38 m
Weight	7.0 t
Speed	40 km/h off-road; 72 km/h on-road
Range	220 km off-road; 400 km on-road

Mk IV

Machinery	One Rootes 6-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 90hp
Suspension	Wheel, 4x4
Armament	1x15mm Besa machine gun, 1x7.92mm Besa machine gun
Armor	15mm front, 15mm turret, 10mm sides, 10mm rear
Crew	3
Length	4.57 m
Width	2.18 m
Height	2.38 m
Weight	7.0 t
Speed	40 km/h off-road; 72 km/h on-road
Range	220 km off-road; 400 km on-road

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