Daimler Armoured Car Mk.I front on |
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The Daimler Armoured Car was one of the best British Armoured Cars of the Second World War, and was the standard equipment of most reconnaissance regiments, serving in every theatre from North Africa onwards.
The Daimler armoured car evolved from a BSA design for a Scout Car, produced in response to War Office specification of 1938. This design won the Scout Car contest, becoming the Daimler Dingo Scout Car. The basic design was also seen as suitable for use on an armoured car (then designated as a Tank, Light, Wheeled). Work on both vehicles was carried out by Daimler, which was then owned by BSA. Development of the larger armoured car began in August 1939 and the first prototypes were ready by the end of 1939. However the new vehicle was significantly larger than the Scout Car, with extra armour and a two man turret, and was thus nearly twice as heavy. The extra weight put too much stress on the transmission, and this delayed production until 1941, with the first production vehicles not appearing until April 1941.
The Daimler carried the turret that had been designed for the Tetrarch light tank, armed with a 2-pounder gun. It was the first British armoured car to be designed to carry this heavy a gun. The main part of the hull was fairly low, not coming above the height of the curved mud guards over the four wheels. The central section was raised, with a hexagonal structure around the base of the turret and a small flat fronted extension for the driver at the front. It was longer, wider and taller than the Daimler Dingo. It used double-coil spring suspension, had four drive shafts, one for each wheel and Girling hydraulic disc brakes. A second steering wheel and basic controls were provided at the rear so the commander could drive the vehicle backwards out of trouble.
A total of 2,694 Daimler Armoured Cars were built. The first 135 were accepted in 1941, followed by 721 in 1942, 586 in 1943, 653 in 1944 and 500 in 1945.
Combat Record
The Daimler entered service in North Africa in 1941-42, where it became to replace the South African Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car. The Daimler proved to be reliable with good all round performance, and served in just about every British theatre. Late in the war the Coventry Armoured Car was developed to replace the Daimler and Humber Armoured Cars, but the Daimler was so popular that it remained in production, and only the Humber was replaced.
The Daimler remained in service for some time after the Second World War.
Armoured Car, Daimler Mk I
The Mk I was the original version. It can be identified by its rectangular gun mount.
Armoured Car, Daimler Mk II
The Mk II had a new gun mount, slightly modified radiator and new escape hatch in the engine compartment to make it easier for the driver to escape the vehicle.
Armoured Car, Daimler Mk I CS
The Mk I CS was an experimental version armed with a 7.62mm howitzer and designed to provide close support with HE and smoke shells. Only a handful were built
Stats (Mk I)
Production:
Hull Length: 13ft 0in
Hull Width: 8ft 0in
Height: 7ft 4in
Crew: 3
Weight: 7.5 tonnes
Engine: 95hp Daimler 6-cylinder petrol engine
Max Speed: 50mph
Max Range: 205 miles
Armament: One 2-pouinder gun and one 7.92mm Besa machine gun
Armour:
Daimler Armoured Car Mk.I from above 
Churchill in Daimler Armoured Car, Xanten, 1945