Morris Light Reconnaissance Car from the front |
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The Morris Light Reconnaissance Car was produced in response to the loss of the BEF’s armoured vehicles in France in 1940 but remained in production to 1944 and in service to the end of the Second World War
The Morris LRC was a rather odd looking vehicle. It had the engine at the rear, with the crew compartment raised up towards the front. It had a flat sided hull with a sloped front. The driver sat in the middle of the fighting compartment, On his right was a small raised opened topped Bren gun position, while to his left was the radio operator, who had a slot in the front armour to fire a Boys anti-tank rifle.
It was produced in two versions, both with the same layout. The engine was at the rear, with a crew compartment at the front. It had a flat sided hull with a sloped front. The driver sat in the middle, with a small opened topped Bren gun turret to the right. The radio operator sat to his left, with a slot for a Boys anti-tank rifle on his left.
2,200 were built between 1940 and 1944. 957 were accepted in 1942, 508 in 1943 and 206 in 1944.
The Mk II was used by the RAF Regiment, serving in Tunisia, Italy and North-Western Europe. Some were given to Polish units fighting in the same campaigns. Others were used by the reconnaissance regiments of infantry divisions, alongside their scout cars and other vehicles.
The Light Reconnaissance Car was used as the basis of the Morris Firefly. This was used in an attempt to find a vehicle capable of carrying the new 6-pounder tank gun when the tanks it was meant to equip ran into problems. The gun was carried low down in the very front of the hull. The normal Bren gun turret was removed. The resulting vehicle was very cramped and didn’t get beyond the prototype stage.
The Morris remained in use after the war, serving with the British army in Palestine.
Mk I
The Mk I used two wheel drive. It was powered by a 72hp petrol engine, and could reach 50mph. It carried a crew of three.
Mk II
The Mk II had four wheel drive and leaf-spring suspension. The Mk II was the main production version.
Production:
Hull Length: 13ft 3.5in/ 4.01m
Hull Width: 6ft 8in/ 2.02m
Height: 6ft 2in/ 1.87m
Crew: 3
Weight: 3.7 tonnes
Engine: 72hp
Max Speed: 50 mph/ 83km/ hr (road)
Max Range:
Armament: One Bren gun, one Boys AT rifle
Armour:8-14mm
Machine Gun on Morris Light Reconnaissance Car 
Morris Light Reconnaissance Car from the left-rear