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The Beaverette armoured car was one of a number of emergency armoured vehicles produced in 1940 in response to the loss of the vast majority of British tanks and armoured cars in France.
It was produced by the Standard Motor Company using their 14hp saloon car as the basis. It was a very basic conversion with flat sided metal plates added to protect the engine and an open topped compartment for two. There was a slit in the front armour for a machine gun.
The Beaverette had a number of names. The Army called it the Standard Car 4x2. The RAF called it the Car Armoured Light Standard Type-C Beaverette I. Development of it had been started by Lord Beaverbrook when he was Minister of Aircraft Production, thus the name. It was meant to be used to protect airfields and aircraft factories.
Over 2,800 Beaverettes were produced and they served with the Home Guard, the Army and the RAF. 2,250 were accepted in 1940, and another 558 in 1941. They were used on home defence duties and for training.
A version of the Beaverette was also produced in New Zealand. The first armoured vehicle produced in New Zealand had been a version of the Bedford lorry with an armoured opened topped crew compartment. This was followed by a prototype of the New Zealand Beverette. This was based on a 30cwt Ford truck, so was rather larger than the British version. The prototype had a large crew compartment with a gabled roof, flat sides and a sloped front, carried in the space between the wheels. The production version had a redesigned superstructure. Despite its size it still only carried a crew of two, and was armed with a Bren gun and a Boys anti-tank rifle. Over 200 were built.
Mk I
The Mk I had front and side armour, but used 3in thick oak planks at the rear to save on limited supplies of armour in the emergency of 1940. The fighting compartment only filled the middle third of the vehicle, with a low rear area behind it.
Mk II
The Mk II had all round armour but was otherwise similar to the Mk I.
Mk III
The Mk III was also known as the Beaverbug. It was heavier, at 2.6 tons, with a very small flat sided turret and thicker armour. It was also shorter, wider and taller. The turret could be quite variable – some had an open front, others were more enclosed, with a plastic bubble roof. They could be armed with a twin Vickers K machine gun. In order to make space for the turret the raised fighting compartment extended all the way to the rear of the vehicle, and had a roof. Small vision hatches were built into the front for the driver and co-driver. The machine gun slot was removed.
Mk I
Production:
Hull Length: 13ft 6in
Hull Width: 5ft 3in
Height: 5ft
Crew: 3
Weight: 2 tons
Engine: 46 hp 4-cylinder petrol engine
Max Speed: 40mph
Max Range:
Armament: One Bren gun or twin Vickers guns
Armour: 9mm (max)
Mk III
Production:
Hull Length: 10ft 6in
Hull Width: 5ft 10in
Height: 7ft 1in
Crew: 3
Weight: 2.6 tons
Engine: 46 hp 4-cylinder petrol engine
Max Speed: 24mph
Max Range: 190 miles
Armament: One Bren gun or twin Vickers guns
Armour: 12mm (max)