Lynx Scout Car from the Rear |
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The Daimler Scout Car or Daimler Dingo was a fast, inconspicuous reconnaissance vehicle that despite being relative unheralded was one of the most effective British military vehicles of the Second World War.
The Scout Car was a type of armoured vehicle that was almost unique to the British Army during the Second World War. The aim was to produce a fast, stealthy mobile vehicle that could find the information required and then return safely. It wasn’t meant to fight. Compared to the armoured car they were generally smaller, and much more lightly armed, with a fixed fighting compartment instead of a turret.
The Scout Car was originally developed to equip the new Armoured Divisions being formed in the late 1930s. BSA, Morris and Alvis all developed prototypes, and the BSA design was the winner. The War office placed the first order for the new vehicle in May 1939.
The Daimler Scout Car was initially developed by BSA in 1938. It carried a crew of two in a small hull, widest at a level just above the mud guards, and sloping gently in above and below that. It carried a crew of two, who were protected by up to 30mm of armour. The engine was at the rear, powering a Daimler fluid flywheel and preselector five-speed gearbox. Forward or reverse was selected separately, giving it five gears in each direction, and thus allowing it to move equally fast in either direction. All versions had four wheel drive. It had a top speed of 55mph, and relied on its speed to escape from trouble. It was armed with a single Bren gun, but wasn’t expected to use it. The original version was very lightly protected, with frontal armour only. During the development process the War Office decided that they wanted all round armour and a folding roof. This extra weight required stronger suspension and a more powerful engine.
The Daimler was one of the very few military vehicles that was in production when the war broke out in 1939 and still in production in 1945. 22 were accepted in September-December 1939, 561 in 1940, 1,071 in 1941, 1,574 in 1942, 1,528 in 1943, 1,302 in 1944 and 511 in 1945. A similar vehicle was built in Canada, the Lynx Scout Car, which used the Daimler body on a Ford chassis.
The same basic design was later used as the basis of the Daimler Armoured Car, although this was a larger vehicle, complete with turret.
Combat Record
The Daimler Scout Car was widely used by British and Commonwealth Forces throughout the war.
The Mk I Scout Car was using during the campaign in France in 1940, where it was felt to have performed well. Its small size and limited firepower meant that it was less likely to be misused than other reconnaissance vehicles and instead focused on its scouting role instead of being asked to take part in desperate rear guard actions. It was fast, agile, easy to hide and could operate in rugged country. Its crews wanted a secure mount for the Bren gun to make it more accurate. They also wanted the all-wheel steering to be removed as it became too stiff to use after long periods of cross country driving, and was difficult for inexperienced drivers.
A number of Daimler Scout Cars took part in the disastrous attack on Dieppe in August 1942.
At the start of the Normandy campaign each Reconnaissance regiment had a headquarters and four Sabre fighting squadrons. The regimental headquarters normally had 12 or 13 Daimler or Humber scout cars, along with other vehicles. Each Sabre squadron had a HQ with one Daimler Scout Car and one Daimler Armoured Car. Each of the Sabre squadrons had five reconnaissance troops, each with two Daimler Scout Cars and two Daimler Armoured Cars. Each squadron also has a support troop with one Daimler Scout Car and three White Scout Cars. During the more static period of the battle of Normandy the Scout Cars were unable to carry out their normal role and were limited to short range battlefield reconnaissance, sometimes suffering heavy losses – one regiment lost 25 scout cars during the first month after D-Day, half of their original total. After the breakout from Normandy the Scout Cars became invaluable, allowing the reconnaissance regiments to find gaps in the broken German lines and report the location of any organised units they found. This was repeated after the crossing of the Rhine in the spring of 1945 when they lead to advance into Germany. A British reconnaissance unit was the first Allied unit to reach Belsen, and on 2 May the first to meet up with Soviet forces at Wismar.
As well as the original reconnaissance units, the Daimler Scout Car was also used as a mobile observation post by artillery units, and as a scout car by the Royal Engineers, looking for things such as suitable places to build bridges and to find mine fields. They were also often used as staff cars and by infantry divisions.
They remained in service in the British Army until the mid 1950s.
Mk I
The Mk I had four wheel steering, and the armoured roof. The four wheel steering was removed from later models, and disconnected on most Mk Is. The Mk IB reserved the airflow across the radiator, slightly changing the shape of the rear end.
Mk II
The Mk II removed the four wheel steering as it was causing problems for inexperienced drivers, and could cause the car to roll over at high speed. Instead it used normal front axle steering. The sliding armoured roof was replaced with a folding roof, but this was often removed in service. The Mk II began to enter service in the summer of 1940, just in time to replace the many vehicles lost in France.
Mk III
The Mk III saw the armoured roof removed, as it was often removed in service.
Production: 6,626
Hull Length: 10ft 5in
Hull Width: 5ft 7.75in
Height: 4ft 11in
Crew: 2
Weight: 3 tons
Engine: 55hp Daimler 18hp 6-cylinder engine
Max Speed: 55mph
Max Range: 200 miles
Armament: One .303in Bren LMG
Armour: 30mm max (front)
Lynx Scout Car in the Air