Otter Light Reconnaissance Car in Rough Ground |
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The Otter Light Reconnaissance Car was a Canadian version of the Humber Mk III light reconnaissance car, and saw extensive use with the Canadian forces fighting in Italy.
The Otter was a four wheel drive vehicle, with a front mounted engine, built on a General Motors four wheel drive chassis. It had a large fighting compartment with sloped sides. It was higher at the front than the rear. Half way alone the sloping roof was a small open topped Bren gun turret, with an open slit at the front to carry the gun. It also carried a hull mounted Boys anti-tank rifle.
The Otter was ordered alongside the Fox armoured car and Lynx scout car, and was the first to enter service, arriving in 1942. The official British name for it was the Car, Light Reconnaissance, Canadian GM (R.A.C.).
The Otter was slightly larger than the Humber original, and was considered to be underpowered but reliable. Its reliability helped make it a popular vehicle. It was about a ton heavier than the Humber, and although it had a more powerful engine didn’t perform quite as well.
The Otter Mk I carried the small Bren gun turret.
The Otter Mk II replaced the turret with a low bevelled gun shield and the Bren gun with a .50in Browning machine gun. It also carried a smoke mortar.
1,761 were built, of which under 1,000 went overseas. The majority of Otters were used by the Italian army in Italy, and later during the fighting in North-Western Europe. It was also used by the armoured car companies of the RAF Regiment and by the RCAF.
Mk I
Production: over 1,700
Hull Length: 14ft 9in
Hull Width: 7ft
Height: 8in
Crew: 3 (driver, commander, gunner)
Weight: 4.8 tons
Engine: 104hp General Motors petrol engine
Max Speed: 47mph
Max Range:
Armament: One Boys anti-tank gun in hull, one Bren gun in turret
Armour: 12mm (max)
Otter Light Reconnaissance Cars in Vienna 