Desert Rats Humber Armoured Car Troop (x 3)

includes three resin Humber cars, one plastic Tank Commander sprue and one Unit card.

The Humber is one of the most successful British armoured car designs. While its real job is reconnaissance, its 15mm Besa machine-gun poses a serious danger to lightly armoured targets.

The Humber is fielded in North Africa by several cavalry units, including the 11th Hussars, one of the units that cut off the retreating Italian Tenth Army at Beda Fomm back in 1940.

Armoured cars play a similar role to the light cavalry regiments of old, roaming far ahead of the tanks, observing enemy dispositions and reporting their movements. In pursuits they lead the chase, harassing the retreating enemy and ambushing fleeing convoys. In retreats they are the rearguard, slowing the enemy advance and covering the withdrawal of the fighting forces.

The Humber III armoured car is essentially the fusion of an existing artillery track chassis and the armoured body of another armoured car. Production of the Mark III version ended in 1942 after 1,650 had been built

The Mark III version of the Humber had a larger turret than the previous models that allowed for a 3rd crew member, which freed up the commander from having to look after the 'wireless'.

It was armed with a 15mm Besa machine-gun that was more than adequate for engaging lightly armoured or unarmoured targets without encouraging the crew to engage anything that could easily destroy with with return fire.

Used widely through the North African Campaign it also saw service in Europe with the British and Canadian reconnaissance regiments.

The Humber armoured car stayed in service long after World War II firmly establishing itself as a widely used and reliable vehicle.