World War II Database

Contributor: Alan Chanter

ww2dbaseFollowing the evacuation at Dunkirk and the fall of France there was an urgent need to replace all the vehicles that had been lost in France. Consequently when the Italians launched their invasion of Egypt there were precious little, by way of armoured cars, that could be spared to be sent to North Africa. Fortunately, the South Africans had, since August 1938, been developing an armoured car design of their own. This design, which went by the name of, South African Reconnaissance Car Mk 1 had rapidly been put into production, and was based on a shortened and strengthened Ford truck chassis, but still with only two wheel drive. One hundred and thirteen of these SARC Mk.1s were built, with some seeing action with the South African armoured car companies against the Italians in East Africa.

ww2dbaseIn September 1939 production commenced on an improved Mk.11 version. The Ford chassis with a V8 engine at the front was modified by a four-wheel drive kit supplied by the American firm of Marmon-Herrington. The SARC Mk.II began to become available in November, and in an act of generocity the South African government agreed to supply the British Army with 400 of the 887 vehicles on order.

ww2dbaseThese cars would see considerable service in the Western Desert, providing much needed reconnaissance of Axis troop movements. Nevertheless, despite its South African pedigree, these armoured cars were, in British service, always known as the Marmon-Herrington Mk.11

SPECIFICATIONS

Marmon-Herrington

Machinery	One Ford V8 gasoline engine rated at 95hp
Suspension	Wheel, 4x4
Armament	1x40mm QF 2-pdr gun, 1x7.62mm Browning machine gun or 2x7.62mm Browning machine gun
Armor	20mm
Crew	3
Length	5.51 m
Width	1.83 m
Height	2.29 m
Weight	6.4 t
Speed	80 km/h
Range	322 km

Photographs

Visitor Submitted Comments

Show older comments

3.  David Stubblebine says:
8 Oct 2021 01:30:36 PM

Ephraim Chesler (above):
While I am pleased to learn about Israel being provided with surplus WWII equipment, I am at a loss to find any Hebrew characters on this armored car, no matter how large I blow up the image. The marking “F.22888” is clearly seen on the side, however, and the lettering on the hull directly beneath the gun mount reads, “LIVERPOOL.” This image is held at the British Imperial War Museum (photo # E 2872) including a type-written caption on the back acknowledging that it is mounted with an Italian antiaircraft gun and saying it was taken 8 May 1941 at Tobruk.

5.  David Stubblebine says:
29 Jun 2023 12:55:45 PM

Sisay (above):
If the Israeli marking “starts with the letter צ,” does that also mean the “צ” would be found at the right end of the character string? Thank you also for clearing up how these vehicles came to be in the Israeli inventory.