Here’s Armour Battles statistics for Commonwealth armoured car units in December 1940. These units formed the backbone of reconnaissance forces during Operation Compass, General O’Connor’s five day raid against the Italians in Egypt.
Note: Vehicle Reliability will be explained in a later post.
Armoured Cars
Rolls-Royce Armoured Car
Originally of First World War One vintage, the Rolls-Royce was obsolete by 1940 but saw extensive use in the Western Desert by the 11th Hussars. Although an effective reconnaissance vehicle, the Rolls-Royce is vulnerable to machine gun and anti-tank fire, and is armed only with a Bren gun and a Boys Anti-Tank rifle.
Training: Veteran
Move: Fast 6+1Dx2
Reliability: Poor
Reaction: 4D (3D)
Weapon: Bren Gun
- Range: 4/8/16
- FP: 4D AT: –
Weapon: Boys Anti-Tank Rifle
- Range: 1/3/5
- FP:– AT: 4
Notes: Recon. Break-off. Open-topped.
Morris CS9 Armoured Car
The Morris Armoured Car is more reliable than the Rolls-Royce, but remains just as under-gunned and under-armoured as it predecessor.
Training: Veteran
Move: Fast 6+1Dx2
Reliability: Average
Reaction: 4D
Weapon: Bren Gun
- Range: 4/8/16
- FP: 4D AT: –
Weapon: Boys Anti-Tank Rifle
- Range: 1/3/5
- FP:– AT: 3
Notes: Recon. Break-off.
Marmon-Hetherington Mk II Armoured Car
(Available February 1941) The Marmon-Hetherington Mk II has a lower profile than the Rolls-Royce and Morris armoured cars and is armed with a Vickers machine gun.
Training: Veteran
Move: Fast 6+1Dx2
Reliability: Average
Reaction: 5D (4D)
Weapon: Machine Gun
- Range: 6/12/24
- FP: 7D AT: –
Weapon: Boys Anti-Tank Rifle
- Range: 1/3/5
- FP:– AT: 4
Notes: Recon. Break-off. Low profile.
