Guy Armoured Car

Guy Armoured Car
Guy Mk I
Place of origin	UK
Service history
Wars	Second World War
Production history
Designed	1938
Manufacturer	Guy Motors
Produced	1939-1940
No. built	101
Specifications (Mark I)
Weight	5.2 long tons (5.3 t)
Length	13 ft 6 in (4.12 m)
Width	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Height	7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Crew	3
Armour	up to 15 mm (0.59 in)
Main armament	.5 inch Vickers machine gun
Secondary armament	.303 inch Vickers machine gun
Engine	Meadows 4ELA 4-cyl petrol engine 55 hp (41 kW)
Power/weight	10.6 hp/tonne
Transmission	4 forward, 1 reverse gear
Suspension	4 x 4 wheel
Operational range	210 mi (340 km)
Speed	40 mph (64 km/h)

The Guy Armoured Car was a British armoured car produced in limited numbers during Second World War. The car saw limited action during the Battle of France. The manufacturer had insufficient capacity for production of the armoured car alongside their artillery tractors so the design and construction techniques were passed to Rootes and used as a basis for the Humber Armoured Car

In 1938 Guy Motors built five Guy Quad armoured car prototypes to a design by the Woolwich Arsenal based on the Quad-Ant artillery tractor chassis. In early 1938 a number of different 4x4 chassis from British and foreign manufacturers had been tested to see which was the best for development of a new line of armoured cars to replace those older designs in use. By September three armoured cars had been built by Guy. While chassis with more advanced features were seen as having better potential it was decided that in order to get production under way the Guy chassis was preferred.

The vehicles successfully completed troop trials and from 1939-1940 a further 101 of the armoured cars - initially designated "Tank, Light, (Wheeled) Mark I"- were produced. These were constructed used welding rather than rivetting. The contract specification had been for riveted construction but Guy suggested welding as being more suitable and effective. To that end they developed the necessary techniques including rotating jigs which meant the bodies and turrets could be produced quicker and cheaper. The Royal Commission for Awards to Inventors recognised this after the war.

The vehicle had a welded hull (making it the first British armoured car with an all-welded construction) with a sloped glacis plate. Above the centre of the hull was mounted a turret with two Vickers or Besa machine guns. The engine was located at the rear. The vehicle carried a No. 19 radio set.

The body of the Guy vehicle formed the basis of the later Humber Armoured Car, which employed a new chassis.