Morris light reconnaissance car

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Use British English Template:More footnotes Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Morris Light Reconnaissance Car (LRC) was a British light armoured car for reconnaissance use produced by Morris Motors Limited and used by the British during the Second World War.

File:An RAF Morris LRC (light reconnaissance car) alongside a bullock cart on an airfield in the Azores, January 1944. TR1496.jpg
RAF Morris LRC on an airfield in the Azores, January 1944.

The Nuffield Group had been brought in to supplement production of light reconnaissance cars by Standard Motor Company (Beaverette) and Humber (Humber LAC, also known as "Humberette").

The vehicle had an unusual internal arrangement, with the three-man crew sitting side by side by side with the driver in the middle, a crewman manning a small multi-sided turret mounting a Bren light machine gun on the right, and another with a Boys anti-tank rifle (mounted in brackets in the hatches on the hull roof) and access to radio set on the left. From 1940 to 1944, over 2,200 were built.

The vehicle was used in the North African, Italian and in North-West Europe campaigns. Some served with the RAF Regiment, others were given to Polish units.

One of the surviving vehicles is on display at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, another at The Tank Museum, Bovington, and another at the Military Museum at Port Dickson, Malaysia.

Variants

  • Mk I - original version.
    • Mk I OP - observation post version. No turret. Equipped with two rangefinders.
  • Mk II - four-by-four chassis.
  • Morris Experimental Tank - had two turrets. Never reached production.
  • Firefly - an experiment by Morris to use 6 pounder guns from the period before the tanks became available to mount them. A 57 mm QF 6 pounder anti-tank gun was mounted in the front of the hull. It was rejected.[1]
  • Salamander - A narrow two seat version of the Morris LRC with a turret on top. Prototype built but no production.[2]
  • Glanville Fighter Car - A one-seat version of the Morris LRC with two fixed machine guns. Prototype built but no production.[2]

Notes

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. Template:Book-Fletcher-Great Tank Scandal
  2. a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

References

External links

Template:Sister project

Script error: No such module "Military navigation". Template:Use dmy dates