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South Africa's Marmon-Herrington armored cars
Marmon-Herrington Mk II, with the British King's Dragoon Guards at Tobruk in 1941: |
Marmon-Herrington Mk II: |
Marmon-Herrington Mk IV: |
Design
Marmon-Herrington started a design in the early 1930s for export. In 1939 the Union of South Africa and the United States National Guard purchased some models. It was basically a kit to convert commercial trucks.
The first vehicles had riveted construction but this was changed to welded.4
Prototype
Production
Chassis
The chassis was produced by Ford in Canada and then shipped to South Africa.4
Four Wheel Drive
The Marmon-Herrington's four wheel drive was produced in the United States.4
Armament
Britain supplied the Marmon-Herrington's armament.4
Armor
South Africa produced the armor for the Marmon-Herringtons.4
- Marmon-Herrington Mk I: 100, 135
- Marmon-Herrington Mk II: ~9005
- Middle East (ME): 3384
- Mobile Filed Force (MFF): 5494
- Marmon-Herrington Mk III:
2,6001
- Production: 1941-
- Marmon-Herrington Mk IV: 2,000,
2,1001
- Production: 1943 -
- Marmon-Herrington Mk VI:
Variants
- Marmon-Herrington Mk I: The fully built versions entered service with South Africa in 1940. None of these were issued to British forces. Two wheel drive.4
- Marmon-Herrington Mk II: This had 4 wheel drive with a longer wheelbase.4 There were twin doors in the rear that made for easy access.4 Early models were riveted with the rest welded. These were used against the Italians in East Africa.
Some had field modifications of taking the turrets off and more powerful guns mounted behind gun shields.4 Guns that were used were Italian 20 mm and 47 mm Breda, German 37 mm and 28/20 mm taper bore, and French 25 mm.
Other variants were artillery OP, ambulance, command car, fitters vehicle, and RAF contact car with AA Lewis gun in turret and radio antennae.- Middle East (ME): Had Boys ATR.4 Two Bren MGs, one coaxial in the turret and one anti aircraft.4
- Mobile Field Force (MFF): There were two Vickers MGs, one in the turret and the other in a ball mount on the near side.4
- Marmon-Herrington Mk III: The demand for armored cars increased and the lessons in combat led to improvements being made. It had a shorter wheelbase, single rear door, no radiator grill and no headlight covers. Some of the models were field modified as the Mk II was.
- Marmon-Herrington Mk IIIA: Turret removed and 2 .303 Vickers AA fitted on a ring mount protected by a steel skirt.
- Marmon-Herrington Mk IV: Completely redesigned using Ford and Marmon-Herrington components on a 4x4 chassis. The suspension, engine, and transmission were bolted onto the hull. Some had run flat tires installed.
- Marmon-Herrington Mk IVF: Had rear engine facing forward with gearbox and radiator mounted at the rear.
- Marmon-Herrington MK VI: 8 Wheels.
Usage
North Africa
The Marmon-Herrington Mk IIs were used in the Western Desert from 1941.
| Marmon-Herrington Mk I | Marmon-Herrington Mk II5 | Marmon-Herrington Mk III | Marmon-Herrington Mk IV | Marmon-Herrington MK VI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 4 | 42,4,5 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
| Physical Characteristics | |||||
| Weight | 13,440 lb 6 tons2,4,5 6,096 kg4 |
11,760 lb, 13,440 lb1 6,096 kg1 |
14,336 lb, 14,787 lb1 6,707 kg1 |
24,658 lb1 11,185 kg1 |
|
| Length w/gun | 17'4,5 5.18 m4,5 |
17' 5"1 5.308 m1 |
15', 18' 1"1 5.511 m1 |
18' 8"1 5.69 m1 |
|
| Length w/o gun | |||||
| Height | 8' 9"4,5 2.67 m4,5 |
8' 2"1 2.489 m1 |
7', 7' 6"1 2.286 m1 |
8' 1"1 2.45 m1 |
|
| Width | 6' 6"4,5 2 m4,5 |
7' 6"1 2.286 m1 |
6', 7'1 2.133 m1 |
8' 8"1 2.64 m1 |
|
| Ground clearance | |||||
| Ground contact length | |||||
| Ground pressure | |||||
| Turret ring diameter | |||||
| Armament | |||||
| Main | .303" Vickers | 1: 14 mm (0.55") Boys anti-tank rifle4,5 | 2: 7.6 mm (.303 cal) MG1 .303" Vickers, Boys anti-tank rifle |
2 pdr (40 mm)1 QFSA | 57 mm (6 pdr)1 |
| Secondary | |||||
| MG | .303" Vickers | .303" Vickers 2: 0.303" Bren MG4 2: 7.7 mm Bren MG4 |
.303" Vickers | 7.62 MG1 7.62 mm Browning MG |
12.7 mm MG1 |
| MG - coaxial | 1: 7.7 mm Bren MG5 | 1: 7.62 mm MG1 | |||
| MG - anti-aircraft | 1: 7.7 mm Bren MG5 | ||||
| Side arms | |||||
| Quantity | |||||
| Main | |||||
| Secondary | |||||
| MG | |||||
| Side arms | |||||
| Armor Thickness (mm) | 0.47"4 124 |
121 | 201 | 401 | |
| Hull Front, Upper | 12 | 12 | |||
| Hull Front, Lower | |||||
| Hull Sides, Upper | |||||
| Hull Sides, Lower | |||||
| Hull Rear | |||||
| Hull Top | |||||
| Hull Bottom | 6 | ||||
| Turret Front | |||||
| Turret Sides | |||||
| Turret Rear | |||||
| Turret Top | |||||
| Engine (Make / Model) | Ford2,4,5 | Ford1 | Ford1 | 2: Ford1 | |
| Cylinders | V-82,4,5 | V-81 | V-81 | V-81 | |
| Net HP | 854,5 | 851 | 951 | 951 | |
| Transmission | |||||
| Fuel type | Gasoline2,5 | Gasoline1 | Gasoline1 | Gasoline1 | |
| Octane | |||||
| Capacity | |||||
| Performance | |||||
| Traverse | |||||
| Max speed | 50 mph4,5 80 kph4,5, 80.5 kph2 |
50 mph1 80 kph1 |
50 mph1 80.47 kph1 |
40.38 mph1 65 kph1 |
|
| Cross country speed | |||||
| Road range | 200 miles2,4,5 322 km2,4,5 |
200 miles1 322 km1 |
200 miles1 322 km1 |
249 miles1 400 km1 |
|
| Turning Radius | |||||
| Elevation Limits | |||||
| Fording depth | |||||
| Trench crossing | |||||
| Vertical Obstacle | |||||
| Suspension (Type) | |||||
| Wheels each side | |||||
| Return rollers each side | |||||
| Track length | |||||
| Tires | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Track width | |||||
| Track centers/tread |
Sources:
- The Encyclopedia of Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles - The Comprehensive Guide to Over 900 Armored Fighting Vehicles From 1915 to the Present Day, General Editor: Christopher F. Foss, 2002
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop, 1998
- -
- World Encyclopedia of Armored Fighting Vehicles, Jack Livesey, 2006
- Western Allied Tanks 1939-45, David Porter, 2009
