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Humber 6 pounder SP
Vehicle design history:
The Humber 6-pounder SP, was one of numerous British attempts in 1942 to create a self-propelled system for their 6-pounder anti-tank gun in order to keep up with the system of mobile combat that developed in North Africa. This was due to the increase in armour of German and Italian vehicles at this time, which started to make the 2-pounder then in service with armoured vehicles lacking. The British planned to create a 6-pounder variant of the proven AEC armoured car, that would eventually manifest as the MK.II, but delays to the production of the new turret necessitated stop-gap measures to fill the gap in the meantime.
The work around at the time varied in quality from more ramshackle constructions like the 6-pounder portee and Deacon to more refined designs like the AEC griffon and kitbashed Morris firefly. One design selected was based on the Humber Armoured car, which had already proven itself as a reliable vehicle platform. The turret of the vehicle was removed and a 6-pounder MK.III equipt with a Gibb muzzle break and Mollins autoloader was mated with the modified hull, in a fixed casemate configuration with limited traverse. The autoloader was added to compensate for the reduced crew size of two, allowing the gun to fire rapidly, even though the vehicle lacked a designated loader. The Humber 6 pounder SP would then undergo testing in mid-1942, but like most of its contemporary peers, it would remain a one-off prototype, as by the time it was tested the AEC MK.II had worked out its production teething issues and was now being made in numbers to meet demand, resulting in the vehicle no longer being needed to meet military requirements.
Vehicle specification:
Mass 5 t
Length 15 ft 1.5 in (4.610 m)
Width 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
Height 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
Crew: 4
Armour 15 mm (0.59 in)
Main armament 57mm 6-pounder MK.III with mollins autoloader and Gibb muzzle.
Engine Rootes 6 cylinder petrol engine 90 hp (67 kW)
Power/weight 12.9 hp/tonne
Suspension Wheel 4x4, rigid front and rear axles, rear-wheel drive with selectable four-wheel drive
Operational range 200 mi (320 km)
Maximum speed 50 mph (80 km/h)
Sources:
- Humber Scout Car - Wikipedia (Wiki page for the humber scout car)
- Humber SP 6pdr Armoured Car - Armoured Cars and Halftracks GB - Britmodeller.com (Forum where someone is modelling it)
- WT Live // Images by Mercedes4321 (Source of photo)
- Gun Design Committee: blast pressure inside Humber car mounting 6-pdr. anti-tank gun
