Armour in Canada: Beaverette Armoured Car

Beaverette Armoured Car

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3604331)

Standard Car 4x2, or Car Armoured Light Standard, better known as the Beaverette, was a British improvised armoured car produced during the Second World War. This is a rear view of a Mk. 2 seen above with the crew of four mounting the vehicle. the metal loops on the rear step appear to be unit made tow loops.

The first version of the vehicle was built in 1940 by Standard Motor Company at the instigation of Lord Beaverbrook, then Minister of Aircraft Production (hence the name Beaverette). It was based on commercial car chassis, on which a simple riveted armoured hull was mounted. The 11mm of steel was backed by 3 inch thick oak planks. The hull was open at the top and at the rear. The armament consisted of a Bren light machine gun, which could be fired through a slot in the casemate armour. Subsequent versions received all-around protection and a machine gun turret - an enclosed one with a Bren MG or an open-topped one with twin Vickers machine guns. Some vehicles also carried Boys anti-tank rifles. Some also had a No. 11 or No. 19 radio set. Production was stopped in 1942. About 2,800 units were delivered.

Describing the vehicle in 1941, a correspondent for The Light Car magazine reported "touching the 60-mark [60 mph (97 km/h)]" while following one along a road. Restricted vision meant the Beaverette driver had to rely on an observer to relay information about other road traffic and also to consider situations well in advance, for example, when making a turn, the driver had to base his steering on "observations made something like ten yards [30.00 ft (9.14 m)] back".

The Beaverette was extensively used by the Home Guard (United Kingdom), British Army and RAF Regiment for home defence service and training. The vehicle is said to have suffered from excessive weight and to have been hard to handle.

George Forty - World War Two Armoured Fighting Vehicles and Self-Propelled Artillery, Osprey Publishing 1996.

I. Moschanskiy - Armored vehicles of the Great Britain 1939-1945 part 2, Modelist-Konstruktor, Bronekollektsiya 1999-02.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3604329)

“Snooper” is a well worn Mk. 2 Beaverette of the 7th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment seen during training in England. The crew appears worse for wear in the open topped vehicle on what appears to be a cold wet day. This image shows the Beaverette in use with kit stowed on the rear deck and a unit constructed cover rolled on the top of the front glacis plate. A Lee-Enfield rifle is leaning on the interior with the muzzle protruding through the machine-gun port. The purpose of the hook shaped metal straps on the grille area are unknown but may be for tow rope storage.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3607518)

A camouflaged Mk. 2 Beaverette with Bren gun and crew of three, Note the corporal crew commander has to sit on the rear armour behind the driver. Interestingly the divisional sign and unit sign are both usually painted on the left fender. In this image what may be the Unit Serial is marked below these. The “41” designator for the divisional reconnaissance regiment is apparent but the colour of the divisional sign is not discernible.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3604330)

A camouflaged Canadian Mk.2 Beaverette seen during a training exercise in a rubble strewn urban setting. In this instance the car is crewed by four.

(IWM Photo, H-2506)

Beaverette of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, Royal Armoured Corps, 25 July 1940.

(IWM Photo, H-10928)

Beaverette cars, Bren gun carriers and motorcycles of 53rd Battalion The Reconnaissance Corps during manoeuvres at Ballykinlar in Northern Ireland, 19 June 1941.

(Standard Motor Company Archives Photo)

A newly built Mk.2 Beaverette of the type used by Canada.

(IWM Photo, H 12830)

View of the interior of a Car, Armoured Light Standard Mk. 2 Beaverette with the trial fitting of a .303-in Bren gun mounted in the anti-aircraft position. Northern Ireland, 16 August 1941.

(IWM Photo, H 12833)

Interior of a Mk. 2 Beaverette with a crew member manning a Bren Gun.

(Standard Motor Company Archives Photo)

Rear view of a newly built Mk. 2 Beaverette seen with an RAF crew. The large circular cover on the rear body is for the spare wheel and tire.