Dingo (scout car)

This article is about the Australian armoured car. For the British reconnaissance vehicle, see Daimler Dingo. For the modern German infantry mobility vehicle, see ATF Dingo.
Dingo Scout Car

A Dingo Scout Car
Type Armoured car
Place of origin Australia
Production history
Number built 245
Specifications
Weight 4.5 tonnes
Length 4.6 m
Width 2.1 m
Height 1.9 m
Crew 2 (Commander, Driver)
Armour Front 30 mm, sides and rear 10 mm
Main
armament
 0.303 (7.7 mm) Bren light machine gun
Engine Ford V8
85 or 95 hp (63.5 or 71 kW)
Power/weight 19 or 21 hp/tonne
Suspension wheel 4x4, leaf spring
Operational
range
 km
Speed 90 km/h

The Dingo Scout Car was a light armoured car built in Australia during Second World War. They were produced by the Ford motor company during 1942.

History

Australia as a nation was ill-prepared for World War II and possessed little in the way of armoured vehicles. Being at the time unable to purchase them from their traditional supplier, the United Kingdom whose industrial output was dedicated to more immediate needs in Europe, they were forced by circumstance to develop and build them from what resources were to hand, and armoured cars and scout cars were no exception. Much creative application and innovation was spawned by the lessons learnt from the Great War.

The Dingo was based on a commercial Ford 30-cwt 134.5 inch wheelbase chassis shortened to 110 inches, fitted with a Marmon-Herrington all wheel drive kit to give the vehicle 4 wheel drive.[1] It was powered by either an 85 hp or 95 hp Ford V8 engine. Onto this was fitted an armoured body manufactured from ABP-3 (Australian Bullet Proof plate type 3) by Victorian Railways. Serial production began in early 1942.

Dingo Scout Cars halt during a parade through Sydney in December 1942

The Dingo was equipped with a Bren light machine gun and Mk19 wireless. The vehicle's weight restricted its off-road mobility and the front axle could be distorted when travelling over rough terrain. A lighter version with only 10 mm of armour and an open top was proposed at the end of 1942 but not proceeded with as armoured cars could now be imported from overseas. All 245 vehicles produced were disposed of in 1945.

Surviving Dingos can be seen at the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) tank museum at Puckapunyal Victoria, at the Australian War Memorial, and at the Melbourne Tank Museum in Narre Warren. There are also several vehicles in private ownership.

Notes

  1. ↑ Spoelstra, Hanno. "Trucks converted with Marmon-Herrington All-Wheel Drive Conversion Kits". Marmon-Herrington Military Vehicles.

References

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