Military Vehicles Fotofax: British Armoured Cars Since 1945 (Repost)

During the Second World War, the British Army used a wide variety of vehicles for reconnaissance duties; ranging from diminutive Scout Cars, such as the Humber and Daimler Dingo, to Light Tanks, such as the Vickers Mark VI and the M3/M5 Honey/Stuart; and a diversity of Armoured Cars ranging from the compact, such as the Daimler Mark II, to the massive, including the AEC Mark III which mounted the same 7.5cm main armament as contemporary Cruiser Tanks and multi-wheeled designs such as the Marmon-Harrington Mark VI and T18E2 8x8 Boarhound.
After the war it was uneconomical to maintain such a plethora of vehicles. Consequently, the General Staff issued a specification in January 1946 for the 'Post-War Armoured Car' combining those features of previous designs that had been proved in the crucible of war. This ultimately led to the successful Alvis Saladin which entered service with the British Army in 1959. Similarly, the General Staff issued a requirement in 1947 for a replacement for the Daimler Dingo Scout Car. Also manufactured by Daimler, the successor was the Ferret which entered service with the British Army in 1952.
As with many British weapons systems that were designed during the late forties and early fifties based on the experiences of global war - such as the Centurion МВТ, the Hawker Hunter, and the Type 12 frigate - Ferret and Saladin shared the common characteristics of ruggedness; simplicity; reliability; sufficient fighting power; and an admirable adaptability to meet the many exigencies of the minor conflicts that the British Army has fought since 1945. These virtues led to widespread export sales and Ferret and Saladin have served in scores of foreign armies.