In August 1938, South Africa decided to equip itself with a nationally built armored car for its self-defense force. Unfortunately, the country did not have the industrial tools necessary for the complete realization of such a project. It was therefore necessary to import many elements:
The assembly of the chassis was done at Ford motor company of South Africa from elements imported from Canada and borrowed from a pre-war Ford 3 t truck with a 4X4 conversion kit from the American firm Marmon-Herrington.
The armament was bought from England with the exception of the 7.62 mm Browning machine gun.
The armor plates were produced by the South African firm Iron & Steel Industrial Corporation
Final assembly was done in the South African factories of Dorman Long Structural Steel Company.
At first, the project (two prototypes ordered) progressed slowly but the declaration of war in September 1939 brutally accelerated this one and 22 models were therefore ordered. The vehicle was accepted in January 1940 and in May a first order of 1000 copies was placed. This project gave birth to the South African Reconnaissance Armored Car which the British called Marmon Herrington MKI
The MK I version:
The MK I, the first version which entered service in May 1940. Exclusively used by the South African forces (or Union Defense Forces), this model was a two-wheel drive armed with two Vickers: one in the turret and the other in ball joint on the left side of the body. The MK I was briefly engaged against the Italian forces then quickly withdrawn from service to be relegated to training. Produced in 113 copies.
The MK II version:
The MK II produced from November 1940 to May 1941 was a 4X4 version of the MK I with a different wheelbase. Used by South African forces from November 1940 and British forces from March 1941. The hull was riveted then welded on late models. The first models were armed like the MK I, then received a Boys anti-tank rifle and a Bren machine gun in the turret. Many capture armaments (25 mm French Hotchkiss, 20 mm Italian breda or 28 mm Panzerbüchse or 20 mm Flak or 37 mm German Pak) were mounted in an attempt to improve the punch. 887 copies were produced 338 British middle east version and 549 mobile field force version).
Both models (MkI and MkII) were engaged intensively in North Africa against the Italo-German troops because they were the only models of armored cars available in number at that time and had a good reputation for endurance.
Marmon Herrington Mk.I and Mk.II specifications
Dimensions (L-W-H) : 5.18 x 2 x 2.67 m (17 x 6.5 x 8.7 ft)
Total weight, battle ready : 6 tons (12,000 lbs)
Armament : 1×12.7 mm (0.5 in) Boys AT rifle, 2×0.303 in (7.62 mm) Vickers machine guns, 2×0.303 in (7.62 mm) Bren machine guns
Maximum armor : 12 mm (0.47 in)
Crew : 4 (driver, co-driver/radio, gunner, co-gunner/mechanic)
Propulsion : Ford V8 gasoline, 85 bhp
Maximum speed : 80 km/h (50 mph)
Range : 322 km (200 mi)
Total production : 113 Mk.I -887 Mk.II
The MK III version:
The MK III produced from May 1941 to August 1942 was a different model, shorter to be more agile, better armored because better profiled even if the thickness did not change and better motorized with a 95 HP Ford engine. An MK IIIA variant was armed with two circular ring Vickers machine guns. At this time the needs began to become less urgent, with British armored cars becoming more and more available. 2630 specimens were produced for the British forces and of the Commonwealth, but also for the Dutch troops in Asia (KNIL) and Greece (just before the invasion of May 1941).
The MK IV version:
In March 1943 the MK IV was produced. This was the last version produced during the war. This monocoque vehicle presented a real improvement over previous designs with a completely different profile with a rear engine and a larger turret armed with a 2 pounder cannon and a 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, this armament putting it more on par with enemy vehicles of the time. The armor was quite light, 12 mm in front and 6 mm on the sides. Produced in more than 2000 copies, it was the version that remained in service the longest, until the 1990s in some countries. The 2 pounder gun used an artillery mount because the turret was not suitable for mounting with a classic tank mantlet. The crew consisted of three members: a pilot in the front with excellent peripheral vision due to the three flaps (one in the front and two on the sides), and two members in the turret (commander and gunner) with a relatively large turret. Depending on the models small differences appeared, for example the roof of the turret could be completely open, half covered from the rear or completely covered, small side protections could be added on the sides of the gun, differences also appeared on the tool location and of course on-board radio models. What is curious was that the name Marmon Herrington remained even though this model no longer had any components from this firm.
There were two versions of the MKIV differing in the chassis elements:
The classic MKIV:
monohull on which were grafted chassis elements from the firm Marmon Herrington. It was built 936 vehicles, 626 of which were armed only with machine guns.
The MKIVF:
In 1943, the British army ordered 1200 copies. Unfortunately Marmmon-Herrington could not supply enough 4X4 conversion kits. The army thus turned to another solution by using elements of 4X4 trucks Canada Ford F60L or CMP (Canadian Military Pattern) Ford 3 t truck. The models produced from these elements received the denomination of MKIVF. It was built in 1180 copies until 1944.
Dimensions (L-W-H) : 5.52 x 2.13 x 2.79 m (217.5 x 84 x 90 in)
Weight empty/loaded : 6.311 tons (13,900 lbs)
Armament : QF 2-pdr (40 mm/1.575 in), 37 rounds 1/2 x cal.30 Browning (0.76 mm), 3500 rounds
Armor : Sides 6 mm, front 12 mm (0.24 -0.47 in)
Crew : 3 (driver, commander, gunner)
Propulsion : Ford V8 liquid-cooled gasoline, 85 bhp
Transmission : Manual 4/1 w/2 spd-tmsf
Suspension :4×4 independent leaf springs, front axle steering
Maximum speed : 84 km/h (52 mph)
Range : 579 km (360 mi)
Total production : 2116 (1180 Mk.IVF)
Other models were designed (up to the MK VIII) but they never went beyond the prototype stage because at that time the English and American industry were able to supply the necessary vehicles in quantity.
A total of 5,746 Marmon-Herringtons were produced during the war for the British and Commonwealth armed forces, the others were used during the war by England, India, New Zealand, Greece, Free France, Poland, Holland, Belgium. The Marmon-Herringtons MKIV were also used well after the end of the Second World War by countries as different as Syria, Egypt, Israel (capture vehicles), the Arab Legion (which also mounted a 6 pounder), or Cyprus. It should be noted that many museums or individuals have this model of vehicle because their use was quite late in several armies (in particular Greek) or national guards (in particular Cypriot), making them easy to acquire at the time of their withdrawal, it is the the case of the specimens from Bovington or Saumur, or captured during conflicts such as the specimen from Yad la Shiron in Israel.