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The Hillman Gnat was an experimental
As of 2020, there is one confirmed replica in existence. The replica was shown during the Tankfest of 2017. It is unknown if there are any surviving Hillman Gnats to this date.
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
era light armoured car developed in Britain.
Overview
The Hillman Gnat was designed around 1940 as a two-man light armoured car, it was intended to replacemachine gun
A machine gun is a fully automatic, rifled autoloading firearm designed for sustained direct fire with rifle cartridges. Other automatic firearms such as automatic shotguns and automatic rifles (including assault rifles and battle rifles) a ...
armed, unarmoured motorcycle
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...
s that were fielded in significant numbers by the British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
, but were going out of favour at the time. The Gnat's development, along with the Morris Salamander, was sponsored by the then Brigadier Vyvyan Pope.
The vehicle was based on the Hillman 10hp Utility (which was in turn derived from the Hillman Minx
The Hillman Minx was a mid-sized family car that British car maker Hillman produced from 1931 to 1970. There were many versions of the Minx over that period, as well as badge-engineered variants sold by Humber, Singer, and Sunbeam.
From the m ...
) with the engine relocated to the rear of the hull and the transmission rearranged. The driver sat at the front while the crew commander sat behind and above, the latter was supplied with a tiny, open topped turret. The vehicle was armed with a single Bren gun
The Bren gun was a series of light machine guns (LMG) made by Britain in the 1930s and used in various roles until 1992. While best known for its role as the British and Commonwealth forces' primary infantry LMG in World War II, it was also use ...
and was not provided with a radio.
Trials of the Gnat and the Salamander revealed they were too underpowered to perform in their intended role without four-wheel drive, the Gnat was particularly handicapped. Impetus for the project waned upon the death of the now Major General Vyvyan Pope in 1941, and both it and the Salamander were cancelled in 1942.
In total four Hillman Gnats were produced.
Survivors & Replicas
As of 2020, there is one confirmed replica in existence. The replica was shown during the Tankfest of 2017. It is unknown if there are any surviving Hillman Gnats to this date.
See also
*British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II
This article lists British armoured fighting vehicle production during the Second World War. The United Kingdom produced 27,528 tanks and self-propelled guns from July 1939 to May 1945, as well as 26,191 armoured cars and 69,071 armoured personn ...
References
World War II armoured cars World War II armoured fighting vehicles of the United Kingdom Armoured cars of the United Kingdom Abandoned military projects of the United Kingdom {{Weapon-stub