well the clock ran out on the mystery "ferret" armoured car;
Rhino Heavy Armoured Car.
The need for a Heavy armoured car came about in the usual way of supply from Allied nations being unreliable at that time. A specification for a Armoured car with 30mm frontal armour and not less than 10mm on the sides, and armed with the then standard 2pdr antitank gun.
The chassis and engine were based on those by GMC of Canada. The hull was of welded flat plate. The driver was located centrally in the forward part of the hull. The fighting compartment was behind him which housed a three man crew. The turret ring was interesting as it was the same as that used on the Sentinel. The turret contained a 2pdr gun a Vickers MMG, as armament and had a No.19 radio set.
The engine compartment was at the rear and had louvers on the rear plate to aid cooling.
It seems that only two of these vehicles were built (pilot models) out of a initial order of 132. One chassis also seems to have been converted to a prototype armoured personnel carrier. Entry looks like it was over the sides of the vehicle. As there was problems with the weight going over the chassis limit and the soon to be readily available supply from over seas.
