Tradition of London

Item Number: TRAD830

Belgian Army 1914 -Minerva Armoured Car with three Crew 

This all-metal model, complete with colourful crew, depicts one of the first generation of armoured vehicles to see action in World War One

The Minerva cars were armoured with 4mm plates, and armed with an air-cooled 8mm Hotchkiss machine gun, fitted with a shield to provide some protection for the gunners. With no shortage of eager volunteers, the cars would have resembled small personnel carriers, with bulging crews as big as six when sharpshooters were on board. Off-road performance remained limited, despite the double wheels fitted to the rear axles to spread the load.

The cars were revised in 1916 to have armoured tops and turrets, but by then war of movement was long gone, and the baton of armoured warfare had passed to an even greater innovation: the tank.

Modelled by Andrew Stadden.