When the 1 K.D.G first arrived in North Africa, the C Sqd was equipped with Dingos. Were the Dingos armed with Brens, or Anti tank rifles?
When the 1 K.D.G first arrived in North Africa, the C Sqd was equipped with Dingos. Were the Dingos armed with Brens, or Anti tank rifles? I would hazard a guess that more often than not they were armed with nothing at all. They were fitted with Brens but the Dingo's main weapon was speed. It certainly was not expected to stick around and fight it out with anything, even infantry. I have never seen a Dingo armed with a Boys rifle.
Hello David, I have no idea about how Dingo's in the 1st KDG were armed and I agree with Bodston's comments that their main weapon was speed. During the BEF Campaign in 1940, the 50th (Northumbrian) Division's recce battalion was the 4th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. It was essentially a motorcycle recce outfit, however, each Company had a scout car platoon and in the photographs I have seen of 1940 they are using Dingo's - here's a few of them. Notice the lead Dingo has a Bren gun pertruding. I trust this helps! Best, Steve.
I would hazard a guess that more often than not they were armed with nothing at all. They were fitted with Brens but the Dingo's main weapon was speed. It certainly was not expected to stick around and fight it out with anything, even infantry. I have never seen a Dingo armed with a Boys rifle. Hello David, I have no idea about how Dingo's in the 1st KDG were armed and I agree with Bodston's comments that their main weapon was speed. During the BEF Campaign in 1940, the 50th (Northumbrian) Division's recce battalion was the 4th Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. It was essentially a motorcycle recce outfit, however, each Company had a scout car platoon and in the photographs I have seen of 1940 they are using Dingo's - here's a few of them. Notice the lead Dingo has a Bren gun pertruding. I trust this helps! Best, Steve. I agree that the Bren Gun would be the one used as shown above. A Boyes AT gun would be, in my opinion, too large to handle in the confined space available and an accurate shot on the move would be asking a great deal. At least carrying a Bren would be helpful when being confronted by infantry and if a tank was encountered at least a few bursts would mean that the crew would button up and visibility become poor, helping a speedy getaway. Regards Tom
Dingo's used in north Africa were Mk 1 or early Mk2 cars. Both were fitted out to have a Bren gun as the main armament, and were additionally fitted with a Enfield Rifle (stowed in the rear of the cab). However a number of cars were provided with Boyes Anti tank Rifles to uprate the armament so that they could defend and possibly attack other lightly armed vehicles. Of course the vehicle was supposed to be used for reconnaissance but they were also used in a more offensive role when required. Pictures of Dingo’s with Boyes anti tank rifles are rare….but please find below a car which is reputedly of the 9th Queens Royal Lancers. With regards to space there is little room for the Bren and a Boyes must have been even worse. This being testified by the fact that the car’s front bin is smashed up, due to the driver Trooper Bernard Oldham, crashing down an unobserved cliff when closed down!
So it did fit in the armament slot. I thought it perhaps would as it was used onboard carriers. Thanks for the picture, although it is Boys and not Boyes.
