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Post War Armoured Cars

This is the page I have been waiting for. My Army career started and just about finished with the armoured car.
I hope not to over emphasize the importance of these vehicles.

In 1959 the Defence Department decided that one of the RTR 's would be mechanized solely with armoured cars.
The 2nd RTR was chosen for this exercise. They would be provided with Saladin's, Ferret's and Saracen's.
At this time the 2nd had just been assigned to Tripoltania under the command of Lt. Col. P R C Hobart.
The Regiment moved to Homs with 1 Squadron at Benghazi.
No one thought this would work, there had been little use and no understanding of the role of the armoured car.
In Apr.and May 1960 Cyclops Squadron,under the Command of Maj. F W Harris, took 50 vehicles and 120 men and motored 1,700 miles, 80% over rough track or virgin desert,to the border of French West Africa in the south.They all arrived home safely.Proudly after this it was claimed that the 2nd were successors to the Long Range Desert Group.
By 1960 the British Army was under major change. The end of conscription meant there were recruiting difficulties. many of the National Servicemen signed on as regulars as the differential in pay was great. A national serviceman's pay was 7s 6d,while a Regular got 17s.

In 1960 the 2nd vacated the barracks in Homs to the 1st Libyan Army.Cyclops moved to Mednine Barracks in Tripoli,while the rest of the Regiment moved to Waverney Barracks in Benghazi.
The Regiment was taken over by Lt.Col. A.R.E. Davis.
Cyclops was commanded by Brevet Lt.Col. J.G.R Allen

The Ferret was the most used reconnaissance vehicle in the British army.Just about everyArmoured unit used the vehicle in some shape or form.
Widely used in Ulster. Badger Squadron 2nd RTR in the 60's was assigned as an Armoured reconnaissance unit, solely using Ferret's. A super little vehicle.

In 1962 the Army decided that the 2nd RTR (Cyclops Squadron) would be used for the next experiment in armoured warefare.They were to become airborne more as parachutists.
A vehicle called the Humber Hornet was chosen to carry Malkara missiles.These missiles were tested at Woomera Airbase in Australia.
Nobody thought that a load of layabouts in Cyclops would form this Squadron and they were right .It took all of the 2nd and volunteers from other tank and armoured regiments before sufficient men had passed the rigourous Para Training
and made up the strength required for the unit.
Stationed in Tidworth, Hants for the next 2 years,training on the new vehicle and the tuition of firing of the missile took up a lot of time.
The Malkara was a ATGW ( Anti Tank Guided Weapon).Thumb controlled.It contained a 60lb HESH ( High Explosive Squash Head) and had a range of approx. 2,000 yards.
What can I say about the Hornet except it had to be the ugliest armoured vehicle ever produced.
The thumb controlling of the missile was extremely difficult and as with so many things its life span was very short lived with the army.

Over the next 30 odd years little changed with the role of the tanks. Naturally there have been upgrades such as the Scorpion,Daimler Fox and the FV 712 also new technology has brought a sophistication to their role,but essentially they are still the main support for ground troops.Who knows what will come,maybe someone else will continue this story and the history of the tanks will go on.