A military
armored (or
armoured)
car is a lightweight wheeled
armored fighting vehicle, historically employed for
reconnaissance,
internal security, armed escort, and other subordinate battlefield tasks. With the gradual decline of mounted
cavalry, armored cars were developed for carrying out duties formerly assigned to horsemen. Following the invention of the
tank, the armored car remained popular due to its comparatively simplified maintenance and low production cost. It also found favor with several
colonial armies as a cheaper weapon for use in underdeveloped regions. During
World War II, most armored cars were engineered for reconnaissance and passive observation, while others were devoted to communications tasks. Some equipped with heavier armament could even substitute for tracked combat vehicles in favorable conditions—such as pursuit or flanking maneuvers during the
North African Campaign.