In our previous Developer Log’s, we featured some of WWII’s heavy armoured vehicles, but we’re are shifting gears to two armoured reconnaissance vehicles. This developer blog spotlights the Canadian General Motors Mark I Armoured Car, or as commonly known GM Fox Armoured Car, and the German Sd.Kfz. 234/2 “Puma”.

Each vehicle played the same role on the battlefield, from scouting and screening to engaging opportunistic targets, but in very different approaches. These vehicles are making their way into Steel Aces.

GM Fox Armoured Car

The GM Fox Armoured Car was a Canadian 4×4 reconnaissance vehicle produced during the Second World War. Built by General Motors Canada, utilised the hull design of the Humber Mk III but was adapted to a Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) truck chassis and incorporated Canadian-made components, including the turret and machine guns. The Fox featured a turret armed with a 0.50-inch and a 0.30-inch Browning machine gun. It carried a crew of four: commander, driver, gunner, and wireless operator, inside its lightly armoured hull with up to 15mm of armour. About 1,500 Fox armoured cars were manufactured in total, providing Commonwealth forces with a much-needed scouting vehicle.

In service, the Fox proved itself as a capable reconnaissance and liaison vehicle. During the Second World War, it saw action in Italy, the UK, and India, scouting ahead of Allied armoured columns. Its twin machine guns were effective against infantry and soft-armoured targets, but quite ineffective against enemy tanks. Notably, Polish units, such as the 15th Poznań Uhlans Regiment, employed Fox armoured cars in the Italian Campaign of 1943–44. . In all these theatres, the Fox’s high mobility and ease of maintenance made it a valued asset for the scouting role.

After the war, the durable Fox continued its reconnaissance role abroad, Portugal’s army used ex-Canadian Foxes in Angola, Guinea, and Mozambique during the 1960s–70s colonial conflicts. The Netherlands also acquired a number of Foxes post-war, even swapping some turrets with 37 mm-gun Humber turrets to create hybrids nicknamed “Humfox”.

In Steel Aces, the Fox will play the role of a fast and agile scout car, trading heavy firepower for speed and mobility. Its relatively small size and quick acceleration make it ideal for a scouting role. Don’t expect to brawl with tanks in a Fox, but in the hands of a clever player, it can harass enemy lightly armoured vehicles with its machine guns, then slip away before heavier tanks can engage.

Our Fox model is currently a work in progress, and the art team is busy refining its details, from the angular hull plates to the turret’s machine gun mounts, to ensure we capture the vehicle’s unique look. Once complete, the Fox will receive a full texture pass, including historically accurate markings, before it’s ready for deployment. We’re excited to bring this often-overlooked Canadian armoured car to life in Steel Aces.

Sd.Kfz. 234/2 “Puma”

The Sd.Kfz. 234/2, better known by its nickname “Puma,” was a German heavy armoured car manufactured between September 1943 and September 1944, as part of the Sd.Kfz. 234 eight-wheeled armoured vehicle series. The Puma was designed for high mobility, long-range armoured scouting, with improved capacity to engage armoured vehicles. It was lightly armoured but highly mobile, thanks to its all-wheel drive and steering, it could reach speeds of up to 90km/h on roads, an impressive feat for a 10.5-ton vehicle. One clever engineering feature was dual driver stations, one in front, one in the rear, allowing a quick escape by driving in reverse at speed.

The Puma’s most unique feature was its firepower: it mounted a turret with a high-velocity 5.0cm KwK 39/L60 cannon, a gun originally developed for a light tank project, along with a coaxial 7.92mm MG42 machine gun. This armament gave the Puma a real bite, it could threaten Allied armoured cars and even medium tanks from the flanks, a rarity for a reconnaissance vehicle. Around 100 Pumas were built, making it the best-known but also one of the scarcest variants of the Sd.Kfz. 234 series. Production was limited due to shifting priorities and the decision to simplify later 234 models with different armament.

In Steel Aces, the Puma will play as a unique reconnaissance vehicle. Players who like speed and accuracy will enjoy what the Puma offers, it’s perfect for flanking manoeuvres and hit-and-fade tactics. Armed with its 50mm cannon, the Puma can even take on enemy light tanks and weaker mediums if it catches them off-guard, all while being agile enough to get away before the enemy can react.

Our Puma in-game model is already fully modelled and textured, reflecting the real vehicle’s distinctive details. The art team has paid special attention to the running gear: the Puma’s eight-wheel suspension and unique treaded tyres are all present, contributing to an authentic look. With the model complete, the Puma is essentially game-ready and will be available for players to test. We’re eager to see Steel Aces players put the Puma through its paces.

What’s Next in Steel Aces?

That wraps up our look at the GM Fox Armoured Car and Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma – two very different approaches to armoured reconnaissance from the Second World War. Stay tuned for upcoming developer blogs, where we’ll continue to showcase more historical vehicles and behind-the-scenes development progress as we expand the game’s roster.

The Steel Aces Team