British armored cars set out on a reconnaissance mission in the Somme region. With the fighting leaving the trenches mobility became more and more essential. Austin Armored Car was a British armored car produced during WWI. The vehicle, known as Austin 1st series, was based on a passenger car chassis with rear axle drive. Wheels were wooden, spoked, with pneumatic tires and an additional set of wheels with full rubber tires for use in combat was carried. Two Maxim machine guns were mounted in separate turrets placed on both sides of the hull behind the driver's cab. The vehicle was protected by armor plates 3.5-4 mm thick screwed to a body frame. The crew of four (commander, driver and two gunners) could enter or leave the vehicle by a door on the left side of the cab or by the big two leaf rear door. The Battle of the Somme was a battle of WWI fought by the armies of the British and French empires against the German Empire. It took place between July 1 and November 18, 1916 on either side of the River Somme in France. The battle was one of the largest of World War I, in which more than 1,000,000 men were wounded or killed, making it one of humanity's bloodiest battles. The battle is notable for the importance of air power and the first use of the tank. At the end of the battle, British and French forces had penetrated 6 miles into German-occupied territory, taking more ground than any offensive since the Battle of the Marne in 1914.