Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. The UK currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside of the EMU for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. Regional assemblies with varying degrees of power opened in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 1999. - US CIA World Factbook.

Bren Carrier with Smith Gun - This vehicle was used in small numbers by the British Home Guard between 1940 and 1941. The weapon was a Smith Gun. The Smith Gun was a rather primative smooth bore 3" weapon. The vehicle never saw combat.---Loyd 2pdr AT---Loyd Carrier 25pdr Howitzer

Loyd Carrier 2pdr AT---Loyd Carrier AA---Loyd Carrier AA prototype---Praying Mantis - This was a remote controlled vehicle mounting 2 Bren Guns.
Universal Carrier SPG

During the dark days of 1940, there was a severe shortage of armored vehicles and all sorts of vehicles were made and tested to fill the gap.

Bishop
Bishop

Birmingham Carriage & Wagon was asked in June 1941 to develop a SPG using a Valentine chassis. The pilot was produced and ready for trials in August 1941. An order for 100 vehicles was given in November 1941 with a promise of 200 more. However, the British Tank Mission to the USA noted that the M7 Howitzer Motor Carriage was a superior vehicle and further orders were nullified. In July 1942, with 80 of the first 100 already built and British fortunes at their lowest ebb, a new order arrived for 50 more. The vehicle was considered unsophisticated and a disadvantage due to it's high silhouette.

Specifications
Crew 4
Weight 39,000lbs
Length 18' 2"
Width 8' 7.5"
Height 9' 3"
Armor 8 - 60mm
Powerplant AEC 131hp Diesel
Armament 1 x 25pdr 1 x .303 Bren MG
Performance 15mph
Range 90 miles

Archer---Archer---Archer Diagram
Archer

Design of the 17pdr as a high velocity anti-tank weapon comparable in hitting power to the Germaqn 88mm gun began in the fall of 1941. It was approved for production in mid 1942 and consideration was given to fitting it in tanks. Consideration was also given to the Bishop, but this was ruled out due to the vehicles high silhouette. The Crusader was ruled out as being too small and underpowered to take the mounting which left the Valentine as the only available alternative existing in quantity. The Ministry of Supply asked Vickers to design an entirely new SPG vehicle based on the Valentine. Work started in July 1942 and the pilot was ready for trials in March 1943. Named Archer, the SP was a low, open topped vehicle with a radical twist - the gun had a limited traverse and always pointed to the rear. The first production model was completed in March 1944 and used in North West Europe. What was at first considered to be only a temporary fix turned into a great success. A total of 665 of these hard hitting and trusty tanks were built out of an original order of 800 and remained in British inventory well into the 1950s.

Specifications
Crew 4
Weight 36,960lbs
Length 21' 11.25"
Width 8' 7.5"
Height 7' 4.5"
Armor 8 - 60mm
Powerplant GMC 165hp Diesel
Armament 1 x 95mm or 6pdr, or 25pdr.
Performance 15mph
Range 90 miles

Churchill 3in. Gun Carrier
Churchill 3" Gun Carrier, A22D

In September 1941, the General Staff asked the Tank Board to investigate the possiblility of producing cruiser and infantry tanks mounting large calibre high velocity guns specifically for engaging the largest German tanks. To fulfil the cruiser tank requirement the Challenger was subsequently developed with the 17pdr gun. FOr the infantry tank requirement it was proposed to fit a 3" AA gun in a limited traverse mount on a Churchill chassis. These weapons were available having been replaced in AA units by the 3.7" gun. A hundred vehicles were provisionally envisaged, but in December 1941 it was decided that all Chruchill production would be needed for gun tanks, fitted with the 6pdr. The order was reduced to 24. The pilot was ready in February 1942. These vehicles never saw action. Most were converted to carry Snake mine clearing equipment and used for trials and training.

Alecto I 95mm---Alecto II 6 pounder---Alecto III 25 pounder
Vickers Alecto

Basically a Harry Hopkins with the turret removed and the superstructure slightly modified. Only pilot and development vehicles were produced. Upon historical reflection, this tank would have been a deathtrap as SPGs tended to draw all sorts of unwanted attention on the battlefiled and the armor was too thin to stop even a simple rifle bullet.

Specifications
Crew 3
Weight 19,040lbs
Length 14'
Width 8' 10.5"
Height 6' 11"
Armor 6 - 38mm
Powerplant Meadows 12 cylinder 148hp
Armament 1 x 95mm or 6pdr, or 25pdr.
Performance 30mph
Range 125 miles

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Last Update: Thursday, February 13, 2003