Artillery in Canada: 17-pounder Archer self-propelled gun
17-pounder Archer self-propelled gun
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3204488)
Archer SP 17-pounder AT Gun, passing in review during the Farewell marchpast of the First Canadian Division, 10 June 1945.
The Self Propelled 17-pounder, Valentine, Mk I, Archer was a British self propelled anti-tank gun in service during the Second World War. It was based on the Valentine infantry tank chassis and fitted with an Ordnance QF 17 pounder gun. Designed and manufactured by Vickers-Armstrongs, 655 were produced between March 1943 and May 1945. It was used in North-West Europe and Italy during the war. This vehicle was unusual in that its gun faced the rear of the chassis instead of the front.
The 17 pounder anti-tank gun was very powerful but also very large and heavy and could be moved about the battlefield only by a vehicle, which made the gun more effective in defence than in the attack. The Valentine chassis was chosen, as it was in production but obsolescent for British use and was also one of the few chassis that could accommodate such a large gun. The engine in the Archer had a higher power rating than in the Valentine. Since the Valentine had a small hull and it was not possible to use a turret, the gun was mounted in a simple, low, open-topped armoured box, very much like the early Panzerjäger German self-propelled guns in appearance, with the gun facing to the rear, which kept the length of the Archer short. The mounting allowed for 11 degrees of traverse to either side, with elevation from -7.5 to +15 degrees.
On firing, the gun breech recoiled just shy of the driver's space, with the driver staying in position, in case the vehicle needed to move quickly. The rear mounting combined with its low silhouette made the Archer an excellent ambush weapon, allowing its crew to fire, then drive away without turning round. The first prototype was completed in 1943, with firing trials carried out in April 1943. Vickers were given orders for 800 vehicles. Production started in mid-1943 and the Archer entered service in October 1944. It was used in North-West Europe and (in 1945) in Italy.
Under military doctrines prevalent in Commonwealth armies at the time, vehicles such as the Archer were "self-propelled anti-tank guns" and operated by the Royal Artillery (RA), and RCA, rather than Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) and RCAC. (Wikipedia)
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3563575)
Archer SP 17-pounder AT Guns, 2nd AT Regt, RCA, 2 Cdn Div, Oldenburg, Germany, 15 May 1945.
(DND Photo via Reitze Bierma)
Archer SP 17-pounder AT Guns, 3rd AT Regt, RCA, Leeuwarden. Second Canadian Division was advancing in parallel with the Third to Groningen, which it liberated 0n 13 to 16 April before it moved into Germany near Oldenburg. The Third Division, after reaching Leeuwarden and Harlingen, then moved into Groningen behind the Second Division before crossing into Germany in the area of Leer and beyond in late April until the end of the war.
(DND Photo via Reitze Bierma)
Archer SP 17-pounder AT Guns, 3rd AT Regt, RCA, Third Canadian Division.
(DND Photo via Reitze Bierma)
Archer SP 17-pounder AT Guns, 3rd AT Regt, RCA, Third Canadian Division.
(DND Photo via Reitze Bierma)
Archer SP 17-pounder AT Guns, 3rd AT Regt, RCA, Third Canadian Division.
(DND Photo via Reitze Bierma)
Archer SP 17-pounder AT Guns, 3rd AT Regt, RCA, Third Canadian Division.
