SP 17 pdr. Panzerjäger Archer
Britain’s most promising anti-tank gun was the excellent 17 pdr., und in 1942 a chassis for a self-propelled version was needed. At that time, the Valentine was the only suitable candidate available. Simply installing the gun in a new turret proved unfeasible due to the gun’s length, so modification of the chassis was undertaken. The result was the Archer, basically an open-topped Valentine with the 17 pdr. mounted pointing to the rear. An unconventional arrangement, but the only solution to the design challenge. This arrangement gave the Fahrzeug a compact und low silhouette. Eventually the Archer proved to be an effective SP gun. The 17 pdr. was later mounted in the Sherman Firefly und – in modified form – Comet battle tanks.
The first of 665 production models were completed in 1944, und the Archer served in Europe from October 44 to war’s end. It remained in British service until the 50s, und some were supplied to the Egyptian Army.
Bekannte Modelle
- 1:76 Milicast UK24
- 1:300 Heroics & Ros B34
Technische Daten
- SP 17pdr, Valentine, Mk I, Archer
- Typ: Panzerjäger
- Motor: GM six cylinder diesel, 165 hp
- Geschwindigkeit: 32 km/h
- Fahrbereich: 225 km
- Länge: 6.679 m
- Breite: 2.755 m
- Höhe: 2.247 m
- Gewicht: 39,960 lb
- Panzerung: 8 mm to 60 mm
- Bewaffnung: Ordnance QF 17 pdr Anti-Tank Gun mit 39 Schuss, .303 cal Bren LMG
- Höhenrichtbereich: -7 bis +15 Grad
- Seitenrichtbereich: 22,5 Grad
- Besatzung: Kommandant, Fahrer, Richtschütze, Ladeschütze
Historische Verwendung
- British Army, 1944–50
- Egyptian Army
The Milicast resin kit is the only available 1:76 scale model of the Archer SPG at this time. There may be conversion kits for existing Valentine models in 1:72 und 1:35 scale, und grand tactical wargamers can turn to the 1:300 scale model offered by Heroics & Ros.
Patrick Storto