Alecto (SPG)

The Alecto was an self propelled gun developed by the British during World War II.

Alecto
TypeSelf propelled gun
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Production history
ManufacturerVickers
Specifications
Mass19,040 lb (8.64 t)
Length14 ft (4.3 m)
Width8 ft 10.5 in (2.705 m)
Height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Crew3 or 4
Armour6 - 38 mm
Main
armament
howitzer or AT gun
Secondary
armament
Vickers machine gun
EngineHenry Meadows 12-cylinder petrol engine
148 hp (110 kW)
Operational
range
125 mi (201 km)
Maximum speed 30 mph (48 km/h)

Development

In 1942 a project for a 3.75 inch (95 mm) howitzer was started. Two guns were made, and one of these was chosen for test mounting on a Harry Hopkins tank chassis. Like the Harry Hopkins, the Alecto had skid steering, which operated by bowing the tracks through lateral movements of the central road wheels. The gun was mounted in an open-topped structure. The first trials were not started until late in 1944. The trials uncovered various problems but by the time these were solved the war in Europe was over. With no prospect for use in the Far East, the project was ended.

A small number of Alecto Is were completed, some served briefly with the British Army in Germany, but only arriving in the immediate post-war period [1] and they equipped the heavy companies of at least the Kings Dragoon Guards[2] operating in the Middle East just after the end of the war[3]

Variants
  • Mk I
3.75 inch (95 mm), 20 cal howitzer
  • Mk II
QF 6 pdr gun
  • Mk III
QF 25 pounder gun-howitzer. Prototype partially completed
  • Mk IV
32pdr howitzer.
  • Alecto Dozer
Alecto dozer.
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See also

References
  1. https://britainatwar.keypublishing.com/2016/09/21/from-the-archive-alecto-oddity-in-germany
  2. https://overlord-wot.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-tiny-erinyes.html
  3. http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_alecto_self_propelled_gun.html
  • Wheels & Tracks Magazine No. 15
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