Alecto

Alecto
Type	self propelled gun
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Production history
Manufacturer	Vickers
Specifications
Weight	19,040 lb
Length	14 ft
Width	8 ft 10.5 in
Height	6 ft 11 in
Crew	3/4
Armour	6 - 38 mm
Primary armament	see text
Secondary armament	see text
Engine	Meadows 12 cylinder 148 hp ( kW)
Power/weight	hp/tonne
Operational range	125 miles
Speed	30 mph

The Alecto was an experimental self propelled gun developed by the British during the Second World War but terminated with the end of the war in Europe.

Development

A project for a 3.75 inch (95 mm) howitzer was started in 1942. 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 facing to the rear. 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.

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.

See also

• Light Tank Mk VII Tetrach
• Light Tank Mk VIII Harry Hopkins

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Alecto self-propelled gun

• Harry Hopkins and Alecto at ww2photo.mimerswell.com
• HenkOfHolland
• Forum posts by veteran detailing wartime and postwar service use of the Alecto, accompanied by photographs.

	British Commonwealth armoured fighting vehicles of World War II

Tanks
Light tanks	Vickers 6-Ton • Mk II • Mk III • Mk IV • Mk V • Mk VI • Mk VII Tetrarch
Cruiser tanks	Mk I • Mk II • Mk III • Mk IV • Mk V Covenanter • Mk VI Crusader • Mk VII Cavalier Mk VIII Centaur • Mk VIII Cromwell • Challenger • Comet • Sherman Firefly • Ram (Canada) • Sentinel (Australia)
Infantry tanks	Mk I Matilda • Mk II Matilda • Mk III Valentine • Mk IV Churchill

Self-propelled artillery
Bishop • Sexton • Deacon • Archer

Armoured personnel carriers
Universal Carrier • Loyd Carrier • Kangaroo • Terrapin

Scout Cars and Armoured cars
Scout Cars	Daimler Dingo • Dingo Scout Car (Australia) • Humber Scout Car • Lynx Scout Car (Canada) • S1 Scout Car (Australia)
Light Reconnaissance Cars	Humber LRC • Morris LRC • Otter LRC (Canada)
Armoured Cars	AEC Armoured Car • Coventry Armoured Car • Daimler Armoured Car • Fox Armoured Car (Canada) • Guy Armoured Car • Humber Armoured Car • Lanchester Armoured Car • Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car (South Africa) • Morris CS9 • Rhino Heavy Armoured Car (Australia) • Rolls-Royce Armoured Car • Rover Light Armoured Car (Australia) • Standard Beaverette • Armoured Carrier Wheeled Indian Pattern (India)
Armoured Trucks	Bedford OXA • C15TA Armoured Truck (Canada)
Armoured Command Vehicles	AEC ACV • Guy Lizard ACV

Experimental vehicles
Avenger • Black Prince • Centurion • Excelsior • TOG 1 • TOG 2 • Tortoise • Valiant • Harry Hopkins • Alecto • Thornycroft Bison

Unarmoured vehicles
Artillery tractors	AEC Matador • Morris C8 Quad • Scammell Pioneer • Canadian Military Pattern
Trucks and lorries	Bedford QLD • Austin K2 • Morris 15 cwt
Tank transporters	Diamond T tank transporter • Scammell Pioneer Semi-trailer
Utility and cars	Car, Heavy Utility 4x2 Ford C11 • Car, Light Utility ("Tilly") • Car, 4-Seater 4x2
British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II

British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II

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