WesWorld

A look ahead to see what new equipment the British Army will be introducing during 1943.

Alecto (A22) III
A mobile 25 pdr field howitzer mounted low in a Mk VII hull with an open top. Four crewmen are carried and the engine and armour is unchanged. The overall chassis and concept is identical to the 6pdr Anti-Tank Alecto I and the 3.7in Mortar QF Mk II (howitzer) Alecto II introduced in previous years.


Field Artillery Tractor 4x4 Guy ‘Quad’ Ant
This is a four wheel drive variant of the Guy Ant which will enter service from 1943 in GS (truck), tractor, fuel bowser and wireless truck variants.

Lorry 10 tons 6x4 Class
Leyland have developed a new lorry based on the Leyland Retriever to be used as a lorry, command vehicle and mobile workshop. Called Hippo it will enter service in 1943 with an open cab with canvas tilt and fixed windscreen. It is powered by a 100hp Leyland Type L 6-cyl diesel engine.

Ordnance QF 3.7in Mk V
This is the latest version of this Anti-Aircraft gun which first entered service in 1937. The Mk V was developed by Colonel Probert with longer barrel with graduated rifling, the rifling decreased to zero over the last five calibres of the barrel to wear the driving band of the shell smooth and flush to enable a ceiling of 50,000ft to be attained. Static mount only on a totally new carriage derived from a naval 4.5in mount.

Ordnance QF 6pdr Mk VIII
This semi-automatic AA gun is produced in single mounts for the Army and semi-automatic twin mounts for the Navy. The new Mk VIII has an improved feed and new sights and altered recoil system.


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New Weapons entering intial design and/or development during 1943;

A33 Light Tank: Design by Vickers for a light tank with a weight of 21 tons, crew of three and to be powered by an Orenda 400hp Ursa Minor engine.

A27 Cruiser Tank: Vauxhall design for a longer Cromwell chassis with new cast turret designed by Vauxhall.

A28 Cruiser Tank: Longer and wider Cromwell-type with thicker armour and new suspension. Design being undertaken by Leyland.

A31 Carrier Anti-Tank Mk I: Comet chassis with a new open-roof turret with a 77mm 17pdr gun to serve with RA SP units. Design being undertaken by Leyland.

Armoured Engineer Chassis A26: Under design by Vauxhall based on an enlarged version of the A23 chassis, which was unsuccessful tender for an Infantry Tank last year.

Coventry Armoured Car: Development undertaken by the Rootes concern, Humber designing the hull, Commer the transmission and Daimler the suspension and steering. A 160hp Rolls-Royce B60 petrol engine will be fitted and the armament comprises a 6pdr gun and co-axial MG.

Carrier Tracked No.2 Mk I: Designed by the Armoured Vehicle Research and Development Establishment using the suspension of the Carrier Tracked No.1 series but with a new hull a with double-plate floor for increased mine protection, new front hull with periscopes for the driver and commander, automatic transmission with controlled differential steering and armoured plates protecting the upper track section. Armour is 20-8mm thick and an 110hp Bedford petrol offers a maximum speed of 31mph and a range of 125 miles. Four to six infantry can be carried and it can tow anti-tank guns and light field artillery. Radio equipment to be carried and one Vickers ‘K’ LMG.