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SP 17pdr, Valentine, Mk I, Archer
SP 17pdr, Valentine, Mk I, Archer front (and direction of driving) to left, engine to right
Type	self-propelled anti-tank gun
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	October 1944 - ? (UK)
Used by	United Kingdom, Egypt
Wars	World War II, Suez Crisis
Production history
Produced	1943 - 1945
Number built	655
Specifications
Weight	15 tonnes
Length	6.7 m
Width	2.76 m
Height	2.25 m
Crew	4 (Commander, gunner, loader, driver)
Armour	60 mm max
Primary armament	QF 17 pounder (76.2 mm) gun 39 rounds
Secondary armament	.303 Bren
Engine	GMC 6-71 6-cyl diesel 192 hp
Suspension	coil spring bogie
Operational range	200
Speed	20 mph (off road: 8 mph)

The SP 17pdr, Valentine, Mk I, Archer was a British tank destroyer used during World War II based on the Valentine chassis.

With the development of the 17 pounder anti-tank gun, the need arose for it to be mounted on a combat vehicle. The Valentine chassis was soon chosen for this role, as it was in production but rapidly becoming obsolete as a tank. It was also one of the few chassis that could accommodate such a large gun.

The Valentine had a relatively small hull and it was not possible to use a turret. Instead a simple armoured open-top box surrounded the gun. The gun was mounted facing over the rear of the hull which kept the overall vehicle length short. This configuration meant that the driver could not occupy his seat when the gun was fired since the breech recoiled into where his head would be.

The rear mounting at first seemed like a liability, but it was soon made into an advantage. Combined with its low silhouette, the Archer made an excellent ambush weapon, allowing its crew to fire off a few shots, then drive away without wasting time turning around.

Production started in mid 1943 and the Archer began to be issued in October 1944, and saw combat in the Western Front and the Italian Campaign. By the end of the war, 655 of them had been produced. The Archer was classified as a self-propelled gun and as such was operated by the Royal Artillery (RA) rather than a Cavalry or tank regiment. The 3in SP, Wolverine/17pdr SP. Achilles in British service was also operated by RA units.

Post war the Archer served with the Egyptian Army.

Surviving vehicles are preserved at the Yad la-Shiryon Museum, Israel, and the Bovington Tank Museum, England.

This Archer tank destroyer was used by the Egyptian Army in the defence of Abu-Ageila during the Suez Crisis (1956).

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Archer tank destroyer

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v • d • e	British Commonwealth armoured fighting vehicles of World War II

v • d • e Tanks
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British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II

British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II