- Gun Carrier Mark I
Infobox Weapon
name= Gun Carrier Mark I
caption= British "Gun Carrier Mark I" fitted with a 60-pounder gun
origin= flagcountry|UK
type=Self-propelled artillery
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=
is_vehicle=yes
is_missile=
is_UK=yes
service=
used_by= UK
wars=World War I
designer=
design_date= July 1916
manufacturer=Kitson & Co.
unit_cost=
production_date= June - July, 1917
number= 48
variants= Gun Carrier Crane, Gun Carrier Mark II (project only)
weight=
length=
part_length=
width=
height=
diameter=
crew= 4 + gun crew
armour=
primary_armament=60-pounder field gun or 6-inchhowitzer
secondary_armament=
engine= Daimler petrol engine
engine_power= 105 hp
transmission=
payload_capacity=
fuel_capacity=
pw_ratio=
suspension= Unsprung
clearance=
vehicle_range=
speed=
guidance=The Gun Carrier Mark I was the first piece of
self-propelled artillery ever to be produced, a British development from theFirst World War .Development
During 1916 it became clear that in case of a breakthrough, the very purpose of the first tank, the Mark I,
artillery would have great trouble following the advancing troops. Any successful offensive would therefore be in danger of stalling immediately. To solve this problem Major Gregg, an engineer working for the main tank producing companyMetropolitan, Carriage, Wagon and Finance , proposed to build special mechanised artillery, using parts of the Mark I. The production of a prototype was approved on5 June 1916 ; the actual design began in July. The first prototype was ready to participate in the Tank Trials Day atOldbury on3 March 1917 . An order of fifty vehicles was given toKitson & Co. inLeeds . Deliveries to the army started in June and ended in July.Description
The vehicle bore little resemblance to the Mark I. The tracks weren't tall but low, almost flat. At the back a rectangular superstructure covered the Daimler 105 hp engine together with the transmission of the Mark I, the latter now in a reversed position. Sharing it were the vehicle commander, a mechanic and two gearsmen. The original double tail wheel of the Mark I, intended to aid steering and attached to the rear of the vehicle, was retained. The front was an open area with either a
60-pounder (5-inch) field gun or a 6-inch howitzer.For transporting the gun only the wheels had to be removed from the gun carriage - these were attached to the side of the carrier until needed again. In theory, the field gun could be fired from the vehicle; in reality only the howitzer could be so used. Alternatively the guns could be unloaded through a pivoting cradle assisted by two winding drums driven by the engine. Above the front of the track frame at each side was an armoured cab for the driver on the left and the brakesman on the right. In the prototype these driving positions were directly in front of the superstructure; moving them forward improved visibility, but made communication very difficult - a problem as, in the Mark I, four men (including the gearsmen) had to cooperate to steer the tank.
Operational history
In July 1917 two Gun Carrier Companies were formed of 24 vehicles each. Probably none of them ever fired a shot in anger. As breakthroughs never materialised the vehicles were in the end used only as supply tanks. It was calculated a single tank had the same carrying capacity as 291 human porters.
Variants
Two vehicles out of the order of fifty were finished as Gun Carrier Cranes, salvage tanks with a hand-operated crane in the front. The forward cabs were absent.
There was a project for a Gun Carrier Mark II. Early in 1917 a wooden mock-up was made of an improved type, carrying the gun at the back. A real prototype was partly built, but never finished, the sole result of the project being that the original type is now known as the Gun Carrier "Mark I".
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