Deacon (artillery)
Encyclopedia
The AEC Mk I Gun Carrier, known as Deacon, was a British
armoured fighting vehicle
of the Second World War. It was an attempt to make the QF 6 pounder
anti-tank gun into a self-propelled artillery
piece. It was employed only during the North African Campaign
(1942-1943).
units in North Africa with a mobile anti-tank weapon. It can be seen as a development of the practice of carrying smaller artillery pieces en portee
- sitting on the back of trucks. This meant the artillery could quickly move albeit with some loss of traverse. The basis of the Deacon Gun Carrier was an AEC Matador
truck chassis. On the flat bed at the rear of the chassis a 6-pounder gun with enclosed armoured shield was mounted. The gunner and loader operated the gun from within the shield. The conventional cab was replaced with a boxy armoured construction that covered the engine and the drivers position. Production started in December 1942 and a total of 175 units were built.
armoured vehicles in North Africa, an environment in which wheeled vehicles were as manoeuvrable as tanks. They are credited with action at El Hamma
where the 76th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
were victors in a battle against a German force that included Panzer III
tanks. They were withdrawn after the end of the campaign. Some were converted to armoured ammunition carriers. Eventually some vehicles were sold to Turkey
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
armoured fighting vehicle
Armoured fighting vehicle
An armoured fighting vehicle is a combat vehicle, protected by strong armour and armed with weapons. AFVs can be wheeled or tracked....
of the Second World War. It was an attempt to make the QF 6 pounder
Ordnance QF 6 pounder
The Ordnance Quick-Firing 6-pounder 7 cwt, or just 6 pounder, was a British 57 mm gun, their primary anti-tank gun during the middle of World War II, as well as the main armament for a number of armoured fighting vehicles...
anti-tank gun into a self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery
Self-propelled artillery vehicles are combat vehicles armed with artillery. Within the term are covered self-propelled guns and rocket artillery...
piece. It was employed only during the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
(1942-1943).
History
The Deacon, fitting in with the style of naming self-propelled artillery after ecclesiastical titles, was developed in 1942 to provide British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
units in North Africa with a mobile anti-tank weapon. It can be seen as a development of the practice of carrying smaller artillery pieces en portee
Portee
A portee is a truck that carries a gun on its bed, such that the gun is not affixed permanently to the vehicle, can be quickly unloaded, and can be fired from the truck....
- sitting on the back of trucks. This meant the artillery could quickly move albeit with some loss of traverse. The basis of the Deacon Gun Carrier was an AEC Matador
AEC Matador
The AEC Matador was an artillery tractor built by the Associated Equipment Company for British and Commonwealth forces during the Second World War.AEC had already built a 4 x 2 lorry, also known as the Matador ....
truck chassis. On the flat bed at the rear of the chassis a 6-pounder gun with enclosed armoured shield was mounted. The gunner and loader operated the gun from within the shield. The conventional cab was replaced with a boxy armoured construction that covered the engine and the drivers position. Production started in December 1942 and a total of 175 units were built.
Combat Service
The Deacon was used against GermanNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
armoured vehicles in North Africa, an environment in which wheeled vehicles were as manoeuvrable as tanks. They are credited with action at El Hamma
El Hamma
El Hamma is an oasis town located in the Gabès Governorate, 30 kilometers west of Gabès, Tunisia. Its population in 2004 was 34,835....
where the 76th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
were victors in a battle against a German force that included Panzer III
Panzer III
Panzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III translating as "armoured battle vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and...
tanks. They were withdrawn after the end of the campaign. Some were converted to armoured ammunition carriers. Eventually some vehicles were sold to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
