Archer
(BR157)
includes one Archer self-propelled gun with crew.
The 17pdr was the most effective anti-tank weapon in the British arsenal during World War Two; but mounting a gun of this size proved challenging for design engineers. While their subsequent work would later lead to the development of the Sherman Firefly and the Challenger series of tanks, the Ministry of Supply commissioned Vickers in July 1942 to develop a self-propelled version of the 17pdr using the chassis of the Valentine.
The resulting vehicle, known as the Archer was basically a Valentine chassis fitted with an open topped superstructure mounted above the fighting compartment much like the German Marder series of tank destroyers. The 17pdr was then mounted in a unique way, pointing to the rear of the vehicle. Despite the size of the 17pdr, the final design resulted in a relatively compact vehicle with a low profile.
The Archer in Flames Of War
Archer
Mobility: Slow tank
Armour Front: 1
Armour Side: 1
Armour Top: 0
AA MG, Awkward layout
Weapon: OQF 17pdr gun (late)
Range: 32”/80cm
Rate of Fire: 2
Anti-tank:15
Firepower: 3+
Hull-mounted, No HE
After successful trails, the vehicle was put into production with the first models rolling off the production line in March 1944; reaching European battlefields in October. Despite the unusual gun arrangement, crews quickly learnt to adapt. Its low profile meant it was difficult to spot making it ideal for ambushing enemy tanks while the penetrating power of the 17pdr gave the British potent first shot, first kill weapon.
Hull-mounted Guns
Some tanks mount weapons in the front of the hull instead of in a turret to save weight or to make them easier to produce.
A hull-mounted weapon mounted in the front of a vehicle has a 180-degree Field of Fire covering everything in front of a line drawn across the front of the vehicle. If the weapon is mounted at the rear of the vehicle, the Field of Fire covers everything to the rear of a line drawn across the rear of the vehicle.
However, the Archer was not without its drawbacks. When fired, the gun would recoil into the driver’s position which meant the driver would have to vacate the vehicle during an exchange. The limited transverse of the gun further compounding this problem, as the vehicle had to pointing in the direction of the oncoming enemy to be effective. Finally, the open topped fighting compartment was only lightly armoured and left the crew exposed to artillery and small arms fire. Despite these limitations, the Archer provided an effective weapons platform for the 17pdr till the end of the war in Europe.
Awkward Layout
Some tank designs have such an awkward internal layout that it is difficult for the crew to fire on the move. In the Archer, for example, the gun recoils into the driver’s position, requiring them to vacate before firing.
Tank teams cannot shoot any weapons with Awkward Layout in their own Shooting Step if they move in the Movement Step. They may still shoot at Aircraft in the enemy’s Shooting Step (see page 181 of the rulebook).
No HE
Some weapons come equipped only with armour-piercing ammunition, and have no high explosive ammunition at all, reducing their effectiveness against infantry and ‘soft’ targets.
Hits from weapons with No HE cannot be allocated to Infantry or Gun teams. If only Infantry and Gun teams
are valid targets, all hits from weapons with No HE are ignored completely as the anti-tank gun has no targets.
Gun teams with No HE are not completely helpless against Infantry teams though as they can shoot as Rifle teams if necessary (see page 117 of the rulebook).
Description of Components
1x Left-hand side track.
1x Right-hand side track.
1x 17pdr gun barrel.
1x Crew figure A.
1x Crew figure B.
1x Crew figure C.
1x Resin Archer hull.
Product safety information
Manufacturer information:
Battlefront Miniatures Europe Ltd
Tissington Close Unit 4C
Nottingham, Vereinigtes Königreich, NG9 6QG
customerservicerow@battlefront.co.nz
https://www.flamesofwar.com/
Responsible person:
Frontline Games
Faerbereiweg 3A
Schleswig-Holstein
Huetten, Deutschland, 24358
info@frontlinegames.de
https://www.frontlinegames.de/
