Alecto (SPG)

Alecto
Type	Self propelled gun
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Production history
Manufacturer	Vickers
Specifications
Weight	19,040 lb (8.64 t)
Length	14 ft (4.3 m)
Width	8 ft 10.5 in (2.705 m)
Height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Crew	3 or 4
Armour	6 - 38 mm
Main armament	howitzer or AT gun
Secondary armament	Vickers machine gun
Engine	Meadows 12-cylinder petrol engine 148 hp (110 kW)
Operational range	125 mi (201 km)
Speed	30 mph (48 km/h)

The Alecto was an experimental self propelled gun developed by the British during the Second World War but terminated with the end of the war in Europe.

In 1942 a project for a 3.75 inch (95 mm) howitzer was started. Two guns were made, and one of these was chosen for test mounting on a Harry Hopkins tank chassis. Like the Harry Hopkins, the Alecto had skid steering, which operated by bowing the tracks through lateral movements of the central road wheels. The gun was mounted in an open-topped structure. The first trials were not started until late in 1944. The trials uncovered various problems but by the time these were solved the war in Europe was over. With no prospect for use in the Far East, the project was ended.