Post by Diarist on Jul 22, 2015 14:35:21 GMT 1
Today a team headed by MG Fuller visited the Armaments Division of Vickers-Armstrong in order to evaluate their latest designs. Production of Mark E is gearing up fine but their medium tanks are abysmal. The A9 is lightly-armoured with three turrets and a QF 2-pounder main gun. The A10 has more armour and a single turret fitted with the same main gun. Both tanks use a 150 hp petrol engine which is totally inadequate - max. 8 mph cross-country speed. An ideal tank for MoD but not for us.
This afternoon we recommended to General Gort that the A9 be abandoned completely and the A10 chassis be used as the basis of an Infantry Support Vehicle, (ISV). Either the QF 18-pounder or the re-chambered 75mm version could be fitted into a turret-less A10 chassis. It could used in the direct-fire role as a bunker-buster in addition to the traditional artillery role. An armour-piercing anti-tank round could also be developed. Since we have a chassis and the guns we could commence production very quickly and start fielding the ISV before the end of the year. In the meantime we continue the design and development of a Christie-suspension tank with the 6-pounder as its main armament.
A10 Infantry Support Vehicle
This afternoon we recommended to General Gort that the A9 be abandoned completely and the A10 chassis be used as the basis of an Infantry Support Vehicle, (ISV). Either the QF 18-pounder or the re-chambered 75mm version could be fitted into a turret-less A10 chassis. It could used in the direct-fire role as a bunker-buster in addition to the traditional artillery role. An armour-piercing anti-tank round could also be developed. Since we have a chassis and the guns we could commence production very quickly and start fielding the ISV before the end of the year. In the meantime we continue the design and development of a Christie-suspension tank with the 6-pounder as its main armament.
A10 Infantry Support Vehicle