Gun Carrier Mark I
The Gun Carrier Mark I was a British vehicle of the First World War. The gun carrier was designed to transport a 6-inch howitzer or a 60-pounder gun forward soon after an attack to support infantry in advanced positions. Gun carriers were first used in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge (31 July – 2 August 1917) during the Third Battle of Ypres (31 July – 10 November 1917). The carriers moved guns and equipment but were used for the rest of the war mainly for carrying equipment and supplies through areas under fire, where porters in the open would have suffered many casualties. The 6-inch howitzer could be fired while mounted, making the Gun Carrier Mark I the first modern self-propelled gun, a weapon capable of independent action and having tactical mobility on the battlefield.
| Gun Carrier Mark I | |
|---|---|
British Gun Carrier Mark I carrying a 60-pounder gun | |
| Type | Self-propelled artillery |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| Used by | UK |
| Wars | First World War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | July 1916 |
| Manufacturer | Kitson & Co. |
| Produced | July 1917 – March 1918 |
| No. built | 48 |
| Variants | Gun Carrier Crane, Gun Carrier Mark II (projected) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 27 long tons (27 t) unloaded 34 long tons (35 t) maximum |
| Length | 30 ft (9.1 m) 43 ft (13 m) with gun and tail |
| Width | 11 ft (3 m) |
| Height | 9 ft 4 in (3 m) |
| Crew | 4 + 8-man gun crew |
Main armament | 60-pounder gun or 6-inch howitzer |
Secondary armament | 1 machine-gun |
| Engine | Daimler petrol engine 105 hp (78 kW) |
| Power/weight | 3.9 hp per ton |
| Payload capacity | 7 long tons (7.1 t) |
| Transmission | primary gearbox: 2 forward, 1 reverse secondary: 2 speeds |
| Suspension | Unsprung |
Operational range | 23.5 mi (37.8 km) |
| Maximum speed | 3.7 mph (6.0 km/h) |