Military Vehicles

The Birch Gun Mk II was the world’s first effective example of self-propelled artillery.

It was named after General Sir Noel Birch, Master General of the Ordnance, and it emerged from the Woolwich Arsenal as an experimental model in 1925.

The Birch Gun consisted of an unmodified Vickers medium tank chassis on which was mounted on 18-pounder (83.8mm/3.3in) field gun.

A second version the MK II of 1926, featured better elevation for the gun, allowing it to engage either ground or aerial target.

British high command response to the Birch Gun was not favourable mainly from prejudice rather than reasoned complaint, and after a third version in 1928, the project was abandoned.

Country of Origin    :United Kingdom
Crew                     :6
Weight                  :12,000kg (26,500lb)
Dimension              :Length: 5.8m(19ft); width: 2.4m(7.9ft); height 2.3m(7.6ft)
Range                    :192km (119miles)
Armour                 :6mm (0.24in)
Armament             :1 x 75mm (2.95in) gun
Powerplant          :1 x Armstrong- Siddeley 8-cylinder petrol, developing 90hp (67kW)
Performance         :Maximum road speed: 45km/h (28mph);