Скачать или смотреть Germany Stunned by British Archer Tank Destroyer—Killed While Driving Away

Few weapons in World War II looked stranger—or proved deadlier—than the British Archer tank destroyer. Built on the chassis of the Valentine tank, it mounted the powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun, the same weapon that could pierce a Tiger’s front armor. But the real surprise was its layout: the gun pointed to the rear. This meant the Archer could fire, then immediately drive forward to cover—retreating while still facing the enemy. On the battlefields of Italy and Northwest Europe, this odd design turned into a lethal advantage. Crews didn’t waste seconds turning around; they struck from ambush, fired once, and vanished before German gunners could react.

Deployed with British, Canadian, and Polish units from 1944 onward, the Archer combined stealth, firepower, and speed in a way no German tank destroyer could match. Its low silhouette made it almost invisible in hedgerows and rubble. German armor columns often found themselves burning before realizing what had hit them. Cheap to build, easy to conceal, and impossible to chase, the Archer proved that Britain’s best tank killer wasn’t a tank at all—it was a self-propelled ambusher that killed while driving away.