Design work began in 1942 on Archer, a self-propelled anti-tank weapon meant as a stopgap until a full-time solution could be discovered. Mounting the gigantic 17 pounder gun on the relatively tiny Valentine infantry tank chassis was difficult that the Archer's developers came across with a unique solution - setting up the weapon back-to-front, using the fighting compartment taking on the leading associated with automobile. Using armor-piercing rounds, it could defeat 192mm of armor at 914 meters, sufficient to pose ample hazard to virtually any German armor for the day. Production started in 1944, and Archers were sent to the British Army's Armoured and Infantry Divisions, who began using it from October.
