Talk:Alecto (SPG)

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King's Dragoon Guards

In the past I have seen some mention on forums by an ex-tankie who served with the KDG.

   'The 1st Kings Dragoon Guards decided in the Western Desert that they needed an SP troop to back up their armoured cars. I believe they received their Alectos in Palestine in early 46 and I had them in Barce (Libya). I know we left them to the 13/18th. Hussars there in early 48 and later were handed over to the 16/5th. Lancers, I guess they were left in Libya, but I have never tracked them down after that, I must have a word with Mr.Gaddafi!!! I do have manual details and pics of the Alecto but probably not good enough to post.The photo below are them at Barce 47/48.

The hard to see pic is from Regimental Journal Jan.47. with two Gun Troop pics.'

     '1st.KDG had Gun Troop in the desert and in Italy to support the armoured cars. Marmons originally. The original Gun Sqd. had French 75mm's mounted in halftracks...They are in fact Alectos of [C Sqn of] the 1st.KDG in the Sea of Gallalee in 47..... Had very loose tracks that steered by wheel movement, came off easily as did the one pictured in Lake Gallalee, had to have LAD tow out.... Been trying for years to see what happened to these unique vehicles, we left them to 13th/18th. at Barce, who left them to 16th/5th Lancers, I suppose Mr Gadaffi got em in the end.... The Alecto's came in early 46 in Palestine, take it from me we had them in service......  I'll find out some pics from our Regt. Magazine of the Alecto's firing a salute for some dignitary....'

The photos seem to have disappeared, though. Hopefully one day more detail will appear in print. Keith H99 (talk) 12:52, 5 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Skid steering

Seriously? ALL tracked vehicles have skid steering, it is the only way to steer with conventional tracks. Why do you think it is called skid steering? Because it involves applying the brake on one side, and forcibly skidding the wheels or tracks onto a new course. The name skid steering is most associated with wheeled vehicles, which are more commonly able to steer conventionally. The fact that this vehicle actually has steerable tracks means they were attempting to design an AFV that didn't use skid steering, which could actually be steered like a wheeled vehicle. I'm going to assume that whoever wrote this has confused turn-in-place ability with the term 'skid steer'. They are not the same thing.

64.223.159.140 (talk) 08:38, 22 April 2021 (UTC)[reply]

The specificity of the Alecto (and the Mk VIII and the Tetrarch before that) is not the ability to neutral turn (which they could not do), but that the tracks bend for regular steering, a bit like the Universal Carrier. That said, I fully agree calling it Skid Steer is a mistake and an oversight. Clarrieu (talk) 14:13, 23 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]