Deacon SPG

[Neil Ashley]

Going back about ten years ago I was informed by a dealer friend that there might be a Deacon minus its turret for sale.

After trying on a number of occasions to get more information, I was subsequently told that this vehicle had been stolen from the owners yard, and reportedly has never been seen since.

Does anyone know if this vehicle ever actualy existed and if it did where it now resides.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

That would be some find! Attached goes a pic which might help to jog people's memories. Seems a holiday to Turkey might be in order...

H.

The Deacon was developed during 1942 as a highly mobile anti-tank weapon for use in the North Africa Campaign. Based on the Matador 4x4 chassis it was fitted with a 6 pounder anti-tank gun on the rear cargo bed and shielded to the front & sides. The cab was also lightly armoured. Whilst being serviceable as a vehicle, it had a high profile and was difficult to conceal. It also had poor cross country performance.

It would seem that only 175 were built by AEC at Southall between December '42 and January '43 with body numbers around 20449 to 20473. They were issued to divisional anti-tank regiments. The vehicles were reasonably successful but were only used in the later stages of the Africa Campaign. They were withdrawn afterwards and eventually sold on to Turkey (source).

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
It would seem that only 175 were built by AEC ....... with body numbers around 20449 to 20473.

Is there something wrong with my maths, or doesn't this add up? 24=175?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
Is there something wrong with my maths, or doesn't this add up? 24=175?

Ref. source, ask John Harrington of the AEC Society...

H.