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NORTHOVER Projector

Weapons of the Home Guard

 

The Northover Projector, officially called the 'Projector, 2.5 inch' was designed by a Home Guard officer, Major RH Northover, as a temporary anti-tank weapon until the numbers of 2-pounder anti-tank guns could be increased following the withdrawal of the BEF from France where almost all of the inventory of British anti-tank guns were left behind. Production began in 1940 and over 8,000 were in service with the British Army and the Home Guard by the end of 1941 and over 18,000 by the end of 1942.

It was cheap (costing £10 per unit in 1940) and easy to manufacture and consisted of a metal tube attached to a tripod, with a simple breech at one end. It fired the No 76 Special Incendiary Grenade (also known as the Self Igniting Phosphorus, or SIP, grenade) and rounds were fired with the use of black powder that was detonated by a toy pistol cap. It weighed about 60 pounds (27.2 kg) and had an effective range of about 120 yards (110m) with a maximum range of about 300 yards (275m). Its major disadvantage was the huge cloud of smoke produced when it was fired, revealing its position.

 

Adapted from my e-book "A Photographic Guide to the Taunton Stop Line"

 

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A Northover Projector in use.