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Artillery tractor is a kind of Tractor , also referred to as a '''gun tractor''', a Vehicle used to tow Artillery pieces of varying weights. The first such devices were designed prior to the outbreak of World War I often based on agricultural machines such as the Holt tractor. Such tractors allowed the tactical use of heavier guns to supplement the light horse drawn Field Gun s. For example in the British Army it allowed the heavy howitzers of the Garrison Artillery to be used on the battlefield. WORLD WAR II In World War II the horse was still the most common source of motive power in many armies. Most nations being unable to economically and industrially fully motorise their forces. One compromise was to produce general purpose vehicles which could be used in the troop transport, logistics and Prime Mover roles, with heavy artillery tractors to move the heaviest guns. The Royal Artillery however, persisted with specialist artillery tractors through out World War II , rather than adopt a general purpose vehicle. This was in order to prevent their vehicles being taken from them for other tasks. TRACTION There are two main types of artillery tractors, depending on the type of traction. Wheeled tractors are usually variations of Lorries adapted for military service. Tracked tractors run on Caterpillar Track , and in some cases are built on a modified Tank Chassis with the superstructure replaced with a compartment for the gun crew or Ammunition . The idea of Half-track tractors was mostly discontinued after the World War II . MODERN WARFARE In modern Warfare towed artillery has given way in part to Self-propelled Artillery , it is also common to find auxiliary power units built into the gun carriage to provide limited battlefield mobility. Traditional towed artillery can still be found in units were complexity and weight are liabilities e.g. airmobile, amphibious and other light units. In such units, were organic transport is usually limited, any available transport can double as artillery tractors in order to reposition guns when needed. For example engineer vehicles of a different primary purpose such as the U.S. Marines' Light Capacity Rough Terrain Forklift (LCRTF), a versatile Telehandler Forklift capable of towing gear from either end. LIST OF ARTILLERY TRACTORS Tank chassis
Other full-track with a C7P artillery tractor.]]
Half-track
Wheeled
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