Field And Medium Guns

75mm Howitzer

The 75mm Pack Howitzer was an American design adopted for service in the British Airborne.

Data: 

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

(Firing The Standard 14 Lb HE Shell)

Charge 1 Velocity - 700 FPS/4,190 yards - Charge 2 Velocity - 810 FPS/5,360 yards - Charge 3 Velocity - 950 FPS/6,930 yards - Charge 4 Velocity - 1,250 FPS/9,610 yards. The HEAT round had a muzzle velocity of 1,000 FPS and a maximum range of 7,900 yards.

Ammunition

The propelling charge was 5.9/7.7/9.9/14.7 ounces of cordite for each charge or zone...6.6 ounces for the HEAT round. Ammunition available included HE (M48 - 18.22 Lbs Fused and ready to fire with 1.47 Lb TNT Filler) and HEAT (M66 1 Lb Pentolite charge behind the usual copper cone for a penetrative value of 87-88mm at all ranges) 

75mm Guns

The 75mm gun, in any form, has never been a standard British Army artillery weapon, though a number were obtained from France in 1915 and taken into service as anti-aircraft guns with the designation 'Ordnance QF 75mm Mk I'. These were declared obsolete in April of 1919. In 1940, the severe shortage of field artillery led to the purchase of a quantity of still-serviceable 75mm field guns from the United States. Although given British nomenclature they were all standard American military patterns. The data supplied below is for the 75mm Gun M1897A3 - M2A3 pieces.

Data: 75mm Gun M1987A4

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

Ammunition

There were MANY types of ammunition for the weapon - as befits an ordnance this old, the two most common (American ammo supplied with the ordnance) were:

Shell, HE. 75mm M48 - Weighed 14.7 lbs filled and fuzed, with a filler of1.5 lbs of TNT or 1.36 lbs of Amatol. Fuse Point Detonating M48 was standard. Two types of rounds were supplied, one normal and the other supercharge - normal had a 1.05 lb propelling charge while supercharge had 1.93 lbs. A reduced charge round with a .38 lb charge was available for training. 

Projectile APC 75mm M61 - Weighed 14.96 lbs and had a 2.16 Lb propelling charge giving a velocity of 2,000 ft/sec. This was a capped AP Shell containing 2.3 ounces of Explosive D with a base fuse (M66A1) and was capable of penetrating 70mm of RHA at 500 yards. 

18pdr Field Gun 

The 18pdr was introduced in 1904, and was the backbone of British field artillery during and after the First World War. The original design was typical of the era, with a pole trail, shield, wooden wheels, etc - and more than 10,000 were made. In 1916, an improved design was begun, but it was not until 1918 that this reached production as the Mk IV on Mark III Carriage. This was a considerable improvement as it used a box trail allowing better elevation, an Asbury breech mechanism, and a hydro pneumatic recoil system. It became the standard post-war equipment, an in subsequent years was further improved by a split-trail carriage and pneumatic tires. The hunt for a replacement (ultimately the 25pdr) began in the 1920s, and when the 25pdr Mk I was introduced, it absorbed a number of  18pdr guns which were converted by simply changing the barrels. Since the 25pdr was slow coming into full production, the 18pdr remained in service for much of the war. Many marks lingered until 1944 in use as training weapons or dispersed around the country as anti-invasion weapons. It was the primary armament of several field regiments after their return from the Battle Of France. Numbers remained in service in various overseas stations and during the early part of the Burma campaign. Marks ranged from Mk I (the original pattern wire wound screw breech 1904 model) to Mk V (a long list of improvements including new trail, tires, and 37.5 degree elevation) 

Data: 18pdr Gun Mk IV On Carriage Mk 5P

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

(Firing The Standard 18 Lb shell)

Ammunition

Cartridge, QF, 18pdr HE Shell Mk 46 - Filled with TNT or Amatol, complete round weighed 23.5 Lbs and was 23.379 inches long. 1 Lb 7 Ounce propelling charge in a 11.6 inch brass cartridge. A streamlined shell (Mk 13 C) was available as were reduced charge training rounds (Mk 14), Smoke (WP filling) and Sharpnel (Mk 17) with contained 375 lead balls and had a reduced range of 9,400 yards. Finally there was also Cartridge, QF, 18pdr AP Shot Mk 3T - solid shot with tracer. I do not have any penetration performance on that round handy.

25pdr Field Gun 

The 25pdr was born of the change of warfare in the First World War - the 18pdr having been optimized to fire shrapnel at troops n the open was definitely sub-optimal for trench warfare which demanded a large an effective HE round. The 4.5 Inch Howitzer had a good HE round  but was limited in range and traverse. What was needed was a half measure between the two ordnances, firing a better HE round than the 18pdr. Work began on the 25pdr at low priority in 1924 and continued through the 20s until an October 1933 staff requirement led to the surfacing of the gun-howitzer concept, specifically applied to a 3.7 inch howitzer firing a 25 Lb shell. Further discussions lead to the General Staff proposing that the 25pdr be the soul field artillery equipment, and a production pilot was ordered in 1934. Financial difficulties resulted in a reduction in caliber from 3.7 to 3.45 inches since this was the limit at which a new loose barrel could be made and slipped into existing 18pdr guns, thus providing a new weapon without the expense of new carriages. At the same time a brand new carriage/weapon combination was begun with an eye on the future when finance would become available. The 18pdr conversion was approved on 26 August 1936 as Ordnance QF 3.45 inch Mk I, and more than 1000 equipments were manufactured from existing 18pdr assets. They were rarely called by the proper name, the term '18/25pdr' rapidly becoming the norm. The Ordnance QF 25pdr Mk II (the first of the new gun/carriage combinations) was approved on 7 December 1937, but did not receive full approval until late in 1939. Production of the new gun commenced in the winter of 1939, and by the outbreak of the war 78 guns (but no carriages) had been completed. Consequently the BEF fought the Battle Of France with their 18/25pdr equipments. 

    18/25pdr Equipment

The first of the new Mk II was issued to 8th Army Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery in April of 1940, and its first use in action was in Norway in 1940. Thereafter the 25pdr served with few changes throughout the war, although a muzzle break was adopted in 1942 to better suite the use of supercharge with solid shot. The final muzzle break design was completed in July of 1942, and in the following month, recommendation made to fit all guns. Usually it was only the guns in 'tank dangerous' areas that got the muzzle break...it being only rarely seen in the Far East, and in some cases (New Zealand and Australian Armies) was never fitted. As for the users...many gunners will tell you it was the ideal field artillery piece...being much more handy than the American 105mm in terms of AT capability and maneuverability. The single most important innovation was the firing platform, which allowed the gun rapid 360 degree movement, which proved of great advantage in anti-tank fire. 

25pdr With Carriage And Towing Quad

  Variants ranged from the Mk I to the Mk IV - the single most interesting variant being the Ordnance QF 25pdr Short Mk I (Australian) On Carriage Light Mk I - the 'baby' 25pdr. This was developed as a result of experience in the jungles of New Guinea indicated the need for really portable artillery. The aim was to produce a weapon capable of pack transport, and by the time the design was finished, the only resemblance to the 25pdr was the breech mechanism, recoil system, cradle and sights...everything else changed. The trail was simplified, wheels made smaller, and castor added to the end of the trail for easier manhandling. The shield and and platform were discarded., and a heavy spade added to anchor the gun while firing. The gun itself was drastically shortened to 46.69 inches, and a muzzle cap added, which gave a total length of 63.79 inches. Broken into 14 packs the total equipment weight was 3,015 Lbs. It could not be used with supercharge, so the maximum range was only 10,800 yards.  

Data: Ordnance QF 25pdr Mk II or III On Carriage 25pdr Mk I

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

(Firing The Standard 25 Lb HE Shell)

Charge 1 Velocity - 650 FPS/3,566 Meters - Charge 2 Velocity - 950 FPS/7,132 Meters - Charge 3 Velocity - 1,450 FPS/10,790 Meters - SuperCharge Velocity - 1,700 FPS/12,253 Meters

(Firing The Standard 20 Lb AP Shot With SuperCharge)

(Firing The Standard 20 Lb AP Shot Charge 3+)

Ammunition

Rounds available included HE Mk ID, weighing 25 Lbs with a 1 Lb 2 Ounce filler, Smoke (Mk 1A, Mk 1D-6D, Mk 7D), Colored Smoke (Red, Yellow, Green Or Blue), Flare (Red , Yellow, Green And Blue), Incendiary (Issued in 1940 - Filled With Thermite), Star Shell (Parachute Flare With 430,000 Candle-Power And A Burn Time Of 25-30 Seconds), Propoganda, and AP Shot. Fuses available included percussion, time, proximity, and airburst. The latter caused particular execution amongst 88mm gunners at El Alamein, post mortem examination of German gun crews revealing numerous casualties in the bottom of their slit trenches. Fasted recorded rate of fire is 17 rounds/minute by the 4th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. 

Gun Team

The Number 1 (commander) stood to the rear of the gun and aided large traverses. The Number 2 held the rammer and operated the breech lever and stood to the right of the gun when viewed from the rear, The Number 3 known as the layer sat on the wooden seat to the left of the gun ad adjusted the sights, The Number 4 was the loader, The Number 5 passed ammunition to the Number 4 and checked fuse settings, and The Number 6 (Second in Command) set the fuses and charges. 

Operation

The Pobert Range Scale (Range Cone) and Dial Sight ( Number 7A, Number 7C, Number 9) were used for indirect fire and the Number 29 or Number 41 telescope used for direct or AT fire. For indirect fire the layer refers to the range scale engraved on the range cone vs the charge being fired shown on the muzzle velocity reader arm located below the range cone. This set the ordnance in elevation...the dial sight then being used to set the azimuth offset for the particular fire mission in question. Once the offset had been calculated and relayed to the gun, the offset was set on the dial sight, the gun was trained back until the stationary aiming point was seen through the dial sight...the gun then being set to fire on the proper azimuth. 

Ammunition Trailer

The Number 27 ammunition trailer pictures above was standard with the towed 25pdr. Two could be towed in unison, being referred to as ammunition trailer front and rear. Each carried 32 rounds of 25pdr ammunition. The trailer was also equipped with a steel tool box, and was used to carry the firing platform (usually stored on the roof). Additional tools might also be carried along with camouflage etc. 

25pdr Picture Gallery 

25Pdr Mk I Gallery 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 1944 Chevy Quad

Quad Interior Viewed From Cdr's Seat

Towing Vehicle

That strange animal called the 'Quad' was the prime mover for the 25pdr...also called the Morris C8 Field Artillery Tractor...although many firms built similar vehicles including Chevrolet in Canada. Pictured above is a 1944 Chevy Quad and its associated gun and trailer. Basic details for the Quad were:

Length: 4.49 m (177 inches).
Width: 2.28 m (90 inches).
Height: 2.36 m (93 inches).
Weight: 5.645 kg (12.545 lb).
Engine: Own 4-cylinder, 3.519 cm3 (214 cubic inches) displacement, liquid cooled.
Horsepower: 70 at 3.000 rpm.
Transmission: 5-speed gearbox.
Transfer case: Single-speed transfer-box with front axle disconnect (except 1st and reverse).
Electrical system: 12 volt.
Brakes: Hydraulic.
Tires: 10.50 - 16.
Fording depth:
without preparation: 0.4 m (15 inches).
with deep water fording kit: N/A.
Fuel type: Petrol.
Fuel capacity: 2 x 68 liters (25 gallons).
Range: 256 km (160 miles).
Crew: 1 + 5.
Additional: 4-ton WA winch.

Quad And 25pdr In Towing Configuration

Quad Ammunition Trailer 25pdr In Display Configuration - Note Platform Under 25pdr

3.7 Inch Mountain Howitzer 

The 3.7 inch howitzer was originally conceived in World War I as a mountain gun, but its use was later extended into the jungle and other theaters. Its principal use in World War II was in the Far East although some pack batteries were also employed in Italy. It was also used by airborne troops.

Data: 

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

(Firing The Standard 20 Lb Shrapnel Shell)

(Firing The Standard 20 Lb HE Shell At Charge 4 Or Less)

Ammunition

Propelling charge was a 5 part charge contained in a brass case 3.6 inches long...nominal weight of the full charge was 9 ounces of cordite. Rounds available included HE, Shrapnel, Smoke (WP), Smoke (Canister), Star Shell (Single White), And HEAT (Mk I - weighed 15 Lbs and penetrated 2.5 Inches...sufficient to handle light Japanese armor)

95mm Infantry Howitzer

I have excluded this abortion from data provision - it was used on CS tanks later in the war and you may find the data under the tank section as required. The Ordnance Board rightfully killed the beast before it could be used.

4.5 Inch Howitzer

The 4.5 was a World War One Veteran (3,359 having been produced)...and was replaced where possible by the 25pdr. It was little changed between 1908 and 1944. Several batteries of 4.5 saw service in 1939, and the howitzer was used in France in 1940, as well as in the Eritrean campaign, and the Western Desert in 1941-42, after which the few survivors were withdrawn and used as training weapons while ammunition stocks remained.

Data:

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

(Firing The Standard 35 Lb Shrapnel Shell)

Ammunition

Propelling charge was a 5 part charge contained in a brass case 3.4 inches long...nominal weight of the full charge was 15.875 ounces of cordite. Muzzle velocities and charge zones were as follows - charge 1 480 FPS/2000 yards - charge 2 630 FPS/3,200 yards - charge 3 700 FPS/3,800 yards - charge 4 820 FPS/4,900 yards - charge 5 - 1,010 FPS/7,000 yards. Rounds available included HE, Smoke (WP), Smoke (Canister), and Star Shell (Single Star).

4.5 Inch Gun

The 4.5 inch gun was intended to provide a follow-on weapon to the 60pdr while having more range than the 5.5 inch gun. The mark 2 gun was approved in august of 1939, but no production took place until late 1940, and the first guns weren't issued until the new year (1941). The gun was identical to the 5.5 in all respects except caliber with one battery in the typical 5.5 inch regiment having this weapon while the remainder had the 5.5 inch. The weapon was not as popular with the Royal Artillery as the 5.5 inch because the extra range wasn't viewed as enough to offset the lighter shell. It proved to be a useful long range counter battery weapon in spite of the lighter round. Rate of fire 2 rounds/minute but only one for prolonged firing.

Data:

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

(Firing The Standard 55 Lb HE Shell)

Ammunition

Propelling charge was a 3 part charge - charge 1 was 2 Lb 15 Ounces of Cordite - charge 2 was 6 Lb 2 Ounces - charge 3 was 2 Lb 9 Ounces. The only form of ammunition available was HE (Mk ID).

60pdr Gun

The 60pdr was another old World War One veteran and dated from 1904,  having been developed from the 4.7 inch naval gun. It was obsolete by 1939 and was being replaced by the 4.5-5.5 inch gun series, but in their absence, saw service...especially in the early Desert campaigns...and specifically with the Australians at Tobruk. Retained as training equipment until late 1944. 

Data:

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

(Firing The Standard 60 Lb HE Shell)

Ammunition

Propelling charge was a 1 part charge of 8 Lbs 2 Ounces of Cordite. Only two ammunition types were available - HE (HE Mk IXC with a 6 Lb Amatol Filler) and Shrapnel (Mk 5c - contained 397 lead balls) 

5.5 Inch Gun

The 5.5 inch gun was intended to replace the aging 6 inch gun/howitzer designs. Because of difficulties with production and design, it was not until May of 1942 that the first 5.5 inch got into action. They were highly successful and well-liked by their crews, although the gun did develop a 'reputation' of sorts during the Italian campaign when improper maintenance, worn barrels, and dirty ammunition resulted in a premature explosion or two. Subsequent reviews found the gun crews at fault and not the weapon itself. The 5.5 lived out the remainder of its years without ever exhibiting these symptoms again. A little short on range by 1943, an 80 Lb shell was introduced to overcome this shortcoming. All and all a workmanlike medium gun that did yeoman work in support of British troops. The 5.5's in the 21 Army fired 2,610,747 rounds between D Day and VE Day. 

Data:

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

(Firing The Standard 100 Lb HE Shell)

(Firing The 80 Lb HE Shell)

Firing Data for 100 Lb HE

Firing Data for 80 Lb HE

Ammunition

Propelling charge was a 4 part charge with the eventual introduction of a Supercharge charge. Total Cordite weight was 4 Lbs 4 Ounces for short range and 9 Lbs 2 Ounces for long range....the Supercharge was a single bag of 12 Lbs 9 Ounces.  Ammunition available included HE (100 Lb Mk 2D and 80 Lb Mk 1D) and Smoke (Canister base ejection). The 'approved' anti-tank round was to fire the HE round with shipping plug in place...and a hit with this round was said to achieve catastrophic kill on any WW2 tank, generally lifting the turret off the vehicle on a turret hit. A solid shot round WAS approved, and practice ammunition for it has been uncovered, but there seem to be no rounds of that type remaining in existence. 

5.5 Inch Gun Gallery

6 Inch 26 Cwt Howitzer

This ordnance also dated from the First World War, with almost 4,000 weapons built before the armistice. They formed part of the backbone of the inter-war artillery. A sound design that required little modification over the years, it was used with the 4.5 and 5.5 guns of the 1940s. It served throughout the desert, but after 1942 it was largely found in the Far East, where it continued in constant use until the end of the war. 

Data:

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

(Firing The Standard 86 Lb HE Shell)

Ammunition

Propelling charge was either a normal 3 part charge for the 100 Lb shell or a 5 zone Supercharge for the 86 Lb shell. The Supercharge contained 5 Lbs 3 Ounces of Cordite, while the normal charge contained 4 Lbs 11.5 Ounces. Maximum performance with the normal charge was 1,234 FPS and a range of 9,500 yards. Two types of HE were available...the 100 Lb Mk 1D and the 86 Lb Mk 1D

7.2 Inch Howitzer

This ordnance was developed to replace the old 8 inch howitzer, with the old weapons having a new 7.2 inch liner inserted and being issued as 7.2 inch howitzer Mk I. The force of firing was more than the recoil systems could absorb, and so the whole carriage moved backwards on firing. This could be a dangerous condition when firing on wet ground and the gun crews usually stood well clear. Scotches or Quoins behind the wheels were used to keep the weapon in place. Later in the war, after the first American 155mm M-1 guns arrived in the UK, and in April of 1943 it was decided to try that carriage with a 7.2 howitzer, firing trials taking place in November, 1943. This also proved to be alot of carriage for an old weapon and so a design effort was undertaken for a fresh weapon of 33 calibers as the Mk 6. The Mk 6 howitzer on the US carriage was an excellent weapon, with maximum range increased by two miles and proving both steady and stable when fired. It became the standard for the heavy regiments, being officially adopted in December 1943. 

Data: Mk I - IV

Data: Mk VI

Cartridge And Projectile Performance:

(Mk 1-IV Firing The Standard 200 Lb HE Shell)

(Mk VI Firing The Standard 200 Lb HE Shell)

Ammunition

Propelling charge was 4 part or a single part (zone 5 maximum performance) charge. charge 1 (5 Lbs 8 Ounces Of Cordite) - 900 FPS/7,500 yards - charge 2 (7 Lb 3 Ounces Of Cordite) - 1,050 FPS/9,800 yards - charge 3 (17 Lbs Of Cordite) - 1,380 FPS/13,500 yards - charge 4 (19 Lbs 12 Ounces Of Cordite) - 1,700 FPS/16,900 yards - charge 5 - used ONLY in the Mk VI - 1,925 FPS/19,600 yards. Rounds limited to HE (Mk 1D) which was contact only (no time or proximity fuses ever developed)