The 25-pounder Field Gun 1939–72

The 2S-pounder Field Gun 1939-72

CONTENTS DEVELOPMENT

3

THE FEATURES OF THE 25-POUNDER GUN

8

• rhe :\Ik, 1 Ordnance 011 CUTiages :\1\...,1111'1'. ;\I\.... 1\'1' .111(1 :\I\.... "p

• The :\Ik. II Ordnann' CHRIS HENRY has been inleresled in mllilMy hlslory since hoe was

ill ......11

AMMUNITION

15

TOOLS AND STORES

16

ORGANISATION

18

boy. His

interfll in illrtillery developed wIlllst a ~unl_ wor1<.,. i111 lhoe Tower 01 Londoflllnd hoe became Senior Curator lit lhoe Royal .-..-rles M..-.m 01 Artillery i111 Fort Netson. He is now the He;ocl 01 CoIleclions at the Museum 01 the Royal Artillery.

• 1 he d.'I,W!lIllC'!l1

FIELD ARTILLERY TRACTORS

19

AMMUNITION TRAILERS

20

OPERATIONAL HISTORY

22

THE 25-POUNDER IN OTHER ARMIES

39

VARIANTS

40

• Ordll,IlICe QF 2':>-poum!er Shun (..-\11'1) :\Ik. I Ofl <;,lni;Ij.;(' 1.iJ.;hl (AIl,I) :\11.,_,_ 1;md II • TIll' Plll',l~a11t ami orlll'r De'ig-1I' MIKE FULLER started his

career in the Brillstl Aerospace industry, wortllng on both Harrier and Concorde projects. He later worked lor MOD Technical Publlcallons dealing with armoured flghllng wehlcles. Now an uperlenclld Ireelance ilIUSlralor he has

THE 25-POUNDER SELF-PROPELLED VERSIONS

41

• The :!:'-poullder l\lk. I Ull Carrier. \';I1t't11illl·. :!,r"'pdr, l\1\..., I (Bi,lwp) • l\lolillrillg'. SP. 2.~-pdr. C. :\Ik. I (St'Xloll)

GLOSSARY

45

COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY

45

INDEX

48

produced llrtwOrk lor a wide range 01 books and partwo....s. He has a keen Inlerest In all areas 01 military history lrom the ancient world to the present day.

•

New Vanguard. 48

OSPREY ------

The 2S-pounder Field Gun 1939-72

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Chris Henry. Illustrated by Mike Fuller

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THE 25-POUNDER FIELD GUN 1939-72

DEVELOPMENT TIle la~1 BI;li~h force to 0per,ltl' a 2~"I)()llnder gun in action were IWO SAS lroopcrs in ,he Omani I)eXl of ~Iirlxll on 19 Juh 1972. endcr the command of C
Th40 clank 18-pounder field gun, Inl, ploec• • a, th40 ba,i, for 1h40 25·pounder Mk. I but lacked th40 high tfllj.c:lory Nqulred lor the modem gun. leourtay 01 RAHT)

3

The ".5-lnch howitzer, uHd In conjunctlon with the 18-pounder Ileld gun, was a robust, simple design with e box trell. This style of trell w.. eventually eccepted lor the 25-pounder Mk. II. (Courtesy of RAHT)

4

and rei\' on a massil'c logi"ties "uppo... w.;tCIl1 10 h't'p them ~nieeable. The story of Ihe dc\"(~lopmclll of Ihis gUll i, really t\\O storie.... The first dcals with the 25-pollnder ~Ik. I. or tlte IS'2r.-poundcr as it became knowli. and COIllCS 10 it c1o~ wilh Ihe withdr:I\I.11 from Dunkirk. The ~cc(l1l(1 deals II'ilh the gUll lhat became the 1110... t famoll.'> British gun of til(' Second World War. whose "to'1' ("Ol11inll{'d into lhe 1970s. The intention of this book i" to look al thl' main Wl'''PUlH i1l1l"e b\' thc Uriti"h Anllr and therefore il will not concelltmtc Ull the experimental ideas lhal Wt'l'C cmisaged during the dc\'cloprnl'llt orlhe fI'lk. II gUll, For "eterans of the We~lern D('''el'l and all the unit" of the R0Y'II Regimellt of Artillery who lIsed il during the Second World War, tht: 2!)-pollndcr is ,HI icon gUll, the cololtrs of the regimellt. It can be "aid to havc begltn as a requircrncill fur the Urilisll AI'lny ill 1919 when lhc \\'ar Omce discussed the need for flltllre arlll:ll11etlIS, As is the case II'ith much lIew anillery cqllipmcilt. <111 operational rcqllircmcnt \\~IS established and lht'n designs were comidercd. Thi, ,, guises, it \\~tS the de'igner" at Vicker.. l\ltO \\ere ke)' to the gun's dt:...ign alld mallufaCture. The import:mce of the 2:-,..,>ounder \\':.1... that it \\'as designed as a gUII/hml'it/cr. The combination of charaCteristics of the IS-pounder field b'l.lIl of the Fir"t World War, with its limited del.llion and high lI1uo.le It:!ocitl, :ltId the 4,5-inch ho\\'iuel' I\'ith its high lrajccton' would make thi" lhc most \"cr....llile Briti"h artillc!)' weapon of the Second World War.

All artillen

de~i~lI i~

a tr.ulc-off. A projectile is normally

de~i!{ned

be a certain "'eight .tIIl! to be fired a certain distance. and thi,

10

The 25-pounder Mk, I on Mk. IVP

anCCl~

cemeie, Thi• .ctual gun w . . not litted with the 25-pounder rlfled .I. ."e end we. rec.....ed lrom Jorden. ICourte.y of RAHT}

the IVlle of barrel and carria!{e needed. In the case of the 25-poundcr. a stop-gap \'er'ioll and a comp1ctdr Ilew design were COllct.'i\'ed \'irILlal1) in tandCIll. This did 110t (Ollie abOllt ill a str.ligillforw.u'd war bccau!>c much less ('l1lphasi~ W;:l~ placed on Ihc de\'elopment of new lI'eapOll~ tcchnolob'Y followill!{ the frightful carnage of Ihe FirSI World War. The hod}' ill\"Olvcd in this procel>s was lhe Royal f\rtillery Corlllnillee. the body responsible for ;lIlalysing ;1l1d lesling ne\\' types of artillery eqllipnrelll. ill cor~lIl1clioll wilh the DireclOr. Royal Artillery, Uy 19~4, the Ro)~\l Artil1cr)' Committee 1\~IS examining mriOIlS options and a range of 1:\000 yard~ I\~l~ con~idered for the new equipment. Tht' prqjecti1c was the ~tartil1K puint. Various calibres and weights of prqjenile wen' considered, 1I0\;lbl}' 3.9-inch and 'I. I-inch projectiles. The fonner wOllld be lin.'d from Ol quick-firing gUll (the prqjecli1c and cartridge cal>e \,,~rc loaded lixetl lugether) and the laltcr from a bl't.'cch loadinl{ (Ill) howiller. ill which the pr~jcctjlc and charge were loaded scpar;lle!\,. The thinking of Ihe thne apllears to ha\'c been that twO glln~ were net.'ded, It \\~IS caleul;lIed thaI the larger calibre 6"un should be able 10 allain an effective range of 13.000 ranis with a 33 pound projectile. The requirement for a gun firing a projectile of 20 10 25 l)()lllHI~ weight :tro~e ill OClobl.'r 1933 and "'as planned as a 3.7·inch gunjho\l'itl.cr. This was to replace the IWO pre\;ollslr mentioned guns, 11 \\! b\' lhe Director, Roral Artillcn, i\1;yor·

5

A. rear vIew of the 2!1-pounder on Mk. VP spilt-trail camage, Only a f _ of theae guns entered service and moat were loat in Fr,lnce durlng 1'140. (Courtesy of RAHT)

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General II. A. Lewi~. who ordcn."-poullder gllll. ,h often happens. Ihe allthorilit"~ \\ell.· forced 10 lake ;1 1001... al exisLing equipment and con~ider whclher it could I~ ulili~d in wille \\~I\'. There were. at Lhe lillle. lIlalt\ IS-pounder guns in :-.Iore. Experiments were made wilh tlu.."SC older gUl1:-. 10 M.'C whelher lhe\' could be adapll'd 10 accept Ihc I1CW 2}-poumkr projectile, l\\' 1935. a tk'cbion had been 1;I"el1 10 refil tllC~ exisLing IS-pounder jackets \\ith 2:;"pound('I' ol1e.. and adapt their can;ages hI filling Ihcl11 with pnCllmati<: road whc('I" 10 allow 100\;ng al higher ~pecds b\' a pClrol. driven \'chick, Tlti:-. rebored gun \I~I~ to be fiul:d with a larger 001 c rifled liner and becal11e Illc fir'l of the 25-pOLlIldc!' :-.cl;es, known alo Illc Ordnance QF 25-Ixlr 1\lk, I. Thc rclining of Ihe gun barrel il.sdf \\~l" pUloloibk bccauloc Ihc IS-poundc!' barrel \I~IS made Ill' of :-.en:ral parh: Ihc rifled bon', known as the ';\' tllbe, could be removed and replan'd with a new larger horc lim'r of abollt 87.5 mm calibre, Thi~ new tube \\,,~ autufn:tlaged, lh:1I j, subjected tu itHernal h)'draulic pressure so th:ll the 1111.'1:11 un the iutlt:r "llrfa(e of 11le bore is strelched be)'ond it.~ e1:1"1ic limil. while lhl' 1l1l't;11 fllnllt.:r away from the intler surface rl'l:litH it~ daSlicil}.lea\·itlg' tllc barn.:1 itt a ~tale ulcul1lprcssiull and tlIllch strunger. This tedltlique i~ slill lt~ed itl tn;ll1Y ~ltll harrds lod:ly, Ne\"t.:rthc1cs~, Ihe 1~lnge of 1111.' glltl \\~I~ l'NlllCt'd h} lhe lhe of 1111" old l8-pottmkr carriagc'~ ami only 11,800 yard, could he achio.::n:d. The urigitlal rango.:: rcquirelltl.:nl therefore would never he po..sib1c, and fUrl her devclopmelll Uti the card.IKe I\Ollld be reqllired to cope willI the eXII~1 slrc~ gel1eraled h}' the tlccd fur grcalcr range. The carriage \\~I' a dinicuh problem ~ill(C IIll' older IS-pounder had a pole U~li1. Ihal i, a ~ingle JXlle lhal wa~ illlel1Cled [0 lx' altachcd to the Iimher bUl \\~I~ fitled dircClh beluw Ihe bleecll, Tllilo ClJllligunuion affecled Ille gun', characteli'lic~. Later H;l"'iion~ of Ihe IR-pounder carriage wen' tIIo\'ing IO\\-:lrd~ tIn: kind uf eqllipllll'llI that \\ould e\elllllalh becolllc thc sland,lrd liekl gun. li'l) 1II,Iin It.°r"ioll' I\cre
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AllILolLgh bOth Vickers and Woohdrh - ill this r;l!<\' the Rn}~11 C.. rriage Department - produced a split-lr~.il "'nion 01 ;I ne\\' carriage dc~igll. neither was re 2.;'poundcr b,\lIl. In rl"alitl il "',IS the in'ii'itence of gllllllf·l.... in lilt' lit-Id. inll fhllingt~"lil1g. that led to the ..doption of a bOkt",il gun. The 25-poullfh.·r as it is lnowlI loda\ i";1 lei) dilT~relil gun from Ihe 18 25-1XltlJlder. It \\'as in del f'lopment as IIll' ~Il. II 25-pollndcr at ..!xmt the MIII~ time a... th~ IS-puunder... 11~.e IX'ing cllll\ert~d tU tall' till' Ilew ,ullIlIlIniliOIl. The ~Ik. II had" \en diITercl1t h:nTcI from th~ ~ll. I. GllllllCN wcrc keen 10 ..ee an .lrtil1cn piece lhat cuuld be tl~'\'cr"t:d through 360 degrccl> man;ed 10 the a(h~lI11,lg~s ofa bux u";:lil. and so the formal of lhc famoll'i 25-pounder look ..hape. Th~ RO\~\I Anillen Commillee. in a 1l1cmOl',mdlllll dated :i ~Iarch 1926. specified the reqllirel11elll for ;.\ circular plalfonll. A~ ha... been ...eell. Lh~ ".I-inch I~L

('I,..

The Mk. II 25·pounder on Mk. I

cernage. Thi, ver1llon ha• • bilrre' with. ,m.1I muu.ie ..tlV,ion .1 th. end .}gnlfylng thai It probably m.de In Canad". The .h.pe made m;In
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•• RAKT)

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glln had till' feature bLllthere 1\~IS also an eXlemporised \·er~iOll of thc firing platform in\'cnlCd h)' Ilogg and Palll and used in 1918. This piallollll \\':.IS based IIpon a spare wheel and did the same job as the Iatcr all-steel irl\elllioll. The platform, a steel disc I\'ith projections around its edge, I\':.IS ~Illng underneath the trail of the gUll, Whell the gun callie inlo aClion the platform \\':.l~ 10\\'ered and. because of a clever design. it could be pulled on to the platform b\ the tractor. Once in position. one lIlall with a hand~pike could 11':.1\'Crq> the gun in anv direction, This imlO\':.uion 1I0t ollh ~a\'ed a lot of elTon om it also :lSsisted the gun in the anti-tank role,:lS \Ie shall sec belo\\'. Ccm:rall)'. Vickers m,u11Ifaclltred till' gun in Bril:iin btll. becau~ of the production requiremclILS of the Second World W.lr, Ihe gun ,,':.Ct c\ellluall> manufactured in Can;ld;1 and Ausu':.llia b\ prh':.lu:, cotllJ):lIlies. The main manufaclllling plant was at Iht' \"ickers works in Nc\\'castle and at leO'sl 12.253 were built in Brit;lin alone. From Seplember 193910 the end of 19-10. \"ickers supplied about twothirds of Britain'.. :millen. The relining of the \\Ik. I gun \\':.IS Iargeh a \"id,ers alTair, and ilS plants in Sheffield and Newca~tle produced 25-poullders a... did ib Scoltish subsidialies. During the W;:lr, other smaller companie!t \Iert: ill\'ol\l,'d in the manufacturc of the "''tm and its :sp,lre.., but it would nOi be po~!>ible to li..t Ihem all here.

THE FEATURES OF THE 25-POUNDER GUN II is \\'onh considering the many different incarnations of the 25-pounde... bllt fir;;t a \\'ol'd of\\'arning alxmt the dilferent marks of gun that \\'e"e used. Milital1' nOlncndatul'e is notoriously complex and it i~ worth noting that the 25-poulldc.. ,....Ik. I gun was complelelr diffe..ent frollt the ~Ik. II. There I\'cre, in fact. thrce main ,"crsions of the ba ....el. three m"in "e..sion .. of tlte c;IlTiage for the ~lk. [I barrel. two main \'ersions of the carriage for the ~Ik. I balTel ,uld many. many adaptatiotlS of the cania,Ke. The Mk. I Ordnance on Carriages Mk. IIITP, Mk, IVP and Mk, VP 2'~'p0lttlder Mk. I \\",l~ llUt designed frotn sCI':.llch and .•thhough il ltot a bad gun, lacked all of the excellent design fCistcd of an aUlOfreltagt:d loo:>t: liner, jacket. breech ring. oil rt::setyoir and screwcd collar. The breech "~lS an intcrrupted screw breech operated from the right side of the gUll viewed from lhe ['car, It I\~l't a ~il1glc·action breech known as the t\sbur\ breech aftel' il.'i designer and the ~tepped, inten'upted screw \\':.l~ known as the Welin pattenl. Thc inu::rrupted screw was necesS cartridge ensured a gas-tight seal on firing. The principal carriag:e.. on which thi.. ordnancc W;:1S placed were tlte '\Ik. IIITI'. '\Ik, [VI' :lIld the VI'. The 'p' desigmHion was uscd to denote lhal tlte cllTiage was mourHed on pneumatic t\ res. The IWO former carriage.. were \ en ~illlilar in construction wllere:ls the bller \\':.IS

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c of spliHrail de~igll. The ~II... 1111'1' and the .\11:. IVI' \\'~re b()X-l1~lil designs cOllsi,ting of lhe lI~lil (fossbar. suspension frame. br-:ll:e· operating gear. cradle c1.1l1lp. ~hicld and tr.l\·crsing gear. '111e trail I''a~ m,lIll1!:lclllred in hollo\\ box ~ccti()n and it \1'aS ll10lltlted on Ihe sllspension fl~Il11t: t1t:,ignnl for lIlechanised U~lnsporl. The cro...sbar \I';IS part of the ax1etr{'(, of the ~II:. IV IS-pounder carriag(' before cOll\'t:rsion; it h.ld Ihe axlelrec arms r~llIo\'ed tu accollllllodalC a sll~pcn~iOll frame. Thi~ fr;ulle cOll.\i...led of a lIumber of dilTen:nt COll1ponen'-~ that t'tmblc·d lhe lI~lil and (fadle to be insulatcd from tht: shocl.. of tra\clling U\cr lhe road at high spt:ed. Thc It,lversing gear un lhese gUllS alluwed for 4.5 dcgrec... traverse riglll or left of the 'CII1J~ll position. It cOllld he worl:cd frfl111 ('itllt:r sidt:: of the carriaA"e, that on tilC right hand ... idt:: beiliK a slow IlIOlion ge,l1' whilsl Ihat 011 [h.:: left could have slol\' or quicl: l11otion dcp.::nding on tile cllgagcl11I;nt or a clutch. The bnn"c'r rccupl'r.ltor thai conlrollt:d lhe recoil of the gun worl:ed a~ ill the later ~ll:. II gUll I,itll a buffer for recoil and a hydroptlcUlllalic recllpclOItor for rc.'wrnlng lilt.: barrel 10 its original posilion. The ~II:. VI' carriage h..d a ~plil trail and extended II<1\'erse. Recoil cOlllrol I\~l'" lhe SillllC :., lhe ~ll:. [VI' but lhe gun \\".IS able to firc at 15 degrees c1('\oltiOlI with lhe lI~,il legs closed or 37.5 degrees with the legs open. The maximum depression I'~IS 5 degrees. The main I§lin of Ihis carriage was its abilitv to lr.l\'erse 25 degrees left or Tight of Iht' centre line. which was a big impro\'ement on lhe 1\11:. IVI'. Recoil length \''as 45 inchc
_ O I l .. lMO"",_c.o

A

eut.w.y dlll9n1m 01 the

2!1-povnder Mk. t b!'II'e'Ch .howlr'lg th4' .triker o;a•• and breet:h-openlllng I.....r. Thl. breec:h wa. u.ed on all .......lon. of lhe Mk. I gun. (Author'. phofographl

•

A Hctloned ylew 0' the 25·pounder Mk, I barrel showing the I-.e liner and breech ring. The muule bush securing ""'w Willi litted to make su"' Ihat there was _ movement 01 the

-- --

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inner liner, (Aulhor's photograph)

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radicalh ahered. The trail ICKS \\ere cOllllected to the axletrec and cfossbar and \\cre madc of,teel. rh(' ,!),!ctrce h,ld 1\\0 ~U1b a:de~ filled 10 il and each u';.lil leg had a met,ll ball brad.el ,II the front. \\l1<'n the legs were throwll OUlward 10 deplo, lhe gun. IWO ~IOP bmd..eLS lhat connected bl a hook to IWO e\t~s on Ihe ,lUb .Ixic limited the e),len.,ion of the kl,rs. The gunllel~ sal 011 the 't:al 11!()unted on lhe top plaIt:' of each leg. The carriage lxxl\' was made of m;llIgalH""t· bron/(' and ~ted and \\';.1$ the ml\en.ing piln of lhe c-.IITi;lge. II re,h:d 011 the c'lI1;age 1)0(1\· SIIPI)oning br,tcket lhat in IlIm \\';.IS COlllll'Cll"'(1 10 the axletree. The whole ~hidd, gun and can;ag(' 1)0(1\ .lrT;lngl'm('nt lmn:rscd on the axletree. The ~hidd itself \\';.tS di!>llnethe ,md was made of bulletproof steel. The upper part could be folded c1ml1l \1 hiht u:wcllinl{ bUl the whole construction was folded OW'I' at each "idl' gi\'inl{ a Ie" dilTerent appcantllCe 10 the Ialcr i\1~. II Gln·iage. rhe real' of the ~hidd had a bmckel on the left fol' the case ofa No.i or ~o,7A dial ~ight. In action. the gllil could bl' fired ('illll'r with iiI(' II'K' 0Pl'll or dlN'd. although in Ihe Ialter GI~e lhe gUll h;ld limited dt::\~lliul1. The Mk. II Ordnance

The 1'111... II Gill be dc...cribed ;l~ a 'high n:locil}.lOI11IM1';.lli\'c!y long I~Ulge wt::apoll Ilsing propellant ch;lrg('S of difrt,rt'lll \I'cight~ ~o thai the relatively I];" tr.-!jeclory Obl;lilled with Ihe hi~'her chargt.'~ call he altert::d illlu unt:: with a steep ang-It: ufdeM.:elll.· Thl.' carri;lgl.' \I';l~ tk.. igllcd to give '10 degree... of e11.'1~l1i()lI and 5 dl'grlTs of dl.'prl'~~ioll wilh a Iral'erSl' of

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The 2!5-pounder Mk. II breech snd barrel shown here ar. lrom a handbook 0' t"o. The coynterwelghl, normally 'itted nexl to the breech at the rear of the barrel, has not been lHust,..ted. (Author's photog,..phj

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...... .1

The 25-pounder 'A' tube, showing the breech end. The muule end of the tube has • threaded lectton. which was melnt to take the Solothom muule br.lle. (Author. photographl

degree... TIll' ):;"Illi bolfl d Il,b 1II0UlIlt:d 011 ;t hnlraulic buner willi .1 hnlropncumalic l"(·{"IIIX'I";llOr. all of\lhich worled within Ihe cradle bo:\ moving I,'ith Ihe gUll b.lIn:1 011 tiring. The breech \I,\!> ,I \l·llical ..liding blocl Ilith a lllechaniGlllirillg loc.... The \~Iliilble charg(: ~\'~Iem of tile hllllllllcantthatlhe propcllam charge, l\t."rc 100Ided bl irN.·r1illg "ql.lr.lle b.lh~ irllo the metal cartridge case, and a plill1er in:.erted inlo lhe ba..e of lhe ca..e. Loading \\";1.. Glrrit:·d OUl bl placing lhe shell hllO Ih(: brn'ch fir"l and Ihen Ihe cartridge. One uf Ihe lIlo.. 1 illgt:l1io\l~ de\'ice.. fur making the 25-pounder ..0 \,crs:lti\c 11';1.. the firing pl.ltfoflll. There \,en: lWu \cr..ium: the Iargel :\'0.9 and IIU' 1\:0.22. Ill(' fonJl(:r I)(:in/{ for Ihe .\lk. I carriage. rhe latter for tht: i\tL II plalfonn in "l'c()nd~ IdH..'n' it ll"Ollld h;t\·c 160...degrec 1ll00'Clll('1I1. Thi~ could ;llso be C,II ricd our wilhout tht' \"l;'hic1e hut Wilh lhe No.27 lnlilcr heing used ;l.. a fu!lnull. bUI it "';IS a !ahoriou.. proCC1>s. \\'hen the gun II~I~ placed on lilt' plalfonn the 1I,lil ~pade I\,l" normally covered. This II';I~ tu pre\"ent rhe spack Irolll diggillH" into the ground whell rhe gun rlccc!ed lO be U';I\"erM.:d r';lpidly for ;mli-tank work. Thl.: I'rohert scait' \)1" mng:(' ~(call: i~ Olll:11 kllUlHI as a ..mge cone and combilll:d :1 llullllxr of kat llr"l;'~. II expre"sl:d l:mgenl e1e\~HiOI1. thiglt ..... The cOile i~ eng"':l\ec! wilh a lang-elll elevation scale on its b,l1>e reading between 0 and 45 deg-rec... I{ange .. cale~ gr.ldualed in hllndred~ ofprds arc all>O el1gm\(~d on the cone. In addition. a IUlILLIe \'e1ocit) reader ann could IX' read orr agaiml lhe cone. The range scale cone made all of the a IX'lweell sighting e1e\~ltion and charge much easi('1" to <;('t lhc nl.lin indirect fire inSlrumenl of the gunnel". II could Ix: rel"Ohed IX:lW('('1I 0 and 160 dcgrecs so thai prominent fealllrcs

11

A close-up 01 the Probert range dl"\lm and range quadrant cover on the MJrbat 2!1-pounder, This gun has been Iitted wIth the No.1 Mk, I dial sight. (Courtesy of RAHT)

12

on Ihe bnd-.cape could Ix: \;ewt'd, The bearing bet\,'('cn an aiming l)(Jim and the tolfget could be Gilcul;ued and the gun offSCI from the aiming lX)illl b\ the ~unc amoun! of degrees called do\,'n from the front by the oly;en'er through the command pOSl. If this was SCI 011 the sight of the gun ,md the gun \\~tS u'l\crscd back to the aiming l)(Jilll, the gun would then be aiming:1l the large!. There were '\e\·clein,l{ the No.7A. No.iC and No.9 In>cs. For direct aiming the gum t'lllplmed the No.~ or the No.4l sigilling tde~cope. [II addilioll 10 'ighl.'l, the gun IWluired a ~ight clinometer to indicau' the angk of ~ight and often a lidd clinometer \\~.tS used for elemtiOIl. thc lidel clinoillctcr ~lk. (j beinj{ used fol' this pUI"JX)se. Among the mol'(' cllrio\l'i instruments for sighting were the aiming po..ts. These were two metal rods p;linled in bbck ami while seClion~ with;1I1 adjll~table l1lllnlX'red crossbar 011 the top. The aiming POSI.S wcrt' int('neled to 1)(' ll"c'd where there \\'crc no pr01l1inelll ft:alure .. for ;nl aimillg point or \'i~ibi1it}' \'~IS had, The dial sight could be focused UII them. There were (WO tYlws: th(' No,l for the field gUll ~l11d Ihe No,~ fur the se!t:pl'Olwlkd gUll, Thl'l"c were six \'ersions of the gUll barrel itself. The origillal was tilt.: ~Ik, [ barrel with a loose liner, The Mk. II was the standard design and lhis "~IS manufactllred in Canada ~l11d known as the C ~[k. II. It was llSt'd at abuut the ,al11c lillIe as lhe :.tallelard ~Ik. II, during the earlr pan of the "';'11'. It is di~lillglli~l,ahk hr tIle linear silh01lctte orlhe barre! ~howing a larger 1111171le ;l1'l'a. Tht' ~Ik. III was introduced in 1944 and had the chamber altered ~o th,ll whell the Kun W;'IS c1emtcd the projectile did not ~lip b;'l('k OLlt of the chamlwr. The area knOlm as the shot seating was allcreel to get thi~ effect. Again. there was also a C."111adian \ersion of ll,b, lllark denoled C ~Ik. III. The ~H... [V barrel was an attempt to stop the breech ring cl~lcking when Ill(' gun fired. b\' slight]\' changing il.'l ~hape. The ~tk. \'1 barrel was tht, final aheralion, made in 1964. in \,'hich the breech ring was 1ll.lde of beller <juali., steel. Often one can see the u,m.. jliOll<; a 25-pounder gUll ban-e! has undergone h\' looking at lhe

brl.'ech ring. Stamped numbers 011 the breech tl\lrmall)' indicate Wh;lt m... rk lhe gun i~ and \\'hether il ha~ 1)('('11 alu·rt'd. The breech ring itself changed ~iA"llilicantl\' IW1W('('11 tilt' ~lk. J and Mk. 11 examples. the ;\Ik. 11 brc{'ch being {,l\lird~ ll{'W. Th{' br{'{'chopel~llillg k\'cr wa" 10 lhe rig-ht orll1e grin \,'h{'ll f:lcillg tile breech. whil"t thc gun was fircd by a 1c\,{'r placed Uti Ihe lcn sid{' 0pcI~It{'d through a mechanical linkage. It \\"'>orbing Ihe cnerg-. or recoil ami comrollil1K I1m-()ut. and returned the gun to tht: rulh nm-QUI l>O'>ition and mainlilined il Ih{'re.11 ,III angle~ or c1e\;ltiOII. In order to unde!'litand ho\\ Ihi.. i.. dOlle, one Il{'('d.!l to look at the C\linder block itself. \\hich had rOllr C\lindel'li: th{' buffer. the hnlropllculIIatic c}linder. tht" liquid cllind{'1' :uld tll{' reSl.'noir ror the bunel'. A pistoll nms lip and dO\\'n the buffer along rour ~pir:11 groo\'t~<;. \\'hen the gun lire<;, the piston rotate, along the gJ'ooles and allow~ liquid to flow lhrough a I<11\t: lIloulll{'d 011 it w th,lt. ;1.. the pi..ton turn!>. it also reduces the alllOllJII orJiquid 1I00\;ng Ihrough 10 lhe other .!Iid{' or the ch;ullbcr. This comrols the kId at which the gun recoils. In addition to thi... the h)dropllcumatic rt:cup{'r:ltor had a fluating: pi!>lon thai <;t:parated the air and liquid ch:llnb('J'~. On firing. liquid \\,1$ rorced rrom lh{' liquid c)linder into the hrdropnellmatic C}lindt·r. rompre'ising the air behind lhe piston and reducing recoil. Com'er,cl), during rUll-ollt or whell lhe gun begins 10 relllrn to ils normal po~ition. the cOlllprcs~d air

Sighting elTengements on the Aust..nen 25-pcH.IrMter, st>owlng e No.9 dlel sight end sighting teleKope. (Courtes, of RAHT)

13

The breech mech.nl.m 01 the Mk. II gun. complete with firing lock l.trlker c••e). Thi. could be ••sUOY Nlmovltd by pulling on the ret.lni"1! e.tch, seen he.e to lhe right, .nd pulling It 'rom the block. This in effecl disablltd the gun. !Courtesy 0' RAHT}

ill lhe rcrupcr.uor forct''' lht, f10aling pislon forward and liquid i" forced lhrough Ihe re«lrdins.; \;II\'c. lneclheh, Ihe buffer works in the oppo,ile wa\ to rcroil and ..110\" ,moolh cOllLrol 011 nm-oul. All\one \dlu h,l~ the n:IITo\\,cr carri,lgc dC'lign fOI' lhe jungle. but lhe linal main design change \,.." lhe 1\lk. III carriage. \lhich wa~ a lIIodification ofllU' 1\lk. I caniagc bUI 1I"ed with Ihe ,mallcr No.22 firing pbtfonn. TIl(' wail '("ction" of the rcar quarter (If the gun werejoil1\cd so that till' gUll could oc c1c\;th:d up to ang-lcs of ~J.r) dcgn·e". This II;IS an imprOlCIl1Clll 011 earlier mcthod" of (·!t.·\;llion. which ill\"oh'cd digging a gunp!l fllr the u;lil. HI;\Cl..els wt'n: rcpositioncd o1llht" gun tmilto allow lor tht'joilllillg' lllt'chani"m. When openll(·d. lhi.. allowed lhe forw;'lrd p:trt of lhl' 11~ti11O n'st on lhe grol II ld whil,t the r('ar part lay flat on it. Cle:lrlv. lhe plallol'lIl \I;I~ nOI ll".'d ill 1IH' high-:1l1j..;k 1110de.

" Mk. III c.rr18ge filtltd with • Mk. I .nleld. The pliltfOf"m I. the No.22, which W•• 01

14

•1m.""

clrcumf.,...,..;•. (Courtesy of RAHT)

Even with motor trensport, thle 25_pounder on Mk, III carrl.ie II difficult to move on the muddy roade Of Burma. Th. covera on the muzzle etop dirt lrom i.ttlni Into the barrel and prelum.bly there lIon. on th. b.-.ch. Even the emallelt llraln 01 dirt In the breech mechanl.m C(Xlld rend.r the IIIlrl un......k •• b•••nd liable to be stripped down. (IWM)

AMMUNITION It i~ oncn Mid LhaL a gun i.) onh .1 dcli\el'\ dcvice, thc rC.11 \ICapOII lX'ing Ihe ammunition, The 2:)'-polll1(l('r W'L" provided wilh a \el'\ \;:Ided ..deCliOlI of ;Ullmunilion, InfTl';l:-in~ it~ \er...ltilit\, nu:re Ilere al le,bl four main t\'pes of projeclile; high-c~plo,he. 'moJ...e, annour-pkrcing .md carrier rollnd~ u.;;ed 10 ddher ';;lIch thinWl a.) propaganda. tlu: laller IX'ing a fidd adapladUl' uf the '1ll0J...l' tound. A.~ h.t~ Ix:etl melllioned. the :Itllnulllition \1':.tS :o.epar;lle loading, that i:o. the projectile ami Girt ridge were placed in the ~un ..epar;lIeh. The charge ~\'''I(,1ll cOllsi ..ted uf pt opella"t it' a :o.crie~ of lllodt,lar pacJ...aj.;l" that cOllltl be combined bl adding or rClllming them to gel the required hallistic ch.II'lcleristic. The hag~ we-'re placed 11I';;lde a bra.... cartridge ca~e Ihal \1"" filled with a hase prlull.:r. The canridge ca.)e \1,1' 'liglllh tapered and eXIx:rimel'L'I weill on throllgholl\ the war 10 replace the br;"s II'ilh a material thai \I~'S more re-'adilr ;1\.,ilab1c. Gc"er;lll~, ther(' \1':'<; a normal charg-e consi~ting- of three col()llred bah~ of propellatlt atld a ~Upct'("h;lrgc, Illlicl, was an additional bundle of propellam. The thrce charge' lI'cre 'llpposcd to lo;il'c "l1lgc~ a~ follows: Ch;I\'gc I Ch;tl'l-\c 2 Chal'gc 3 Sitpel'ch;trgc

(red) (rt.:d and whitc) (rcd, whitt." and blu!;)

~,5GG tit 7,1~2 tll

IO,i90m

12.2:,3111

The fact that the ammunition \I~'S nOI IO.LClcd in a ~inglc package did nOt mean thaI the gun could llOt Ix: fired mpidl), Accordillg to one ~ollrce with the 4th Ficld Reg-Imcrll, RO,"ill Canadian Aniller)'. the fastest ..lte at which a gUll was fired and time{1 \I~I~ I i rounds Ilt."r minute. An incredible "lie of fire, and probably nOI MI~t;linable for long. but which demonstrates that separate loading \I'IS nOt a handicap when II came to firing l'lpidl~. The ~Ik. I gUll was prodded \Iith high-cxplosi\"c. ~moke BE (Base Ejection) ilnd amlOlir-pierdng shot. III 1910. thc"l' were the HE ~It.., I D. the ~Ik. I D BE smoke :o.i1ell and the ~lk. IT anllOlIl~piercing

15

shot made of~,cel. which had an internal Iracer. The main high-cxplosiw shdl rcmained Ih<: liE streamlined. ~Ik. 10, and was used ill COltiUllClioll willI a llllluher of IIN:S. For CX:ullple. lht: high-explosi\c projectile cOllld bc uscdwith the liSE, Iii. 117B. 119. 119B,231,232.222.213.T97E6 and the T97[9. all of which served different purposes. The highcxplosi\t: projectile was painted a buff colour to denote its cOl1tcrllS. Thc"C ..hells WCI'C Ilonnall\' filled with Amalol but could al..o I~ filled with TNT or RDX. Olher colours used \\cre green for smoke and black for annour-picrcing. There were aho differently coloured bands around tht' head and I)()(I}. Head

Red ring R(.'(I crosse" in ,I ring Bbd. ring "I)()\c rcd ling Whill' ring

indicated the shell was filled filled shell suitable fOl' hOI dimale~ fiued ,\;th exploders suit;lble fOl' a powder-filled fuse :lnlluur-piercing shol

8od)'

CrC(.'1I b.md Two bl.lel.. band... One biOId-. band Yello\\ band

Amatol or T~T lilled 1-1 £ practice emp" shell for drill pr.lctice projectile

Thc 25-pollnck'I' W'L' al~o pro\'id('d with an allLi-tank rOllnd cOIl... i~ting of annour-picrcing wlid shol with a copper drh'ing band, SlllOI..C and propage, This was considered 10 be particularh lI...eful again ...t Gcrman 88 nUll gun crew", Casllahie" found after lhe battle- ,,'crt' hidden at till' b01l0111 of a Slil trench and could onl\ h.l\c bccn GHI ... ed b)' "ir·bur"t rounds, !llan)' other types of projcctilc Il'cre experimcnlcd wilh and tcsted, but in generallhe high-cxplo~i\(' rollnd~ ;lIld carrier roulllh wcre 1110...( Il'iddr uscd. Tilt' charlJ,c .'>)'.'>t\..'lll ',';.IS altcred 011 a IlUmber of occasions, and to ~il'(' more \,cl...atilit)' lhl' charges w\..'rc C\Clllllall}' di,'i{kd inlo ~l'Vl'n ditlt-n'nl option~.

TOOLS AND STORES

,.

No anilkr)' piece is cOlllpkll' withoUI its complimcnt of touls and cquiplllent. ,,'itholll which a 1J,'111l can be relldert:d llllseniceahk \cr\' quickl)'. The 2.>-pounder !Ilk. II on !Ilk. I carriage \'';.IS prm'i{kd with a \';.Irid) of tooh to cope with 1Il()~1 c\"cnltmlitie". The following' i~ a li~t 01 tools provided for lI~e wilh tht: 1J,'1I11: Ad.tpton. Air pipe ~o.2 PIUllPS - Tht:rc 1'·Cl'l.' 111'0 pumps pro\'idcd wilh tht: 25-pollll(ler and both I,'cn: illlcndcd lO I'ccharge the recuperator \,'hen liquid or air \\':t~ needed, A ~1..t:1 \\';.IS pro\'ided on the tmil "t.'ction into which lhL' pump \';IS placed,

Ii 25·pounder 'Iring In IUPpot1 ot

,""ouri'd dlvilloni In Nonnend,. 19"4. It II lilt full ..eoli end mutt IUlt have lMoen 11r1'd. The shield '- up, 10 Ihe gun e1ml"1l point mUlt be 10 the ...er ollhe piece. (lWM)

NO.1 pllmp No.14 l1IulllinaLing apparallls for all aill1ing' poillt - This item \\~IS for firing at niglu. as the gun needed a reference point 10 locale bearing. ~olllclirncs known as the GAP or Gun Aiming Point. Sighl.!> ~lo.5 1'\0.7 glln pull-back Quick release attachment No.1 Boxes. charging pumps Spade plalfonn :-':0.2 c.'lp sponge :'\'0.6 Cl<.'ancr I~Iasaba :-':0.18 Cleaner \\"001 :-':0.1 Field Clinomeler CO\cni - breech. mUZLlc. sight and o\cr.11I (:>amctimes known as an elephant cO\'cr and used to cO\'cr thc gun in lnmsit) EjcClor projectile - One \en impol1.nll 1001 for the gunner was the projcctile ejectors. The cjector Mk. I and ~lk, II \\ere designed to forcc a projectilc back down to\\'aHls the breech if it was sluck in the chamber for all\" rcason. The head of the ejector was so designed that it would not exel1 undue prcSllure Oil the fuse when being applied from the muzzle end. PrCs.,UH.' gauges Striker protrusion :-':0.16 Iialld~pikc 25-pounder l..;:lrtridKc holder 25-pOlltldcr QF Kc\~ - all llormallr used with ammunition No.3-I for the clrtridge primcr No.119 for inserting and rcmm'Ing fu'>C~ No.120 for setting fuses No.12l for inserting or removing 2-inch percussion fu~es No.139 for seiling the No.2lO time fuse Fu'e indicator No.20 2.f>-ton lifting jack Pullingjack No.2

17

A 25.pounder Mk. II of the

141h Army In Burma In 1944. The

crew h.. ettached drag ropes to the wheet. and I. attemptlll9 to move the gun. The rope. would normally be attached to the lront ollh••"Iald. (Court••y 01 RAHT)

Kc... muzzle ,·clocil\' corrector scale reader Remo\'lngjammed QF Glrlridge :-':0.1 Cocking lam;'tr<1 No.7

Pipe. charging No.2 Plane testing di,,] sight carrier ~o. 7 or No.7e dial sight Platform No.9 PostS, aiming crosshcad No.1 R:ullrncr QF 25-pdr Rcser\'Oir comprc~sed air 55-inch diameter SLOp 1111llling back -

Thj~

was a metal bracket th,1I was lined to the rcar of

the b::UTet breech assembly [0 stop Telescope sighting 1\'0.29 Spanners and special implements In addition to all of this

il

from sliding back ofT lhe (.;,.dle.

cqlliplllCl'll.

lhe

~Ull

h;ld such thinKS as

spades and drag ropes nonnally !;ISICIlCd LO the front of tIll: shield and held in the from stores tray of the No.27 'lI111l1UlIitioll trailer. Fl.lnhcr additions were axes, oil can~. hacksaws and a drift.

ORGANISATION III 1939, Royal Artillcll' Field Regilllen~ I,'ere the ones who were 10 receive the 2f>.polinclcr ~'k. I. A regiment was [ormcd of ,\,'0 12-gun hallcrics. {';lell of three +gUll troops. There were three regiments to a di\ision. so lheorclicalh a division should consist of 72 25-pollndcrs.

,.

The Detachment

In the Ropl Artillel"}. the crew of the gun is knowil as the dClachmCIll. 'nlis goes back 10 the carh cla\'.'> of the regiment when gunners were

formed into cOll1pank~ alld thl.:ll wl.:re delached to their v,lrioll~ g'11l1~. Tllt:rc wcre ~is lllC11 ill a 25-pounder detachl11elll and tile) \\"el"e numbered from Olle to ,is as lx:I(JI\'. No.1 the COllllllall(!l:r, made brJ:;"(' lnl\'er~es of the gUll and was nonnall\' po.'>itioll(c'd to thc rcaI'. No.2 held Ihe l~lIllinel' and operated the brN'eh lewr. lie ~lnod co Ihe riKhl or the: gun l\llI'n d('\\cd frolllthc I'car. No.3 l..llown ,I.'> lilt: 1.1\·cr. hl' ,at on the \\()()(Iell scat at the left uflhe gUll and :H~ill!'oll.'c1 Ill{' ~ighL'" Ill' also ~ignalll.:d acUIIStlllCiliS 10 Ihe No.1 during !;Ifge lI-;I\·l·....,l·~ and fired the gUll. NoA 1\,:1.'> the 10.lder and placc..-d the projectile and charge illln thc hreech, :\0.5 pas..'>ed ammunition 10 NoA :md checked Ihe fuse seuings. No.6 the second ill conuJlalld. SCt the fll~'S and lhe chargl'S. He "~l.'> also re..ponsible for the bmking and movement of the trailer.

FIELD ARTILLERY TRACTORS Although main lhnl.'>t of thi.'> wOI'k is the gun itself. il is :.cnsiblc 10 ~I\ something of the 100\;ng \chick.... IIScd \\;th lhc 25-poundcr. Initialh. the 2~"pollnder )'\l... I \\~lS lOwed b\ lhe Dragon scril.'S of :ulillen lracco~ mallllfactun..d b\ Vjcl..er" Armstrong. and photographic C\;deIlCl' shmo'S thai 'IOmc wcre 'lC1H 10 Fr.mcc \\;th lhe BEF to tow thc Mk. I glln, The'\(' \chicles I\cre prol>;lbh lhe LiglH DI lhe CDSW 6s'l ridd anillcn tractor, which \\~l.'> manur.'CllIred 1)\ .\Ionis in 1936. l-Iol\'l'\·er. four-wheeled \'chic1c~ I\'erc considered and in 19:\7 a slx:cilication was issued for a four-whcel-dri\'c artillery ImCLDr. There \\'crl' tllree main companies involved: Collllller. Guy and r-lorris Commercial. The Quad, as it became kno\\'n, \\~IS Ihe distinctive Morris C8 InVD Field AI1illclY Traclor or FAT for shon. This ,"chide \\'ellllhrough tiLrl'C llIarks and a redesign ofbod)'work during the Second World War but \\~L~ the most widely used form Oflf
Field 'rtUlery tr.ctor1l of 0 troop, 42/53 Field B.ltery,

photogr,phed In September 1940 ne'r SultOn on Se•. The troop were re-equlpp.ed .fter Dunkirk .nd thIs photo show, ...rly mornlnll MT Inspection. ICourtety 01 RAHTI

t.

Th. Canlldilln FO·T Field Artillery Tr.elor, thll mOil widely u'ed 4.4 ".ctor 01 thll s.c:ond World W.r. (Author's photograph)

France. C."t.nada Ford and Canada General :\tOlOrs also produced a FAT of lhe C."t.nadian ~Iilil<m' Pe ,,'cre manufactured. The main U"
AMMUNITION TRAILERS An}' photOgr'aph orthe 25-poundcr olllhc mo"c shows the gUll linked to a small trailer lhal in turn was hooked lip to the Quad or tractor. The lmilcr was also known as the lit11ber and was a vitill piece of cqllipmcnl not (ml}' because it carried the al11l11tHliliotl bUI alsu because it held

A eontlKl'lpo",ry d,..wln.g 01 the ••rly No.2. lImmunltlon ....II.f,

20

uk_" from In. 25·pounde, Mk. I IundbocHl o' 1840. (Aulnor's photographl

-',",

many ~lon·s. Tht:fe II'ere in fact t\\'o IrpCS of aml1lunition lrailer - the No.2-1 and the ;-';0.27. The No.2'1 \\~IS a pfC-I\~lr dc\'c[opmclll. \,'hich \l'a~ quickl\' rt:plac~d b\ the li1l1l01l~ No.27 ~hortly before the \\~lr beg-Ill. Ammunition tr,lil<,'I"i could be linked and acted as the ammunition trailers of a gun ~eClioll: thc\ wcre referred [0 as ammunition lJ~lilers front and re..... The two tlhcet stl-'el \\'ith I\ood felt and stecllinings. The :\'0.27 :umnullitiOIl trailer \\~1S :1Il improvemcnt on the :\'0.24 because it had mon' space for tools and spares and could carry the Iiring platform 011 top. A 1>tecl Mores 11....\ was filled on the frolll of Ihe ammunition box. gil ing morc nexibilit\. The trailcr had 1>imil;tr ammunition tr:tl~ to the 1"0.21. which werc open. The :\'0.27 trailer had a later de1>ign lI'ith altcred tr;wl; that completeh encomp;l~d Ihe projectile and propellant. hinb';ng in the middle so that either object could be remm·ed. Some \ctcmns of the desert war ha\'c commcmcd lhat the reflcctors on the \l'hide and trailer were often smashed so that lhel would not reflect the ,un, which allowed them to be easih detected m enCIll\ ground-:utack aircraft. The front mIl' nonnalh' held axel;.

The "'0.27 emmunilion 10I'1er with later Pf'OIoectlle end eharge kolden, The eartler modals of the tOlller had a almpte, lIal tray to hoW the projec:Ule. The projec:t1ons on the open door ere meant to kold the treys Ilnnly In place when closed. (Courtesy 01 RAHT)

.,

crOld);U"l>. the pn~l'clik (jccwr. hambpilcs. a jack. a -"palk, ''''0 drag rope... alld the ilIulllillall,d ;timing poilll \Iith ib post "piing .1IIt! cmer.

OPERATIONAL HISTORY

22

The Second World War The Guns with the British u'I:teditionary Force in France The .uTi"tl of the Ikili...h E);I~diliuna ..... Force in France in 19-10 ,lIId ib 'ub't.'quc!Il C\';ICll;U;OIl fmlll Dunkirk is a ",ell-documented Mon, ~'am diflcr('1ll 1\'1)(''< ofanillt'r\ eqllipment ,,'ere 'lent 10 fr.lllce hilt. ,,,piralh. older CqUiplllCIlI \''<1'" i,... ut"d. :>uch :I... the IS-pounder \Iith ib accOIllpal1\ing I.f>-inch howit.l.cr.. (admillcdl~ 011 pneumatic wheel ..). II i.. al"O lnu,' lhal 'Ollll' c1i";,,ional arlille!"\' reginu:nl!. conlained IXllh Ill{' IR-poundcr .lnd the IS/:!5-pOlllltkr. Various methods of tr;IlI"'port II ere ;1\'1;labl('. including the {'arlit'r II.ICIOI.... 'lIcll as Ihe Lighl Dr:lgon ~1"" II. In all, 70-1 18/2!>-pollnrkr~ Wt'rc IOSI in Fr,ulCc and the Gerlllall~ look lull ach-.lIllage or lid, windfall h} adapling Ihem 10 lheir own mc. The :,-polllldef'l ill Gennan ~{'r'\'i('(· he,alllc known ;1'1 Ihe R. 76 ern feldk:lIlollt, 2Hl (e) for Ihe ~Ik, IV \'t'f~ion and liu· H,7C, nn feldkanone 2M2 (e) I\ith the ~lk, VI' c;trriage, Dllrillg: 19~8 and 19!'l9, the Ropl AflilkfY weIll throlll-{h a pcriod ofrc;mn:tIlwnl Ih:ll was elTalic and partial. Ifol1t, re:Hl~ Thc 1\'iU' dbric~ ot lhc \~triolts field ITl-{inH:nts, il is possibk to l-{et The 11:1\ our uf II Ie ~v-callcd ·phonc}' war· in which Ihe Bril ish Am I}' rerllained in limbu a~ rel-{ard~ The Threal lh,ll I\~IS accumulaling in Ellrope, For eX;lInpk, :;O/70th Field Ihllef\' of the 241h Fidd RegillH:lll W('111 10 Tilshcad GlInp OIl 20 August 1938 for practict· with the nCI\ IR/2,-~pollnd('r /{llll. Tht' COIlHnenlS made h}' onicer>; pre~l·Tll were f.l\olll1 how quid,l\ Ihc!>e gUll>; and dc...chmcnLS \Icrc aboultO be thrOI\·ll inlO aClion againsl 1Ill' a{h~\1ldng C('IlH:lIl jllgg<-'rnalli. Fiw: l110mhs later lhc gUll" would .,land lhdr finn rCOIllc<;t. On 15 M,t\ 1910, lhe Hallen cro\.<;('d lhe Belgian bonkr ami 1)\ 16 ~Ia\. il wa~ in ,Ielion ~llpporiinK H~ Infallln Brigark ,mt'rinf{ th€'

5a B,tt.-,y, t8th FIe+d Brigad., at Bulfonl In 1838. The auns .re the 18125·pounCe, on Mk. VP c.~ with the Morris CDSW towing .....k .. end No.24

.mmunltion t .. I1••, wtlkh was obscHet. before the beginning 01 the Second Wor1d Wa•. (Courtesy 01 RAHT)

fort"'l of Soigl1ic~. Thc ncXI lew da}s wcrc olles of illlellSc ~lcli\'iIY ill which Iht'l{lln" \1'efC in anion timc ;\mllirne again.l~'pical of actions all along the ffont Ift.·ft' IhO~t' of A. U and C. Troops: '[n action at Worlllhotll, 0.1'. [ob~en~llion po~tl Cendafmel'it.' (Rowland,on) t'ngagcd a con"iderable number of enCIl1\" infant .... and tall~. O.I~. almo~1 ~\lITOlll1dcd and linallv abandolled when line \I~l~ brokcn. RobilbOll willt IIQ 6 Gloucc!>lcrs al Lt:drinhcm. Uan.tlion "urrollnded Robin"on ami O.P. part\' (\\'amc, \\'I;ght &: llawkill") fOllglll their \I' were sunk in the GUlal belween I-Iondshoole and Bra\ Duncs. It is nOl lno\\"n Itow thi.. \1ueh a large scale again. as til(' 25-pollnder l\lk, II became a\
The 25-pollndcr Mk. II in Action The lirsl ~lk. II 2:)-pOlll1der glll1~ were a\~\ilablc in t\pril 1940 ;111(1 lI'ere i... stled to SOllle field regiments of the Canadian Annr al Lltal litlle, It I\'ottld seem that the lirsl baucry of British gunncrs to ll~C lhe

Mk. U 25·pouooer in a Nonnandy field. The nonna' proc:edure WIlS 10 dig tha gun in 10 a gunplt on a ~nl\ilnent posItion as soon as possible. The wa, lh40 gun i. deployed suggest. that It ha. been ..... hed Inlo action, IIWM}

23

25-poundcr hlk. II ill action were ,llose of203 B
A 25-pounder Mk. II In the We.tern De. .rt, 11141-42. Unu..... Uy, the lIun ha. a mariling on the t,..II, pos.ibly denoting the troop. Th. balTlll ....as also mar1ted along In. centnl line at tn. muzzle, Th• •:o:plo,ion near

24

the lIun may be the count..... bettery "reo ICourt_y 01 !\AHY)

."8<:t

of

•7m• ~

.' ·· ·•" ,•

mN

• m O·

~.

C

~,

~ 'm' ,

0

• c

• o

~ ,. , •, <

••

o

.. B: 18/25-pounder gun on Mk. VP c:arrlage,

British E.peditionarJ Force; France, 1940

C1: 25·pounder Mk. II carriage with Morris Quad

C2: 25·pounder Mk. III carriage with Chevrolet Quad

n

D: QF 25·POUNDER GUN MK. III ON MK WITH NO.27 TRAILER

,-

19 FII10Q kx::k

2 No.9 Oral Sl!1rt 3 No,4! s.ghtJng t£ll8$COpe

11 T¥lQEIl'lI elellalJOn bracket

20 FlmQ lever

12 D!aI SIght case

4 Range scaI& cone

13 l.ockng plate

21 Butler/rec:upQ'8tor 22 Gunlayer's seat 23 Fmg platform 24 Soghl IXlf1 CCNer

5 Range II'\dICalor hand wheel 6 Muzzle velooty reader 7 EJevatl!'l9 arc: 8 T~ hand wheel 9 EJevaI.-.g hand wheel

D

,. SoddIe

14 No2 platform spade box

15 SIght clnorneter case 16 Muzzle brake

25 Stores tray

17 Coo'ltEll"oNell;1lI 18 IJEm::aI cIOSlng bf8eCh

27 Trail tunper

26 Towng hook attaetvnent

. CARRIAGE SPECIFICATION 28 F'nng platform catch 29 Arnrnuntoo locker door 30 Spong"'" 31 P9rdl blrnper 32 lJftng handle

33 """'" .,. 34 """'" """"

Detachment: 6 Weight: 35 cwt. 1 Qtt Barrel length: 98 nches Width: 7 feet Muzzle velocity: 1.700 fVsec Mallimum range: 13.400 yds Mallimum elevation: 40 degrees Depression: 5 degrees Ammunition system: separate loading rn.Att--dwge No.27 ammunitton trailer (limbef) Weight (with stores and ammunidon): 30 ewt 3 qtr 1 III Length: 10 !eel 9 InChes Width: 6 feet 11 nches Ammunition capacity. 32 tOlrlOs., 16 trayS

E1: 25-pounder gun on Mk. II carriage (Jury Allie)

E2: Ordn.nee OF 25·pdr Short (Aust) Mk. I on Carrl_ge light (Aust) Mk. I

E

F1: The Bishop mounting and carrier, Valentine, 2!5-pounder Gun, Mk. I

F2: The Sellton •• if-prop.lled mounting

F

" G: Mlrbat, Oman, 1972; the I•• ' 2S·pounder

u.ed in action

for Iht:M: force~, The h'1.HlS were 1J,1I1l1x:red bv lhe 'oil '.llld, Ihe tr,lils and plall"onm requiring reasonabl} linn g-rolllld tu lire ";lIi,IaCl(lril". and IIt:re a \"er\" long- \"~I\' ;l\I~:I\' 1'1'0111 their ..llpP0rl leh ide.., [',oudil ion, were oftt'n "" bad tha! Ihe ~:-"'poundcrs had !n lx' willchl'd OIl'r mug-h grollnd II hen wilhdrawing. 1100..'e\'er, tht' \tar!ling \iC(oric, uf 1111;,' I\r;ti,h m('r the It,llian<; hid the faet Ihat mo,t Bril;,h wcapon" \Il'rt' nOl c:.pahk of c1calinK wilh h('.I\,\ armuur, Tht:' ~:"'pollllder h,ld lillie pl'Oblt:lll ,1J.;~lil1,t ligh!h ann<.'{l Italian tanh, bUI lhe aITi\,11 of RUllll11t'r" Afri\..;1 KOlVS changed lhe ,iulation complelc1\', AIllll'd with Iht, f;unnll" R8 mm 1-1al... gun (the ~,-J-polillder\..~lSabo aOOm H8 mm ill calibrt:) .md I'anler [II and 1\' tanl!., lhl' war in Ihe de it wa." ;l\(lilabk for tilt' IR ~;·J-ptlllnd('I"'. but nnt ;n large 11t1l11bcr~. In rcalill, thc 2:-"'pollndcl' \\~I!'> 11,('d ill ! like Lhis. gun Cl'el"S cOllld Ix: picked 011 al will and as onc commentator put it: 'the old horse anil1en t;lnic, - quick a{h~II1C~. quick I\n limlx'ring 10 action fm11l. quick r('1 iremenl (if 'llcll \\~IS oHlered) - did nul WOI'l. and 110 mloul' and skill could ha\{' llIade thcllllI'ork. in a terrain whcre 60 hOl'sepo\\'cr could nul do wllal ~ix hOl"M:~ h,ld. mer dt.-cent KO;I1Io;. 'iO often done.' In fact. according 10 reporL~ from Nowmbcr 19-12, imlireci lire on tank fonll:lLions \,~LS comiderl'd to lx' fal more enccti\'e. If l'ncm}' 11mb in numl)('I" \\crc .seen bl .1Il ob\t'..... ~t1ion IX>SI. a concentralion of fire was brought down upon tlWlll, It was dinicult to judge lhe effecl ofthis fire bec;l1Isc il \\..~ o~ur{'d Il\ dUSlilnd heal \\~I\t°S. For example: 'In one case a regimental cOllrenmuion fired 011 "Ollie

33

22 2

The dltflcutltu 01 transport along desert roads. A gun troop attempting to negotlate a blocked dese" road, and the gun In the rear has been unlimbered. NOle the upper shield of the gun I\.as been folded down for travelling. This would also be do_ If the dial sight needed a forward view. (IWM)

30 enelll\ mnls \Iilh Ihe fL..,ult. il is alleged. lhat:; were -.et on fire. ,I fCI\ wcre 'loppt:d and the re~' \\;Ihdr('\\,.. 111e main conclll~ion \\'a~ lhat the conCl'nu~l\ion of a rCRimell1 of gilib 011 lank groups 111\";'I1;"bh led 10 \1'ith(h~I\\";'11 of 'he I.lllk..l.: 'The 2;~~pr al ,"Hlhing bUI ,hon range" i<; not a good killer of ';Il1\...~ but rhal In:a\'\ COlICl:nll~11 iOIl~, panicularl\' if Ihe fire of llH:di\lrn~ I g\ln~ J i<; illc1udcd .ll"C dTecliH: ill diwrganbing ('!It:Ill\ lank formatiol1~ alld up:-ctling their plalh. C:hllaltic~ 10 enellw lanks mll"t depend 011 Iheir di<;lkr;ioll '" Firing direct in ib ,ecolllbry rolt: a troop of 25-poI111d('r" can knock OUI lallk~ al "hon 1~I11g"e~, but a~ all A(tk weapon a 25-pr i~ far inferior HI tilt' 6-pl'.' 1\ hi~h-('xplo,i\l' ,1l{.'11~ would normall) onl~ dcstroy or irlllllobili,e a lank ifil hil a ltOlck or the lOp ofdw 1II1n·t. There arc rnall)'t.'xal11plt" of Ihe 2,Ij.. poullfkr hdllg" ll~ed a~ a ~horH,lllgc \\'eapon against l;l1lks, hUI il \I";'I~ llle t'a~(' Wilh which lhe gun could be.' u":lincd on:l tal'gcl lhal I11callt il \\~l:- 11101'(' ~lIitabk thall olhel' ticld g'Ul1~ for lhis liSe. OlltCI""

3.

The battlc of El Alamcin Of "II lhe grC'1I ,u"lilkI1 Ixungcs. lhal preceding the ballle of EI Alal11cin ,,"
On(: of the greal ch'lilges lilat occurred in late 1941 was tIle reorganisation of 111(' RO>~11 Anillcl)'. This led 10 a differenl mode of handling" mas~cd gU11~ occausc signalling cemres and the cemral control of gum had been pre\'ioll'l)' divided up. The Ropl Artillery '\~lS able 10 make gooc!lhc'>C changc~ al EI Alamcin becausc the)' wcre in ,ol11rol of the I\'hole barrage. ElTectivd), there \\~IS a separale chain of comlnand for the gUll~ thai followed lire plans made b)' artillery officers, l....ll-gC fonnatiolH. 'O\lch as the c0'l)~ or dhision, had an artillery ad\;sor 10 direct the b'1.lIlS, This Ivpe of lIml>~ed gUll cOlllrol was panicularl)' prevalenl in lhe SOIiet Anm. From 19·12 onwards, Ihe Ro)'al Artillery I,'ere increObingl)' required 10 carn outlarg<,"fornmtion filing, Guns could be ordered 10 fire ~ a scrie~ of 'I>ccilic order~ thaI indiclled lhe siLe of Ihe firing group. A 'Mike' Iarget order gale the fire of an anillel)' regiment (2'1 b'1.lI1s), an 'Uncle' t;lrgct g-.I\"C the fire of a di\ision (i2 b'1.lTls) and a 'Victor' target concenu~II{.'(1 the firc ofa corp~ (150-2j() guns). 111e auack of the 2nd :\e\\' Zealand Di\;sion on the night of 1/2 NO"ember w.lS accolnpanied b) a b.'uTIlge of2j-pounder guns that was able to givc a concentration of one gun I>cr 21 'cr minutc. For the man on Ihe ground. EI Abmein was a time of great acti,;t\'. Gunners were imohed in fil'ing at night. const:lluJr firing and being resupplied b' trud.s from the ('.amll Zone area. j\ gunner's lot was a smmge experiellce or gelting ordeN, following the drill, but ne\'er being able to see the target. EI Alamcin \\~1S one of the greal gunner banlcs or the Sccond World War. and an ililere~ting report made directly arter the baltic b) I\rigadier S, C. Kirkman, RA. or lhe Eighth Ann}' \,'linell on 24 No,ember 19-12, deM:ribcs the differem aspects of llsing Ihe 25-pollnder in such large numbers, During the balllc a proportioll of the fidd :trliller)' \\~IS givell COlllllerbailer)' firc tasks. Ihal i~ ther were t;lSkcd with seeking Olll enemy gUllS and destro)'ing Ihem. Al El Alamcin Ihe guns \\"cre concentrated 011 selectcd shool.~ 10 destroy knowll enemy gl111 positions jUq ahead of the Illaill barrage, Guns I,'ere located by aerial phOlOgt;lph or' by flash spOiling, a lechnique inmlving \'iewing it position frolll IWO ol,hel' poinlS al a known diSlance from each other .md lhen calculating the angle 10 the targe!. This was can;cd out from > ,, ; obscn
-.

.'

..

T.,. :itS-pounder Mil.. II In the 1HI....1 of whic:h has the early prome. The Morris tractor" bac:k i'l

oeMrt,

t.,. t.,.

with 10liafJII to oO'Icure It. 'Ihape from air

camCKIllaged

athlck. (lWM)

-

>

•

35

that eVl:lI bdore the bank. 0111' artilkl) h:ld aehicve.:d a moral ~lIpcri()ritv over the.: Cl1Clll)"~ ;u·tilkl)', parll} duc, no doub!. to the cnell\) 's diniClIllie~ of alllllHH,ilion ~uppl}, Ihough he had a practic:lII~' unlimited Sllpplr uf 2.>-poum!cr 'UlIlllU1litiun and a number of guns from which to lire iL'

3.

D-Da)' and the Normandy Bolllles in 1944 -'our ,ul)('rgun - the autulll,ttie 2'>-pollndcr.· (German pn"Ollt:r at till' Village of II's. ~onllamh. 1914) From June 19,14 onward~_ thl' 25-poullder. bOlh towed and '>l'1I: prol)('lIed. \',IS ill c\'idenn' ill larger lIumbers. The 25-pounder Sl:l\ton was i,~ued to Rm,ll I forSt: i\nillc.... units immediate.:h aftcr D-D,I\ 110 that the\ cOllld be intel,rraled \I'ith the al1l1oured di\isiolls crossing FlOlllCC at that limc. II h,1lI been estimated that 20 per CCIlI of all 0\1111\ per';Otlll<'1 during 1).)):1\ :lnd after \\ere allocau:d to artillen units. rhi~ Ica\e\ tiS \,ith :l lX'wildeling 1lI1lllbl'r of Briti~h and C"Hl:ldian units armed \,'itll either to\\l'd 01' ~1l:I}rupdkd 25-IXllllldcl' IIdd gllns. It is illlercsling thaI imllll'tiiatch aftcr tJle Iandinb'S Briti~h units wen: allned with Ihe 2.l-pollmlt'r & .. 1011 <;elf-propelled gUll III replace the I·.;t..... t 10511I11I SPG. '1l1is i~ lhollgln to halc ~II lx.'t:ause the ,\mcliGm~ 1,'Cf(' ,hon of 10~) mill ,unnulllitioll and therefore il could be u~"d I}\ lhe.:11\ in :'\olln
u-tlng

u.. 25-po1Jnder In

Nonn.ndy. Th. gun .hield h•• b-.n m.rIt8d out In squ......

n••r th. d181 .ight .nd note. are wrinen In them. Th... milY be lor pAl-registered targets.

(Courtesy 01 RAHTl

"~lS

\..1\01"11 ill relation 10 oth('r !-\"11I1~ and Iheir The lev 10 Ix:illj.; ,tblt.: to eOI1CCIl(l~lte large hrroups of 2:)-pollllder, Oil 10 a targel was the speed wilh I\hidl Ihn could Ix· ~lllYevcd into the grid. Thi~ \\,I~ c.IlTicd 0111 h\ 'IlIYe~ trOOp~. TIlt' fin' of 21 or i2 glln~ 011 a 'ingle larget gan' thl' Gt'rm,Ill' Iht' illlprc,-~inll ,h;u the 2:-)-POUlldcl \\iI' ,I "llpcrgull' Ihal could be lo;lc\(oci '1llIonut.icalh. In (.Iel. 01lC G.llladi,lll officer with tht' IIh Field Rt'gimt.'nt. Roval Canadian Anillcn IlI.tIl'd 'h,1I I\hell the Gcnnan~ wert' wid Ih,i1 III(' "''till had 'l'I"'II~He lo.lding-ammunilioll, I.t'. 11l.l1 il had 10 have Ihe projeclile ,md Glrttidgt.: lo,lide lilt'. \\ilh 300 guns .11 ,ht' l'lId uf OUI' wirdt"~ 1IJ.t~1. If ;111\ unil.'> werc hdd up. \Ie wcre ahle 10 conCl'nlmlt' in a f('\\ minlllC~ lhc lirc of Ihese gUll' on Ihe enelll\. How did thi~ aClu;tlh affen Ihe ellelll~ and hm\ dlCCli\c \\';I~ il? Wc mll~1 a'iurn 10 IIJ(' anion~ of the Canadian artillery 10 ~ce !low Ihe\ fared IX:I\'een 20 JIII\ ,llld 'li Juh. The 2nd Canadian Divi~ioll, \,ilh i2 25-poullder~, were 'llpplied 193.000 rollnds. on ;l\t:mg(: liring t>lrge~.

n.. 25·pot.ln6er Mk. II in ..... on tn. 1I.I"n lront In '9-43. leourtu, RAHT)

A 25-pounder, prob.bly • Mk, III wllh • SOIOlhom muute br.k.,

lUll .ft.r the 0-0., I.ndlngs. (IWM)

37

300 rOllnds pCI' gun per day. The 'Ith Field Reginlent diary stated that on Verricres Ridge, 'Continuous firing all dOl)' breaking up counter.macks. All coullter.luacks were successfully broken up - almo:>t elllircly due to anillery support. At 1600 hours had fired over 16.000 rounds since 1600 hours 24th.' Clcarly artillery lire alone was cap
A 25-pound... 01 42nd Field Aegimet'lt In • poat-wer rote, po. .ibly In the Mlddte E••t. The lIun t",11 he. been dUll Into. pit .nd MIKe the piece he' e mueh hIgher elev.lIon th.n on norm.1 ground. The No.1 hilt • ,hort r.mmer in hI, hanel, intended to ..,i,t the Ihtllllnto the eh.mber. (COiJrte', 01 RAHn

38

Post· war Service The 25-pounder in aclion in Korea The ....'ar in Korea bclween 1950 and 1953 !law the 25-pounder in action again. Thrcc field regimellts were sent out to Korea: 45 Field RebJiment between No\"ember 1950 and No\'cmber 1951. 14 Field Regimellt bet\,'ecn No\'cmber 1951 and December 1952 and 20 Field Regiment bct\"eell December 1952 and Dcccmocr 1953. Of th\.'SC, the 25-pollnders of 45 Field Regimell1 are known for their action in sllppol1 of the Gloucester Regiment at the B.-mle of the Inuin Khl'r. For Illuch of the war thc lin\."S rcmained st;uic, and Ilre-regislcred "reas cOlild be targeted. The ballef\ (Ol1un;lI1der supporting the Glouce<;ter's defence, Glir \\';ard, \,'IS able to call dm,'n fire on am number of targelS because of the ,"iew acro:.s Ihe plain, Normal procedure was to use the Air Obscrmtion Post to "pOt for the gllns. This could be an Auster Mk, VII pilolcd b\' a gunner oflirel' \,'ho was able to spot targelS and then con"ect gunfire 011 10 them, Thc 25.vollnder was the heaviesl BI;tish gun present in the Korean War ;lnd as such it I,~ts highly successful in breaking lip Chinc~ hllman-\\'3\'e attacks. II0I,'e\'er, the larger American 155 mm gUll \'~IS l1t:eded for larger bombardments :md this ma)' have signalled the cnd foT' the smaller calibre gun. The 25-pounder in the Malaysian Emergency llnd Indonesia TIll' ;lS.~islancc gi\"en to Mala}'Ol betwecn 19·18 and 1960 g.we the 25-pounder a ncw le,tse of life during tIl(' 1950s and '60s, Thc C'.ormnnnist n:bel-led units werc not armed with many hea\')' weOlpons. and consequently they used the thickjunglc as a cow'r for their hit-and·run opel
'Com1l)lIlli~t t{'rrori~h would ,t1llhll~h police patrols. 'teallllCir \\'I'apoll~ and IIwll nm inlo lilt' jutlA'lt'. The idea was Ihal our troop or b"ltt'r" \\'ould I>t:' deplO\cd to pltl sheils into a \...llOwn arca. a trac\... in the jUIIA'Ie. so that the Gurkhas could COlllC tip behind and catch them ... We would be tiring 1>0 nllich th.lt the paint U1I the gun would blacken and bli,tl'r. rOll cuuld allllo,t 't·c Ihe gun barn:l, ill tllc night glowing n:d Iht:\ \\erc ;;0 hot.'

THE 25-POUNDER IN OTHER ARMIES 111e pro\'i<:>ion of Ihe 2:>-pulllldt:r gun lO olher armies It,ll> I>t:'ell quilt: \\idcspread around lilt' \lorld. IlOiIt Indian and Pakislani annies han: had 25-puundel'l> .,inn: the Sccolld Wodd War. Large llumber.. of lhc'it: gun~ wcre u1>cd b\ Ixllh ,idt.'S dllring lhe Ind()-I~;:il';'btan conflict of 1970--71. In facl. India \\it... 1 major IIscr of Ihe 2:)-pollnder llnlil the lalcr 197(b.. \fler parlition in 19-18. both India :md Pakislan wert.' allOIlt.'d fit:ld regiment.!> equiplx'd with the 2;;'pulinder. Inllllt:dialch afler lhe Sc.-ocoml World \\';\1'. 1 ,md 2 Indian Anll\ Field Rel,>imeIlL" were e(llliplx'd \\'ilh XlUOIl M:lf-propelled Kiln... III 19-18 Ihere W;:I<:> anion in Jammu .llld ,,"lShrnir and. ;1.., IllO.,t of lhe field llniu wert: ;:ll1ncd wilh lhe 2;;'polillder. 1I1L'SC were inc\'il.lbh u'it:d. In ~o\'ember 1962. border inCIlf'iioll" h\ Ihl' Chine~ led (0.1lI tllldec1.lred \\';.11' against India in which ~e\t'I;11 licld

were deployed in Ihe Opel;Hioll~ around K.;uneng when' til(' border meet.!. I~htltan and Ti!X'L In one aHack, t5-poundcr~ or97 Field Ballet; fired mer 300 rounds alr.lin~t lhe Chinese which. it is claimed. broke up their infantr\' allad. Cen('rall~. all of lhese annies deplo)'('d the 2;;'pounder 1\1~. II alld III on ~Iks. II and [II carriages wilh few changes. althollg-h Soulh Africa lIlodified and manufactured Iht:1Il 011> lhe 90 mill gun. Man\ African nalions. including ;-..'igclia and :-'Iol.unbiquc. still ha\c Ihem in senke.

II. Interesting 25-pounder

.new of ... Ind.,,"

snow;ng the Ioe.aIty

applied camouftage colour

scheme, pnMMbly gt'Hf\ 8nd 1thMl. Othet' ~ schenIes - . . applied In the field. especlalty In the Western DeMfl campaigns. as defenc:e against .Ir anaek.. (COurtesy RAHT)

b:lllel;c~

3.

VARIANTS Ordnance QF 25·pounder Short (Austl Mk. I on Carriage Light (Aust) Mks. I and II

The Aust,..lIan 2~-pounder gun. TM two cu..... ed pl.t" b4tw..-n lhe wn-l. 1100 c.m.ge .......Ie stand. uHd to reUrt1I th. str.ln of 'IrI"9 from lhe wh_ls, (Courtesy 01 RAHT} An e.cellef'lt plclure depleting lhe problems of tnll1$I)Orting rll»d

gun. during tM Burmll campal9n., II .hows II gun 01 27 FIeld Regiment I,.."elllng on lhe Kalapanzln RI"." Burma, This gun appears to be. Mk, II gun on a Mk, I carriage Judging by the posltlon of the .lr pump bracket, The shield has been removed .nd the jeep appears to b4 Ihe towing "ehlcle. (Courtesy 01 RAHT}

40

j\ll gUll' gu through modifications \\ IIt:n lI~cd ill the fidd. l'rublclll:'> afe CllCOlllHCfCd IlwlI O\('rCOIlll' hI .lellcr Hlt'!" il~ ..enke life. Ilm,·c\cl'. '0111(;' Ilt.'colllc "0 modified that the gun is 1:Klrch' rl'cogni",hk as tht· original. A good cx;unplc uf thi, procc..., is the OrdnallCl: QF 2':;'lx!l' Short (All") ~lk. I 011 Carnage Light (AIL"') ~I"s. I .1l1e1 II. In 19..J2. ,\II..Ir.lliC ill :'\1..'\\ Guinea and thl" l1e:l\'lc<;, ,upport thC\ cuuld 1llu<;u'r W;:L,> the 3-inch mortar. "ht, (t'rrain dic1all'd \\hal lind of gun could be 1I:'>('d.•md tht, .-\USII";.lli IICfe luul..ing for a gun lhal could 1)(' hrol..(·fl dO\\'Il illlo "C\eral load~. wa.~ ail' 1l,m'I)(lnahll' and could he packed into it jeep or 1Il0\1.'(1 1)\ lIIule. rhl:" AUslf~llian Director of Anilll·..... l~dWl(lil'r J. W. A. O'Rdan ~uggested lhat the 25-pounder could be lede~iglled for jU~1 such a role. Ch"rlelo KUI,'oh Pl\ Ltd produced protut\·!x·, .1lId field lrial, I,ere held on 10 Decemocr 19·12. II was Ilot until t\ugU'it 1913 that gum Ix-gan 10 he: ~llpplied to Ihc AIF Di'i'iiUlls. In :-':ew Gllilll.'a lhe' \\Cf(' Il'\('d in sllppon ulllle ith and 9th IlIf;ulln Di\"iloionl> b\ 2 ·1 .md 2 12 Field Regimenll> rel>p('Cli\e1~, TIle gun ga\l: g(»(xl 'en'in' ;lml wa~ robml ('llOugh to'iuni\'c life in lhe jungk e\'(~tl though many lllodilicalium 'I ere necded, one of the initial problem, being that it wa... colI,ideled ,I high-rbl.. acti\"ity to fire Ihe gun with a'mperrharg(·. AU'"'llians affectionately kn('w Illl: gun a" lhe 's\luut' and one can ,ee II hy when looking al it. The barrel I\~l' fOlll' fl'el lung and the I"hole gun weighed onc and a qUting r('porl frolll 23 AlI:-lr~lliall Fidd Ilallen ft.-quested lhat the stahiliw..... Ix, rl'lIlmcd ht.'Cilll,e the' c
A b:ultT' 01 ,\u~lr~l1i,\l1 2j..pollllders IIOnll:llh COIISi~l('d of ballen hl'adquaner... in flllll jl'('P~ ,11Id a light Irailer. Tlh:n: w('re IWO Iroops each of ,('wn iN'p~, Ullte" Do 1l~lnor ,l1Id a 1-1011 Lr.lilel: The' gUll troup had four gllll~ each a~siKn('d LO .1 jeq) \I'ilh Olll: KIIl1 SIOI,'t--d in it ami 21 round) of .ulllllllnitiOli. TIlt' D6 ll,tCtor c;tn;ed &l mum\) of HE altllllllliitiotl,

-./';"";._---

-

The Pheasant and other Designs

·\lthough il i~ lHII ,,,;nh :l 2:'-puunder. il is wonh melllioning lhal Ihe :\lk. I Glrriag(' I';l~ Ilscd lor.1Il C:l.pCrilllCIll Wilh the 17-potllldcr :lIlli-t;m" gun barrel, TIl(' cumtatlt tl'chnuloh,;cal 1>;lllle 1X'lween ,\lIied and Gennan \Icapon d<,'~igm:r.. to COltlt' lip \\;th bigger and more hc:.',wih armoured t:ml..s .lIId Iht-, gUll' tu PClll..'tr.l\1..' them led lite Briti:,>h IU M.'C" a much more' IlO\\l'rful gun lhan lhc 6-pounder. The 17-pollndt'r glln barrel \'-;'IS reach 1'01' ".'rvice 011 I :'11:11 19-12, bIll \\"orrie!> abolll the appe;Il'OlI1cc uf the German Tiger tallk in North Africa in 19-12 led the authorilit'~ LO le,t lht' gun on a 25-pollllder carriage. Thi~ comhin:lIion bt.-carne knowlI.1S lilt: 17-pdr JIll. I 011 C:trriagc :'Ilk. 2, colloquialh "110\\11 as the 'phe..:,>.llIt', .Illd W;IS 'l:11I to Africa Ilherc it ga\"c gOtXI servicc, cerlainh in Iht· TlIni~ian c,lIl1paign, The 25-poundcl" carriage \\~IS nOI dc~igllCd 10 tall' tilt' ~lrt"~t'~ generated b\ a gun thai had a mill/ie rclocil' of 2,9{){) !eet per 'ecund but it \\~IS ~aid to be able 10 copc \,'illl the firing of lilt' gllli rea~oll;lbl)' \\"cll. As has bCl'n pn:dol1,11 mentioned, the de\elupmenl of a ne\l' gUll led 10 a gnc"al dcal of cxperirnclltatioll and Ihis led to a number of imcre'iting aheration .., One of the 1110re illlrigl1ing \l"a'i the 25-pollndcr ~[obilt' t\nllOllr(,d l{evolving Cupola designed by lhe Free French Oflicer ~l. Kibal1d. Tlti~ cOll .. i~lCd of a stl..'cl IlilTet on a four-I,'heeled tmiler and could he Inll'l'rsed ill any direCtion. As wilh lhe SR mIn FlaK gUll il was inlended Illal il could be lired from wheels bill llorrnally it lI'ould be IIlOllllted on two :ltUuslable rear legs. As with Ulany similar idea'i, it pron:d 10 IX' il1lPI~IClicable ,mel the idea was dropped ill 1944,

Front "Iew of Itte Bishop

,.If·propelled gun, ICourt. .y of RAHTI

THE 25·POUNDER SELF·PROPELLED VERSIONS The 2S-pounder Mk. I on Carrier, Valentine, 25-pdr, Mk. I (Bishop)

111c two main dcveloprncnl:'> in tcnns of self-propelled t:
41

An early wlew 0' the Carrier Valentine 25·Pdr Gun Mk. I wiewed Irom the right rear with doors elosed. Thl, pieture may hawe been taken on SaU,bury Plain. (Author" photogl1llph)

\\blem Desert led lO a reelled \'Cl'~ion of lhe 25-pollnder gun. In June 19-11. lllc Hinningham Railwa\ GlIliage and Wagon CoO. Ltd ,,'ere asked 10 d(~ign ...\I('"h a hrtlll I>.\<;(-d on Ihc Valentine lank chassis. This Ihe} did and produced lhe Bi~hop or. to qUOIe its milit;u1' title. 25-pollnder Mk. I on C;1I1ier. \'alelllilw. 25-pdr. ~Ik, I. Ii was Ihc first British altCmpl al d4. igning .1 ~If:propelll.-d h'1.lIl and was nOI I}aniclilarl\' successful. being 10\\' OIl i mph, and lhe Iimil4."(1 amOlllll of c1C\'ation -.evereh' rCSlricted the r;.IIlge 10 6,400 \'ll"(I~, The gun was norm;llI" cn:wcd b" four mcn: gUIlIICI'. loader, driver and commander. It could be supplied \\ith a Brcil gun for AA defence bUI this i~ nOt 1I0nnall\' ShO\\'ll in phologlOlphic ('\idencl', The \'ehide \\,IS p<.mcred b)' an Me dicsel cnginc and had ;m ,1I"I1IOUr lhickneo;s of 60 mill at maximum and 8 IIl1tl minimum. Thb gun \\'l~ a :>lOpgap mca~llre and was \'el1' distincti,'C a~ it had a Iarg(' ~qlla"(' <;upcr~lruclllre 011 lhc chassis containing thc gUll. The gUll \\OI~ capable or 8 degrecs or lI'a\"Cl'st.', 15 degrees of de\Ollion and 5 or dcprl·'i~iorl. The Uishop could can1' :\2 rounds of ;ulllnunition and, in ordel' 10 imprO\(' ammunition

•2

A Bl.hop Mlf-propelled gun In aellon In Tl.IniI5ia In 1843. The rear of the IUlTeli. open end the gun i. loaded from the ,.ar dec:k. Thi. ope..tlon mu.t hawe beer> awkward o..er a long period 01 lIme. The Bishop wa. a typieal eumpie 01 a tank eon..e ..1on 10 SP 8un• (CourteI5y 01 RAHT)

,

.,

.

'~-"__ '\ "'1,/..

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t-

,-.~ ,\ ... t , l.t~ ... q, --;' ."\ .-~ •• /' •.I ' .,..

It:"i~l','jj,;, t ..'~

~...(

I,.. If w,

r.~.,

':,-l..,,·c:f; J f'

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I',

r.

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supply, a No.27 alll,mllli,ion trailer \\';l!o tOI\'ed along" \\'ith lhe vehicle. The glln~ wt:re nOI rl'ad)' for service lltllil.Jlll} 1942 .1I,d about 100 were e\ellIUall)' ddi\"ered. Although a fUrl her 50 were ordered ill 19·12. it i~ nOI clear \1 hether thl'v \It:re delivered. They wen:lI~d in Ihe \\btern De,cr! ami in Sicil) and Italy. st.Tring with the Eight and FirSI AT'lJlies. Although of limited IISC, Ihe Bishop \1';1.'0 emplo}ed ill Illlh in 19·13 and :.ened its pUll>o..e ulllilthe US designed Plie..t 103 mm gllll carriage and the Sexton 25JXlunder SI'G Gillie into usc. Mounting, SP, 2S·pdr, C, Mk. I ISexton)

seaton .ett-propelled gun 01 G Battery, A Troop, RHA (HAC), 01 whom Stlrtleent Saunder. w81 the No.1. The gun wa. photographed In Belgium on ltl way to Antwerp In 194" The number 76 I. the arm 01 .e....lce marking lor artillery. (Author'. photograph)

The Americ.lII Prie~1 W;-IS rir~t i!>:.u(."tl to Blitish annaured fonn:uions hut it ....m the C:madi:1Il Anm Enginecring Oc.-'Sign UI'aI,ch that GUile up with a de:.ib"l lhat wa~ c\cllIualh to become Ihe Sexton <;elf-propelled /{llll 01' the ~Iollllling. Sl~. 25-lxlr, C. Mk. I. The $exlon owed much to the I~,icst in tcrms of dc:.igll and wa!> realh a Ram !'.'-lIlgaroo annourc.-'d pel"loOIll,e1 carrier with a 25-pounder mounted ulXln it in an open-lopped sllperstnlClUre with the dli\er on the right-hand ~ide of the vehicle. The saddle and pimle of the gun had 10 be redesigned so lhat the glln could be u:l\'crsed quid,h. In addition Lhe recoil was limiled to 20 inch(':, to ellable the Kun 10 elcv;lle LO 40 degrees. In I~H3, this altered gun \'~IS shipped to Uritain for trials and ill 19-1~1. the ~IOlltreal Locomothe Works wa:. producinl-\" the gun. The Sexton welll through man)' of lhe same change:. a:. Lhe R,UIl lanks and GnTiers. in that Ihe carl)' version had a ri\·ctcd chas~i~ ,."d bogies, which wcre altered in 1944 10 cast one-piece nose~ alld /0.14 hogit's witl, Il:,ilillg roller relUrll~, Later w:rsiolls also had" towing hook for the al1llllllllilion Imiler, ,uld an auxiliar), genenllor. The Sextoll wall :11~o manufactured in a COIllIll,lIld POSt version known a~ the St:Xt011 GPO or (;\111 Positio1l Orticer. TI,is had lhe gUll relllOVed OIlld :tIL additiOll:.11 No.19 r:ldio SCt added to allo\l' the \'chiclc to comrol h,wery firc. Tlti~ illclu(kd the lise of map tables and exu'a t:<jUiPIllCIII. The Contincntal R-975 400-480 horsepower ael'O enginc \\~IS Ihe tnain pOII'er uilit for a brge \'ehic1c \\'eighing 25 tons wilh a relati\'l'ly light gun. The SextOn righting compartmcnt \\~IS so de'iglled so lhal lhe driver :oat below the gun on the right-hand side. Ilowever, a:. all}Uody who has allClIlpled to drive one will know, lhe spac(' i~ t:xtrelllc1v cramped and if the c1111Ch was opened lhe dri\er needed an extra joint in hi... leg to be able 10 oper;:He it. When riring, the \'ehide ~toppcd and \\';IS loaded through a hatch aIXl\"e the tracks on the left-hand side of the \'chide. The f1oor-k'n~1 space was constnlcted so Ih,1I the floor plates could be rcmO\ed and projectiles \,'erc held in lockers underneath. There was pro\i~ion for 8; high-cxplosi\'e or smoke projecliles and 18 amlour-

43

The Sel{lon self-propelled gun or

Mounting, SP 2.5·pclr, C. Mk. I. The annoured ...........109 shield CfIn be c:I.arty ..en either ,Ide of the gun barTel. Ther. I, • further shield .bo.... the breech 01 the

"un. {Court••y 01 RAHTl

Ttt. Mlrbat 2.5·pounder, the IIiSI gun used In action by British forc... The gun h8$ been repainted but bullet hoi. . are stili vlsfble In the shield. Thoe Sulbln of Oman pun:haHd the. .

guns from Britain to gl... eat... "nt90wer to his ann, when

44

combatlOi1 A600 I"",,•. (Court. .y 01 RAHTJ

piercing projectile.., For (kfencc in 1 inJunc IY-I4.ju.'>l arh.. r the !':onmmdv landing. rrn'ing up ~llJ)pl it"~ or 10;, mill :Ullllllll1iliol1 tu ,!l(c" AII1~rican Annv, In all. :.!.150 had IX'l'1l bllilt b\ 19-1:-, and Iht: Bl'ilish Ann> IIscd lhclll imu the 1950-;,

GLOSSARY Artillery board - A board used in a command post 10

calculate range and beanng to larget. Axletree - The assembly that takes the weight of the eqUipment and attaches to the wheels. Breech loading (BlI - Usually denotes a gun thaI IS loaded with a separate propellant bag behind the prl)tOClile. Buffer - The part 01 a gun carnage that controls recoil. 801. trail - A gun trail thaI 1$ Qesigned in the shape of a hollow bolt Charge - The explosive reqUIred to propel a shell to a tatgel. Clinometer - Ari Instrument used to measure the angle 01 elevatIOn of a gun, In degfees, whICh normally acted like a spln! level. Cradle - The part 01 the gun WIthin whICh the guo barrel

Dial sight - A 360-degree sight used for indirect fire. Laying - The aiming 01 the gun. Quick firing (QF) - Usually denotes a gun that has a fiKOO cartridge case. Reeuperator - Normally, a device that returns the gun barrel to its origmal position after firing. Run-out - The POSitIOn of a gun barrel before finng or after rEICOll. A gun barrel is said 10 be run-out when it has been fired and laid to rest. Sight clinometer - An II'lstrument thai measures the angle of SIght. Trail - The lower rear sectIOn 01 a gun carnage touchInQ the

ground. Tangent Elevation - The angle between the 11118 sight and the elevatIOn of the gun.

"""'~.

COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY A: 18/25·POUNDER GUN ON MK. IVP CARRIAGE, BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE; FRANCE, 1940 ThIs IS typical of the guns that ""'8l'e sent WIth the BnbSh &peditionary Force to Frnnce in 1940. Many 01 lhese guns WMl provlded JUSt before the unrts left for combat and were subsequently Iosl. Most glrIS had no markings and those with !he BEF were painted a light stone colour. The If'IStrument above the hand wheelIS a range quadrant. .....n.ch was used to set elevatlOO and variations such as muzzle velocity. It acted in the same way as the range drum on the later Mit. II guns. The Mk. IV carriage is distlnctMl WIth its bolt trail appearance,

The Ihree main type. of artillery projeetilo lrom lett to right are: high ollplo./Vo, .moko and armour pJorcing_ Tho high uplo.i..e protectilo waa equipped with I'" No.11? fUM. T... T on tho body of tho armour plorclng profectilo Indicated thilt it had a tracor o~ont.

•

•

..

B: 18/25-POUNDER GUN ON MK. VP CARRIAGE, BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE; FRANCE,

1940 Only a few 25-poul1der Mk. Is were sent to France and very lew returned home to service In Britain. most having been destroyed in France. This gun Is painted in the light slone colour used by the British EKpedltlonary Force at the beginning of the war, C1: 25·POUNDER MK. II CARRIAGE WITH MORRIS QUAD The Moms Field Art!lIery Tractor was the main BntJsh vehicle used to tow the 25-pounder trail6f and gun. TIlls version is a Morris C8 Mark III. It was produced from 1942 until 1944 when a later body mark was Introduced that had addllJonal stowage althe rear. C2: 25-POUNDER MK. III CARRIAGE WITH CHEVROLET QUAD Canada produced many military vehicles lor use by Commonwealth forces; this vehICle is the eG· T CMP Field Artillery Tractor The leiters CMP stood lor Canadian Milrtary

~XXXJd

-

l5 po. 10

G ,NT KJIA.

.

; 25p!t1O \

264,1,

c.£

1517

""?d~

/-.

72238

45

Pattllfn. The Chevrolet Quad was a Canadian-made Field Artillery Tractor and was consldemd to be superior to the Moms tractor, which was underpowenKl. The 25-poundef barrel has a muzzJe brake added. which was a 1942 addition ItItended to stabIlise the gun when USI09 supercharge wrttl armour-piefclng shot. In all, over 20,000 01 these vehlcles were manufactured.

0: OF 25·POUNDER GUN MK. III ON MK. I CARRIAGE WITH NO.27 TRAILER The 25-pounder Mk. II ordnance (barrel and breech assembly) on the Mk. I carnage with the No.27 trailet beside it. This gun IS shown In positIOn mounted upon the No22 linng platlorm and WIth the trml spade cover in place to reduce any hindrance when the gun is traversed. The gun is lined with a muule brake. which helped reduce recoil by deflecting the blast 01 the propellant gases leaVing the barrel. VariolJs tools and appliances were held on the gun carriage such as the dial sight case to the right 01 the shield.

46

L_

E1: 25·POUNOER GUN ON MK. II CARRIAGE (JURY AXLE) The narrowllf carriage, called the Mk. II, was intended to be used in COf1IUOCtJon wrth a Willys Jeep as a lOWIng vehlcle. ThIS gun was fitted WIth the smaller No.22 platlorm and can be seen here WIth the main plate cut so that drag ropes can be used. The trail eye can be slotted into two posrtlOOS, one lor travelling and one lor linng. lhe lonner allow1ng the spade greater clearance from the ground in the travelling poslhon. A fuse sethng plate IS fitted 10 the left rubbing plate guard bar. E2: ORDNANCE OF 25-PDR SHORT (AUST) MK. I ON CARRIAGE LIGHT (AUST) MK. I The 'snout' as it appeared in 1943 dunng the New GUinea campaigns. Mainly dropped by air the gun could be towed by A 25·pounder Mk. lit c.mage. Similar 10 the Mk. I bUI wilh 'itllng' and Imaller platform of the Mk. II camage. (Aulhor's phologreph cour1elY 01 RAHT)

,lImint posts mounted on the lront 01 the gun. The !Mmlnt posts were used to lay the gun lor tine (bearing). The. . weB the No.1 ty'pe lor the field gun. Normally, the head would be 01 the Nme shape on each gun so that each gun c:ould be ditf.......tlaled by the snape 01 the heed. This was 10 avoid c:onfuskln when more tMn one guo In a batte..., was be1r'lll laid. (Courtesy 01 RAHT)

F2: THE SEXTON SELF·PROPELLED MOUNTING DepIcted IS a sexton of the Royal Horse Artillety In Palestine In 1947. sextons were noonaIly issued to Royal Horse Artillery umts to keep pace WIth armotXed formations. ThIS partlCl,llar gun IS part 01 t Battery (BuII's Troop), 2nd RegtrTl80l RHA. The Sexton was armed With two Bran guns for seIlprotectlOfl and these could be mouflted upon removable clamps as reqUired.

a Jeep but the jockey wheel at the back must have been

G: MIRBAT, OMAN, 1972; THE LAST 25·POUNDER USED IN ACTION The last 25-pounder used in action was actually dated 1943. During the ulldeclared war in Oman in 1972, $AS troopers from the British Army Training Team and members of the Omani armed lorces in Mlrnat came under attack from Adoo tnbesmen of the People's Front for the UberatlOfl 01 the OCCupied Arabian Gulf. Troopers Labalaba and Takavesi fired the 25·pounder at POint blank range at the attacking guerrillas infillfahng the town. Labalaba was wounded Ifl the chIfl and then mortally wounded. The gun was fired at personnel targets at vety short range and it was fIOt mmediately deaf how effectIve it was in destroying attacking troops. AssIstance came from two other members of the $AS tBam, captain Mike Keally and Trooper Tobin, who were also present at the scene. Tobin was also wounded. and atter the day's events Captain Kealy was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

somewhat difficult to control. The first reports of actions against the Japanese at Lae In New Guinea in 1943 stated that In counter-battery actloos against Japanese guns the 'baby' 25-pounder was lar supenor and on some occaSionS fired POint blank at Japanese guns on exposed hilltop posItlOOS.

F1: THE BISHOP MOUNTING AND CARRIER, VALENTINE. 25-POUNDER GUN, MK. I ThIs BIshop is depicted dunng the Western Desef't battles wrth the sand and black camouflage scheme that was typical of the penod 1941-42. The vehICle has an 'A' on ItS turret, whIctI may be the ItOOP letter signifying that this gun belOnged to A troop. The rear doors are open because of the .,tense neat. It is covered in salldbags alld many of the accoutrements of war that were hung around the outside of tr.e gun, internal space being very limited.

47

INDEX "", l.~. l'l

......"b 110

171'O"ndn

I>t;u,k lC"" II

IJIv._ rd'~... s, • 7, n ,.r"""lI ut ,,~ I~ 75-v<... ,,1rt .... '" & "n. ~'2-~.

\(,oI:wIr " ........... tt... ."'11( ......

U " - " '_ _

.... ,....-..-"""" ~ _ .. I ..,,,,,,,, .... '7,17

II ......

"'.,......,.

_

....... p.. ~ ~ I H '

.--pUofo

........... "

_

_01,,,,_,,,

p-"

..... .--.1

:!:\

_ ... " -'-""""""ll""

7 7 ~ "

II " "

tl.'"

YI

1...... 1<>0<'"

~I

It" I~."""". It"-II ~'1"- 1'-11 11

Ko..o ..

r.

1

10

1

, ...,

.,................." .. ~ I~

\no

"

1

t1

11> .............. 1.~ .....

'1..1

1

....-I~.".~

1t<

n

~I fl·-H It-tJ -H 17

,'"

U I:\-It-H 11

~,

>l...-Id-tIw I" II 17)l M

._,. I.t~ .....

12

0:.:/11.4\

\nm'''lIC''''''''',,'lI.'''''Jn'''_h .,

l<J ... \ll 12·'1 ' M.IO \lllll' u"od<, 1:1 7 '1).11 II II \1.11' I I ' "-Ill. n

-.:'I_

.. e ".',Q-\,'

!.n

l)-Ito

1

'...,..~ ......... 11

t6

..

""'1''''''''''' .. I

, .....- ., ' ....

, ...""1",,, I~

<~ 1',lh

\_'1'u"'--.lt
'>-b

~''IIO

'I

I~

".1... "

' .....". "'!-II hI..<'" I,.".. ".,~ l. 7 S. 1"

010........ , ~

1)'11......,. ~""J

II",I, ..! I~,,·~h. ".,,10- ,~. 1"I~ " 11,,,1 l." 'Ill \\.~...m

"

I.....·... "'II

I~

U II>.

~I ~I

''1-'1-1. J4 ....." •.

,) I~. I'

I .. ~" .."~I",, I)" ... ,.",~

".•",1"."

1""10-,, III

".... 11<-1". SII

,,~

........... 7." n..I·1...-1l1··'..._ ..... III 1 ~"".ft"""" q III 111...\0 . . ., , " , , II

'I,,,,,.,,,.,,, c.,n,...

(0 .. , ...",

'" I>

or....... C. II I"~" ilf ti n nil" "'"'P-''' ,WI ....... U 18 Sf ~

OW

l.~,

~.,

""""

IS

~

" 1."" .......... ...... Ib_," "'

..........

"",,, d>. 19-\1 17 't'I 3Il. "_'Ill !C',.ll... 2~

1(,

,....,~

"''''''' \h

\1,,1 1............. _,,,," G. 'I II ·11 1;'Iuh n.""" C. 'I. 1;"" f."" -10 II.•," ,"",""""'.. "orL 1'1 "'..u bl"..... C. S7 n

I •...,.

J,l ••

I'M.

11m.,.

(~~..<.. ::'I. " ' " "" "." /i.j,~."",,,, n A

R"... ~, l~' 1.<1 d"........'.·'" 12

"' .....1.'1JId<"l ..... I'

~ti3.'>

...... ...-...1. _ _

W'Il1""Jl"'ilrd_ ,.

"'rt-.~

".''''''l''''.' (. t;1< ".",,,..4,,,,,,,

_.•

j<><"-...-tl....'

1_ .... B.r:t·!".

"

nw~~

r_

............

~_h_'n

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AIRCRAFT Of THE ACES I'urtr.." uI ,II< ,hI< ",lui. 01 ,he .!Ooh <'<1', un..."" ,"."""'... " .. 10 ...,," ... 01,.. l nit h , ....""~ oombone ",,10 tho hnl ",·lu,.1 pho.-"""ph


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48

OROER OF BATTLE 'IM ,.....,"', b..."" '" 10",,"). f"""""1~

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>I, c..n..... ~~ """'''''.'''' ·.Ie pl.o>1. "'" I.. JkuIou, lahl< """ode'

'0

COMBAT AIRCRAFT

The .oriJ\ F'/'" _ _ noli ....... ,,,...1 ""'h ........ bn, , ... ............t til Ilor '""" ~ of .. "'_ ,,... 1'J'O<' , ...,. 1In- do,•• .........l .... fII-. :1.. ,.1 """,•.,nph.

*

The design, development. operation and history of the machinery of warfare through the ages.

The 25-pounder Field Gun

1939-72 Of all the British guns in use during the Second World War, the 25-pounder was the one that best represented Britain's armed forces. It was adaptable, packed a powerful punch and, above all, it was reliable. Full colour artworic

Photog
This book provides a full

combat history of a gun that was used in e"ery theatre of the Second World War and saw extensive service in the post-war years, particularly in Korea and during the

Malaysian emergency. The last 25-pounder gun

to

sec

action in the Ilrilish Army

was one used by SAS I roops Cutaway artwork

OSPREY PUBLISHING

Unrivalled detail

at Mirb,lI, Oman, in 1972.

ISBN 1-84176-350-0

III~ ~ IIIII~

9 781841 76350·

!>1 ., •

,

15 "H

'" .... ~