3.7 anti aircraft gun
 

Heres a piece of artillery i would like to see more photos and info on, they were used in large numbers by both the Brits and Canadians so got to be something out there. I read somwhere they used them on one occasion as anti tank guns , i think in Italy unfortunatly they had no AP ammo the guns must have been unwieldy to use due to the weight and size for this role unlike the German88mm on its lighter trailer. An interesting snippet we have a vintage fair that travels the London and home counties areas that use the carriage of a 3.7 for the Octopus ride now this must be a real heavy lump to haul around, all my memories of travelling fairs with the Octopus used the much lighter ex military searchlight carriage
cheers
Les

Les,

Here's a photo for you...

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q...Bofors/3.7.jpg
Gunners of the 2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, pushing a 3.7-inch (9.84 cm) anti-aircraft gun through mud
February 1, 1945 , Place of publication: Dunkerque, France

Here are some Canadian photos of the 3.7in AA Gun. Note that there was an AP shot for the 3.7in AA Gun. Also when in the horizontal firing position the 3.7in AA Gun had a lower profile than the German 8.8cm flak guns. However, because the British had such fine A/T guns like the 6 and 17 pdrs there was really no need to use their heavy AA guns on the A/T role. Because of their long range (18,800m) the 3.7in AA guns were often used in the field artillery role especially in the counter battery role.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...A/37in_003.jpg http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...A/37in_001.jpg http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...A/37in_004.jpg

More photos;

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...A/37in_007.jpg http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...A/37in_006.jpg http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...A/37in_005.jpg

Nice picture, but ooooooo.... I'm a little suspicious about that one! :D

Call me cynical, but I'd almost say it's staged... first, look at the lads. The two closest to the camera look like they've just walked off parade, while the fellows in back are wearing FILTHY coveralls... should they ALL not be dressed accordingly?

Second, are we really to assume those few are going to PUSH a great honkin' gun like that through mud?? Naaaa.... it's just too pat! More like:

And now you know the TRUE story... :D :p

3.7in AP shot
 

Could it be?

Looking back at the photos that I posted above it appears that the round being loaded into the gun is painted black. This would indicate that it is AP shot. The photos were taken on the test ranges in Valcartier in Feb. 1943.

Also used, and manufactured, by the Australians. 3.7in AA guns saw service in North Africa, New Guinea and numerous locations around the Aust mainland.

3.7in AA at Tobruk:

Another at Tobruk:

from the IWM: -
 

from the IWM: -
 

from the IWM: -
 

Stranded at the Beach near Courseulles, Normandy.

The picture is taken from a book about the REME beach groups in Normandy. Exact source to follow.


Alex

AHA now thats bought out some interesting bits well done lads, that one on the target range must be fireing AP rounds with a gun that size and a target that close it must have gone straight through or blown it to bits. Yes sorry down under i forgot about the ones built there those photos sure show the gun muzzle flash an instant 4th July

A few more shots from the IWM archives

1. 3.7 in Hyde Park London
   
2. ATS in training at Weybourne Norfolk
   
3. Burma 1944

Re: 3.7in AP shot
 

On looking closer the round appears to be a Flathead Solid Shot and not an AP Shot.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...n_flathead.jpg

Here is another one from the IWM.

"Artillery of the 11th Armoured Divison in action"

IWM B 9227

These two shots will interest you guys in Canada the first is in the production factory now where would that have been located and the second shows loading part crated 3.7s on to a ship bound for Russia. I wonder if you ever got paid for them
cheers
Les

3.7 AA
 

a couple more:

Source: Australian War Memorial
ID Number: 026627
Maker: Fisher, Thomas
Place made: Papua New Guinea: Papua, Milne Bay Gili Gili
Date made: September 1942
Physical description: Black & white
Summary: A HEAVY 3.7 INCH ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN IN POSITION ON THE SHORES OF MILNE BAY NEAR GILI GILI, MANNED BY A CREW OF THE 2/6TH HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY.
Copyright: clear

Two more photos of 3.7in guns belonging to 2nd Cdn HAA Regt.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...A/37in_008.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...A/37in_009.jpg

Cant believe its almost a year since we looked at this thread, this interesting photo shows a battery of static 3.7s during the flying bomb crisis. The original caption states somewhere in Kent but after a close study i would say that this is Hastings in East Sussex right down at the western end of the prominade where the open air swimming pool used to be
cheers
Les

Wouldn't that be 91.5mm (24.4mm x 3.75)

The actual measurement is precisely 94mm, and 3.7 inch is just a close approximation.

Colin
 

Besides which 1.000 inch = 25.4 mm not 24.4mm

yeah, I realized that about an hour later & I was already off-line by then.
still trying to decide whether I'm getting dumber as I get older, or Wiser & just realizing that I was always dumb.
It's a tough one.

Museum Photo
 

Hello

Photo i took this summer while visiting the Royal Artillery Museum Firepower
Woolwich Arsenal London UK.
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/5...3316vt4.th.jpg

Cheers Ronald

3.7in HAA Guns

http://images.google.com/hosted/life...%26start%3D160

For anyone interested there is a static mount version for sell on milweb at the moment.

The one on Milweb is a Mobile 3.7", it's just that the axles have been removed and are not visible in the pic (compare with the first pics in this thread)

The Mobile guns are easily identified by the stabilising outriggers, while the Static guns were secured by 16 hold-down bolts and did not require the outriggers:

17 PR Mark one tech manual
 

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-...AdIdZ100878017


don't know it is still available but it is still posted on KIJIJI ebay.

No connection to sell

Mike Timoshyk