Some years ago I was told a story which related to a gun which looked much like those in these pictures. It was told to me by a friend of an uncle of mine. Both had been in the Australian army during WW2 being officers in the artillery finishing up in New Guinea / Solomon Islands area. Was told by my uncle not to believe eveything his friend said unlike if he himself told me a story which was always true!
First thing was that they modified the gun carriage from the multi wheel arrangement to singles. This was due to poor in cross country ability in muddy conditions as the mud built up between the dual wheels.
Now my uncles friend went to Bouganville where they had some rather unfriendly Japanese people who were also in the area. One day there was an attack where the Japanese used tanks in an attempt to come through a pass in the mountains. This pass was not unlike what a child would draw being a v between the hills. As there were no anti tank guns they used one of these guns to knock out the tank. Sighting was done virtually down the barrell fired gun and tank dissapeared back wards behind hills. Remember they have no anti tank amunition and this is not normally considered an anti tank gun. Due to low cloud there was no air reconniance to confirm what was happening on the other side of the mountain. Were there a number of tanks attempting to come through but could only fit through one at a time or was the same tank repeated knocked back with the concussed crew removed and another crew put in who were told to try their luck.
Anyone with some knowledge of what might or might not have been happening ?
|