[Rod Bellars (RIP)]

Well this is a thread to give Gilles some more info on 25pdr and load a few shots

The 25pdr mk2 came about in 1938 when the first 70 breach rings were made then in 1940 suitable carriages were fitted . The early British guns were fully rivetted construction of trails and saddles and recoil were sometimes milled or rivetted some say milled is early . The barrel ends on early British guns were beutifully machined to nice bell and later were more tubular circa 1942

The Australians guns were initially like the British ones but experiments in production simplification brought about welded trails and saddles and barrels were distinctly ringed tubular ends saving machining . The Australians also added foot pedal fire control which was upgraded to British guns in service, many picked up in middle east /Aftica and some even captured off enemey forces and returned to service .



A small number of mk2 guns were upgraded to later muzzle baffles and counter weights in 50s and Australia is a source of many unadalterated mk2 Many adorn parks and gardens today and I am particularily fond of them having linked family history to them years back swaping one to budge that ended up in Rotunda it took me years to replace that missing gun in the collection and I still need a carriage for a project i have underway here
below are some shots for you

one

gun converted to training aid for rammng practice have two of these but this one is special as its breach ring is 1938 RGF one of the first 70!!. it bears a scar of a hit on side indicating it may have been a recapuired gun from German or Japanese forces and may rebuild thsi breach onot a 1940 dated carriage over time the other drill gun is a Canadian one dated 1940 from memory


two

British gun with early barrel used by 2/4th field regiment in middle east then pacific and wheels still had water in tyres when recovered from park to give extra stability. On cleaning shield paint the original ww2 2/4th logo was uncovered and the foxtrot battery code is a latter post war sign see the difference in red and blue colours post war being much darker

three

austrlian 25pdr with csr made breach and welded construction not popular with troops as trails were less well balanced as rivetted with limber both in original ww2 finnish

four

front shot of aussie gun showing distincly unfinished tube end common on Aussie made barrels and some latter British before they fitted solothurn flash hiders

five

limber with upturned spare traverse ring as they carried these in case orignal got bent or lost as wel one can see siege lights in boxes and other related stores

anyone in Australia that know of a derelict 25pdr needing to be recovered from park or yard or parts thereoff let me know by private email no good useful deed goes unrewarded
regards
Rod