Quote:
Originally posted by RHClarke
Derek,
I think you are referring to the SRC guns...as far as I know, the CA Army did not use Bull's guns (maybe Nicolet used them, but I am sure that info is classified), but rather we fired the ERFB from M109s...less than fond memories of doing Safety Officer with a bunch of scientists around the gun...I do recall reaching Gagetown's southern impact areas from the washracks...
I would agree with your sentiments about our past government's shyness to embrace military technology. Bull got screwed, but S. Africa, China and Iraq truly benefited from his technology. Up until we got the triple 7s, we were seriously outranged by potential enemies...
As for reversed rifling - was the rifling on the outside?!?
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Gerald Bull developed a gun he called the GC-45 (
GUN, CANADA 45 cal. ) He called this 155mm gun "reverse rifled" in that instead of the shell riding on the lands and thus requiring a driving band to prevent gas blow-by as with a standard gun, he devised a shell with "fins" that engaged grooves cut into the barrel which negated the need for the driving band thus making a more efficient, aerodynamic shell that could be fired with much greater charges as there was no soft metal band to leak gas.
Iraq put this gun into service as the GHN-45 and created huge concerns for the U.S. military.
Gerald Bull's ERFB shells also incorporated "base bleed" which helped to achieve the great range of this gun.
CHIMO!