6 pdr drag ropes

[tankbarrell]

I'm trying to get my head round the drag ropes for the 6 pdr. At first sight, it seems as though they might be the same as 25 pdr ones but they are not. There have been references on here and other places to 'correct 6 pdr ropes' but what is the difference.

The handbook just says they are 'the 30ft ropes converted' and the parts list states the rope size as 3", the same as 25 pdr and 17 pdr et al. The thing is, the hooks on the shield come in different lengths and the short ones are not really long enough to take a coiled up 25 pdr rope.

So, are the 'correct' ropes a standard rope but shortened or are they made from smaller (2"?) rope? If the former, how long are they and are the chains the same length as the wheel is considerably smaller than a 25 pdr wheel. The standard rope works on the 6 pdr wheel but I would like to know exactly where they are different.

I am aware rope sizes are measured as circumfrential, not diametrical.

Any help gratefully received as I will likely have to make a pair and would like to get them right.

[Marc van Aalderen]

Adrian,

I have the same issue and question. The 25 pdr ropes are indeed to thick and I can only get one on the hooks. When I just acquired my gun I had some email exchange with a chap from Australia and he did tell me the early ones are thinner than the 25 pdr ropes used later for the 6 pdr as well. He did have some early thin ropes then but was asking a lot plus shipping would have been a killer too.

Think we may have to search the internet for photos to see how the ropes were stowed back then?

Cheers,

[tankbarrell]

Thanks Marc, that fits with my thinking. I agree the Australian ropes would likely cost more than the 6pdr itself.....

[rob love]

6 pdr ropes that I have seen are a thinner rope. We have NOS one at work less the chain and hooks. I believe we have a complete one in the main museum on our 6 pdr.

[Marc van Aalderen]

Hi Rob,

Would you be able to take some dimensions and photos?

Cheers,

[tankbarrell]

Looking at photos in Doug Knights book, the situation is illustrated very well.
The cover shows long hooks on the shield and a picture on page three shows the same gun with standard ropes fitted and they certainly fill the hooks.
Page five shows a gun with short hooks and ropes that are clearly much thinner in section. The hooks look smaller too.
Photos and measurements of a known to be correct rope would solve the issue... Rob?