British 6inch Gun

[Mike Cecil]

George,

As far as I'm aware, the 1(P) was the Brit pneumatic wheeled carriage. Those imported as such were Mk.1 (P), and those converted locally in Aust (from the pre-war stock) were Mk.1(P)(Aust). I don't know the differences in detail, but the installation of pneumatic wheels on all sorts of items in Australia used the simplest method available from locally available materials.

Mike C

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

George,

As far as I'm aware, the 1(P) was the Brit pneumatic wheeled carriage. Those imported as such were Mk.1 (P), and those converted locally in Aust (from the pre-war stock) were Mk.1(P)(Aust). I don't know the differences in detail, but the installation of pneumatic wheels on all sorts of items in Australia used the simplest method available from locally available materials.

Mike C

Mike could the conversion on local (Aust) guns been the same as the 4.5 inch gun conversion? I have photos showing a 4.5in limber conversion done here in Australia and it was quite simple.

[George Moore]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

George,

As far as I'm aware, the 1(P) was the Brit pneumatic wheeled carriage. Those imported as such were Mk.1 (P), and those converted locally in Aust (from the pre-war stock) were Mk.1(P)(Aust). I don't know the differences in detail, but the installation of pneumatic wheels on all sorts of items in Australia used the simplest method available from locally available materials.

Mike C

Here are shots of the MkIP and PA, (according to the manual).
The Ip has 13.50 x 20 tyres, the IPA has 15.50 x 24 tyres.
It seems strangs the IPA is an inter-war the IP the later pattern.

I dont think I could ever get my head around the designations applied to British equipment.

George.

[Mike Cecil]

Cliff & George,

Sorry, you've reached the limit of my knowledge on the 6 inch BL. Time to find some examples and compare them.

Don't know of too many survivors in Australia, though. The RAA museum collection is in storage at Bandiana, but that may be a source of info.

Mike C

[George Moore]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Cliff & George,

Sorry, you've reached the limit of my knowledge on the 6 inch BL. Time to find some examples and compare them.

Don't know of too many survivors in Australia, though. The RAA museum collection is in storage at Bandiana, but that may be a source of info.

Mike C

No problems mate.
Just seemed strange having an Aus suffix to the mark of gun.
18pdrs, 4.5" howitzers had slight differences in "Commonwealth" service, particularly wheels/tyres.
Might be the old story, as rubber was getting scarce...better to use what was available re civilian stuff......just a thought.

George.

[lynx42]

Many, many years ago there was a 6 inch carriage and trail on a farm near Drouin, Victoria. John Belfield beat me to it and located a barrel etc on the range at Pucka and put it together. I do not remember the size of the tyres, but they were certainly wide on quite large wheels.

Regards Rick.

[rnixartillery]

Here's a few pictures of the 6" Howitzer at 'Firepower' the Artillery museum in London.
Does anyone know what happened to Johns 6" gun ?

Rob...............rnixartillery

[George Moore]

Originally Posted by rnixartillery

Here's a few pictures of the 6" Howitzer at 'Firepower' the Artillery museum in London.
Does anyone know what happened to Johns 6" gun ?

Rob...............rnixartillery

I recall seeing a photo of a 6" in a yard on this MLU (edit...I found the photo), it may have been a discussion about the Bellfield collection, it also had the "scout carrier" featured as well. IIRC it has the 13.50 x 20 tyres.
The Firepower example...I would love to find out the history of this one, it has a completely different axle and brake set up to anything else in any of the manuals.....I think it was something that ROF Woolwich put together, as I have not seen any other like it in photos etc. It may have been an experimental set up, using parts of the original brakes acting on a drum and the axletree modified to take the pneumatic tyres and wheels. Here are some close ups of the arrangement, it's possible to see the way it was fabricated to use the "old" style brake system, it all looks to be a bit of a lash up.
......"never seen anything like it in me life".

George