Can you identify this gun??

[Gunner]

Hi All:

"Frankenstein is in fact one of the test beds from the Proof and Equipment Test Establishment (PETE) in Nicolete (Trois Rivieres), Quebec.

They had dozens of different field gun carriages with specifically made adapters to allow fitting all manner of barrels... I remember clearly a 75 Pack How with a .50 MG fitted... I found the missing bits in a store room and reassembled the Pack How which now resides in the Airborne Forces Museum in Petawawa. Years ago, I was also periferally involved in tests on 105mm APFSDS using an L7 tank barrel fitted to a Long Tom carriage.

Usually when a barrel and breech mech such as seen on Frankenstein were fitted to a field gun carriage it was to have the most stable platform possible for ammo tests. I would bet that a careful examination of Frankenstein will reveal a number of holes drilled into the barrel in various places (chamber, forcing cone, mid barrel) where pressure guages were fitted to measure internal ballistics. These tests (often to ensure old ammo had not exceeded its shelf life) were carried out from the early 40's to just recently. With reference to a recent thread; PETE was the largest concentration of Master Gunners in Canada!

A number of years ago they tidied up at PETE and alot of the wierdos ended up in the Valcartier area due to the lobbying efforts of a number of Gunners in the area to acquire monuments for the Base and local community.

Hope this clears up the confusion!

Jiff: How about moving this to the Gun Park.

Mike

[John McGillivray]

Originally Posted by Gunner

Hi All:

These tests (often to ensure old ammo had not exceeded its shelf life) were carried out from the early 40's to just recently.

Mike

Once when we were doing live firing in Valcartier (1973 or 1974) we were given some 105mm smoke rounds manufactured in the US during WWII. When we opened them up we found that the cloth of the charge bags was rotten, and they would fall apart, spilling cordite everywhere, at the slightest touch. Needless to say the ammo was marked N/S and was sent back were it came from.

[Snowtractor]

This gun has been the topic of discusion here before. I am not sure what thread it would be under though.
Sean