MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > MILITARY VEHICLES > The Gun Park

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-03-08, 01:52
Gunner Gunner is offline
T' Guns thank God t' guns
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Near Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 777
Default PETE Nicolete

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
__________________
Mike Calnan
Ubique!
("Everywhere", the sole Battle Honour of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery)
www.calnan.com/swords

Last edited by Gunner; 11-03-08 at 01:56. Reason: added more info
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-03-08, 22:29
John McGillivray's Avatar
John McGillivray John McGillivray is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Quebec
Posts: 1,089
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunner View Post
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.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 13-03-08, 00:36
Snowtractor Snowtractor is offline
In Vino Veritas
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Northern ALberta
Posts: 981
Default this gun

This gun has been the topic of discusion here before. I am not sure what thread it would be under though.
Sean
__________________
1944 Allis Chalmers M7 Snow Tractor
1944 Universal Carrier MKII
M9A1 International Halftrack
M38CDN 1952
Other stuff
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 18:09.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016