3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer

Gerry McGinty · #1 21-07-08, 00:10

Can anyone tell me if the 3.7 inch howitzer was used in North West Europe after D-Day?
I remember reading somewhere that it was issued to some batteries in the 52nd. Lowland Division but I cannot recall where (or if,- I am getting old!) I read this.
Surely some of the MLU expets can put my mind at rest.
TIA
Gerry McGinty

Neil Ashley · #2 21-07-08, 09:26

I would assume that the 52nd Div were only equiped with 3.7" Howitzers while they held the Mountain Role. As soon as they became a standard a Infantry Division for NW Europe they would have been reequiped.

The Para's also used them until they received the superior 75mm Pack Howitzer.

Some books refer to the Royal Navy retaining supplies as deck landing guns into the 1960's.

Mark W. Tonner · #3 21-07-08, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerry McGinty

Can anyone tell me if the 3.7 inch howitzer was used in North West Europe after D-Day?
I remember reading somewhere that it was issued to some batteries in the 52nd. Lowland Division but I cannot recall where (or if,- I am getting old!) I read this.
Surely some of the MLU expets can put my mind at rest.
TIA
Gerry McGinty

Hi Gerry;

According to 'Mountain and Flood, the History of the 52nd (Lowland) Division, 1939-1946, by G. Blake, 1950 - 1st Mountain Regiment, R.A., was still equipped with the 3.7 inch How. in December 1944 (452 Mountain Battery).

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Neil Ashley · #4 21-07-08, 18:02

Gerry

This link would seem to explain why the Division initially went to NW Europe with its mountain guns. It must have been presumably re-equiped after its first main operation.

http://www.with-the-jocks.co.uk/withthejocks.html

Gerry McGinty · #5 21-07-08, 20:02

Thanks chaps for your answers: they seem to confirm that these guns saw some service in NW Europe.
Any further evidence would be most welcome.
Best regards
Gerry

Derek Barton · #6 21-07-08, 21:39

1 Mountain Rgt were in action with their 3.7's at Walcheren. At one point, the advance had been held up by a pillbox built into the wall of a reservoir which despite several direct hits continued in action. Capt Cohen of 452 Bty returned to the beach and collected D sub borrowing the Brigadiers Weasel to tow it. He took them to a house next to the Bty OP and the gun was broken down and carried to an upstairs room overlooking the pillbox.

Firing over open sights the gun fired 8 rounds into the target. The first round opened a large crack in the ceiling of the room they were in and by the 8th round the gun trails were nearly in the room below. They were just about to risk one more round when a white flag appeared at the pillbox and 14 very dazed Germans walked out.

The 3.7's were also in action at the Rhine crossing. 1 Mountain Rgt provided close support for 1 Commando Bde's attack on Wesel.

bram risseeuw · #7 23-07-08, 18:27

There is a photo known of a 3.7" howitzer of the 452e bty at Breskens (1 Nov.1944). As there were no cranes available they had to be dismantled to lift the parts by hand from a wooden jetty into the LCA's. After that they were landed on a beach near Vlissingen (Flushing).
There is also a photo known, taken 2 Nov.1944, of two of the 3.7" howitzers in action after their landing in Flushing.

Cheers,
Bram

Hanno Spoelstra · #8 23-07-08, 23:23

Aha, the 3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer. I had that big AA gun in mind until I read about manhandling it about.

Interesting stuff, never knew they were used to liberate the Netherlands. You learn something every day. Thanks!

H.

Ed Storey · #9 03-08-08, 17:13

I have this document in my collection.

Story · #10 02-10-08, 17:28

Hi guys,
Greetings from the big Sandy.
I'm attempting a restoration project and am searching for digital or paper copies of any of the following manuals for the QF 3.7" Mk 1 Mountain Howitzer:

Gun Drill:
26/Manuals/1391 QF 3.7-inch Mk 1 Howitzer on Mks 1 - 3R Carriage, 1934.
26/Manuals/1664 QF 3.7-inch Mk 1 Howitzer on Mk 4 Carriage (Provisional), 1936.
26/GS Pubs/432 QF 3.7-inch Mk 1 Howitzer on Mks 1 - 3R Carriage, 1941.
26/GS Pubs/432 QF 3.7-inch Mk 1 Howitzer on Mk 4P Carriage, 1941.
Handbook:
26/Manuals/469 QF 3.7-inch Howitzer Mk 1 on Mks 1, 2 & 3 Carriage, 1930.
26/Manuals/1738 QF 3.7-inch Howitzer Mk 1 on Carriage 3.7-inch Howitzer Mks 1, 2, 3 & 4P, 1939.
Maintenance Manual:
WO Code 1450 3.7-inch Howitzer, Ordnance QF Mks 1, 1/1, 1/2 and 3 on Carriage Mks 1/1, 2/1, 2P, 3/1 and Mks 2, 2/1 Indian, 1946.

Yes, the breechblock appears to be intact.

Thanks in advance for any pointers, all.
And thanks for greasing the skids on my approval, Geoff!

Story · #11 13-10-08, 11:00

Just floating this issue to the top, for anyone that missed it. The manuals would support a restoration project I'm working on, in-theater.

For that matter, can anyone recommend reference material on fixing spoked oak wheels?

Alex Blair (RIP) · #12 13-10-08, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Story

Just floating this issue to the top, for anyone that missed it. The manuals would support a restoration project I'm working on, in-theater.

For that matter, can anyone recommend reference material on fixing spoked oak wheels?

Ed
there used to be an old lad in Prince Albert that carved spokes and made wooden wheels and aircraft propellers,mainly for museums,but they do have a great web site and you could contact someone from this sire with your questions..I'm sure you will find your answers here..

http://www.wcwa.ca/index.html

Neil Ashley · #13 14-10-08, 13:51

I assume you have tried the Woolwich Firepower Museum for the manuals.

http://www.firepower.org.uk/

Hanno Spoelstra · #14 16-02-09, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neil Ashley

I assume you have tried the Woolwich Firepower Museum for the manuals.

This museum also has a preserved example of the 3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer (source: HMVF).

Gunner · #15 16-02-09, 23:26

Hi Ed:

Missed your earlier posts. Glad you brought it the top again.

Sounds like you have latched onto something special. Should Shilo be asking for permission to bring home another gun for its collection?

I will get ahold of the curator and ask if they have any of the manuals. My own library is sadly lacking in anything re: the Mountain How.

Good luck with the resto... let me know if I can help with anything... we have a Gunner in a very high place...

UBIQUE!

Mike

Ed Storey · #16 17-02-09, 04:53

It is Gerry that has the questions, not me. I am not, nor am I planning on, getting into the artillery restoration business.

Thanks anyway.

Gunner · #17 17-02-09, 23:44

Hi Ed:

Somehow I got the impression you were posting from a sandy place we know and had found something overthere.

Sorry for the confusion. I'll still see if anyone in Shilo has anything on the 3.7 inch mountain how.

Ubique! Mike

Hanno Spoelstra · #18 02-09-13, 15:52

See HMVF > 3.7" Mountain Howitzer for another survivor in the UK.

Danny Burt · #19 02-09-13, 16:04

My little 3.7 is on loan at the moment but I get it back in November. I am going to do it in RHA flashes as I believe they used them.

Does anyone know the colours - markings? She will be inside as my RSM has asked to show it in our SNCO's mess which I am happy with, inside in the warm and dry!!!

Brownie points for me elsewell

Will get some pics when back in the UK.

Regards,

Dan

rnixartillery · #20 02-09-13, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

See HMVF > 3.7" Mountain Howitzer for another survivor in the UK.

Hanno,

Thanks for throwing this one over, I was intending to start a thread but you have saved me the task !
This is the latest addition to my collection and I have the carriage of a second Gun but still looking for a barrel and slipper just in case any body has one knocking around .

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

rnixartillery · #21 14-09-13, 20:39

Just out of interest I decided to see how easy the barrel would be to split baring in mind this probably has not been done for several decades.
After a flick through the manual just to confirm the sequence and the quick fabrication of the key to unscrew the worm I went to work !
I was quite surprised that with the assistance of a large rubber mallet the locking collar started to move, once apart it is quite astounding how much work and detail went into to this barrel arrangement, I feel a full restoration coming on !

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

rnixartillery · #22 09-02-14, 20:53

Here is the finished article after a complete rebuild, everything has been stripped, repaired ,cleaned and painted. I thought it best to lose the tractor tyres and settled for a close copy to the original issue tyre.
One thing I managed was to retain the original hand painted 4th Indian Div sign that was painted on 40 years ago, this is the signature of this particular Howitzer .
No rest for the wicked as I start a full restoration on my 18 pdr starting tomorrow !

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

Gunner · #23 09-02-14, 21:50

AMAZING, Rob!!!

Well done. I'd best plan on another visit just to drool on what you've done since I was last over... be careful tho' you might find me sleeping in one of the trucks and helping out by day!

Cheers and Ubique! Mike

Hanno Spoelstra · #24 09-02-14, 22:36

Excellent work Rob! Great to see it is in such a good condition again.

Regards,
Hanno

Hanno Spoelstra · #25 09-02-14, 22:36

For good measure, here's another survivor at the Bangladesh Military Museum - Dhaka (Bangladesh)

Picture source: http://www.ourdhakacity.com/military-museum (also see http://www.somewhereinblog.net/blog/pakachul/29711478)

Regards,
Hanno

Hanno Spoelstra · #26 13-07-18, 20:42

Read more about 1st Mountain Regiment's exploits at https://www.royalartilleryunitsnethe...tain-regt.html

Hanno Spoelstra · #27 13-07-18, 20:50

Another survivor at the National Army Museum, London - see
https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail....c=1998-09-20-1