Modified 25-pounder guns

Mike Cecil · #1 01-05-20, 04:15

I'm resurrecting this thread to inquire about the post by Centurion (Post 13) where in he states:

"A British version of the Australian baby 25 pdr was developed. Its main difference was that it could take the super charge (recoil system improved) This was the Mark IV gun. It had the same carriage as the Austraian baby Apparently only a very small number were made ..." (my bolding emphasis)

I am aware that the Brits developed an improved cylinder block (ie the buffer and recuperator) for the Short gun, but not that it ever went into production, hence the query. Did it actually go into production? Gander does not include it in his booklets on the 25 pdr, and he does manage to list some pretty obscure types/experiments, and I can find no reference to it anywhere else either.

Two other comments: First: two 25 pdr (Short) were sent to the UK: one during the war (and one to India, too), and one post war as a gift to the Firepower Museum by the RAA Museum.

Second: nomenclature plates on restored guns/display guns are notorious for being whatever was at hand, placed to fit the screw hole pattern. I've seen saddle ID plates on the cradle and nomenclature plates from one Mk of assembly stuck on another, different Mk. of the same assembly, so am always very dubious about believing what they show.

Very interesting thread - the images of the Mk.II and Mk.III carriage guns were fascinating with much more detail visible than I get to see in books. Neither carriage was used by Australia, though there is a single Mk.III carriage held by the RAA Museum, I understand. We'll just have to wait until the new museum is built at Pucka to see it.

Mike

Mike Cecil · #2 14-05-20, 00:28

Gents,

Can somebody with access to an Australian 25-pdr (Short) please make a measurement for me?

I'm interested to know the vertical height of the saddle from the lower edge where it meets the trail to the centre line of the gun trunnion. Inches or mm - I might live in the USA these days, but I can work in either/both forms of measurement!

Thank you in anticipation.

Mike

lynx42 · #3 14-05-20, 09:39

I'll have a look tomorrow. Cheers.

Hanno Spoelstra · #4 14-05-20, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Very interesting thread - the images of the Mk.II and Mk.III carriage guns were fascinating with much more detail visible than I get to see in books.

Thanks for resurrecting this thread. It proves that "crowd research" by knowledgeable people often leads to interesting publications, albeit not necessarily in "hard copy" printed format. But in this electronic format new insights and facts can be added, so this forum contains many "living documents" which are made accesible to the public by the generous donors (time and money) for well over 20 years now.

Off my soapbox now

Mike Cecil · #5 14-05-20, 16:09

Thanks Rick, appreciate it.

Mike

lynx42 · #6 15-05-20, 07:18

Hi Mike,

Looks like 15 inches or 380mm (+ or - 2mm.) Bit hard to actually measure as I had to work out the centre of the trunnion and measure to the top of the brass slide plate where the saddle sits as they are not in line.

Hope this helps.

Cheers Rick.

IMG_9198.JPG IMG_9197.JPG

Mike Cecil · #7 15-05-20, 16:31

Perfect, Rick, thank you.

Regards

Mike

Mike K · #8 10-06-20, 13:59

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C189763

Mike Cecil · #9 10-06-20, 16:08

Nice find, Mike.

I'll bet most of those demo rounds are Charge 1 - the bounce on Charge 3 is a lot more spectacular. Even this footage shows the No.3 getting knocked by the bounce of the left wheel.

Couple of different guns used in the footage, too.

Note that a gun detachment (6) cannot easily assemble/dismantle the gun on their own - two more men are required .

Mike