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  #31  
Old 25-05-15, 13:00
rnixartillery rnixartillery is offline
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Mike,
Internet access is a bit tricky where I am and I am sat in a Mc donalds at the moment.
I have been researching the 17/25 pdr for quite a while now and have a good archive of pictures including many unseen or publicised so I don't post pictures unless they are already on the net such as the pictures you posted.
With the Australian variant being trialled so late on in the war after the temporary British conversions had been dismantled could this be an attempt to create a lightweight 17pdr baring in mind it has a welded carriage it is quite plausible.

Just visited the Suffolk regiment memorial at coleville Montgomery.

Rob......... rnixartillery
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  #32  
Old 25-05-15, 19:44
Mike Cecil Mike Cecil is offline
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Can't say I've ever seen those two on the net, but then, I suppose I haven't looked that closely. They were a couple of examples from a private album I copied many years ago - an officer closely involved in Aust wartime artillery experiments & production.

Mike
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  #33  
Old 17-07-15, 12:59
rnixartillery rnixartillery is offline
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A couple of items fresh in today 17 pdr related, a complete pull back apparatus which needs cleaning up and a pair of ammo boxes which were dug up in Arnhem a couple of years ago ,sadly no more than relics both 44 dated and one has the faint remains of the markings. one of them might possibly clean up a little.


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

Last edited by rnixartillery; 27-07-19 at 20:58.
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  #34  
Old 18-07-15, 18:35
Rob Fast Rob Fast is offline
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Default Great stuff Rob

How long is that steel/looped cable? Nice boxes. See pic. Cheers Rob Fast
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  #35  
Old 18-07-15, 20:27
rnixartillery rnixartillery is offline
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Rob,

I am going away for a few days so I will measure it for you when I get back.
I do have a couple with slightly different eyes so I'm assuming it was down to manufacturer.

Rob.....................rnixartillery.
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  #36  
Old 24-07-15, 21:12
rnixartillery rnixartillery is offline
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Quote:
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How long is that steel/looped cable? Nice boxes. See pic. Cheers Rob Fast
Rob,

The pull back cable is 10 feet long !

Rob.....................rnixartillery.
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  #37  
Old 26-08-16, 18:18
rnixartillery rnixartillery is offline
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Its been almost a year since I finished the Pheasant restoration and its taken until today to be able to get the Gun out of the depths of the workshop, And what a big heavy b*~#*@d it is too .
I have taken a few pics and pushed it back in .

Another thread put to bed !

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

Attachment 84653 Attachment 84654

Attachment 84655 Attachment 84656

Attachment 84657

Last edited by rnixartillery; 27-07-19 at 20:58.
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  #38  
Old 27-08-16, 09:49
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Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
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Amazing result, Rob - very well done!

It must be the only Pheasant in existence?!?

Keep up the good work!

Regards,
Hanno
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  #39  
Old 28-08-16, 10:54
motto motto is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rnixartillery View Post
Mike,
Internet access is a bit tricky where I am and I am sat in a Mc donalds at the moment.
Rob......... rnixartillery
The best you will get at Macca's is a 1/4 Pounder. Definitely not in the same league.

David
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  #40  
Old 29-08-16, 03:25
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On a more serious note, the question of 25pdr AP versus 17 pdr ballistic performance is an interesting one. The crucial part as I understand it is that kinetic energy i.e. hitting power = Mass x Velocity squared. This means that if you double the mass you have doubled the energy but if you double the velocity, energy is vastly more than doubled.
This is the reason that small arms projectiles have reduced in size and weight over the years as propellants improved and muzzle velocities increased.

David
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Last edited by motto; 29-08-16 at 03:37.
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  #41  
Old 04-09-16, 19:14
Bruce MacMillan Bruce MacMillan is offline
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Very nice work Rob.

After blasting off some gunpowder at the castle yesterday we started talking about ordnance on site. One of the managers said she had gone through some old files this past week and found a letter about a gun. When I read it I immediately thought about this thread.

Apparantly Dover Castle had a pheasant sitting here for a number of years. No one currently knows its fate so will have to put on my Sherlock hat. The curators only work weekdays so I will be contacting them next week to see if they have the data plates.

Enclosed is a copy of the letter, names redacted to protect the innocent.
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  #42  
Old 20-02-17, 17:44
Jan C S Jan C S is offline
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Hi
I am currently writing a book about the 17Pdr. I would like to include a pic or two of the 17/25Pdr Pheasant. Would it be possible for you to provide me with a couple of hires images of your fantastic restored example that I could use?
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  #43  
Old 20-02-17, 18:20
tankbarrell tankbarrell is offline
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Quote:
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I am currently writing a book about the 17Pdr.
That's excellent news! Artillery has been quite neglected in the past.
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  #44  
Old 20-02-17, 19:23
rnixartillery rnixartillery is offline
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Hello Jan.

Yes I'm sure an arrangement can be made to use images of my 17/25 pdr in your publication, you can contact me privately to discuss thing further.

Rob................rnixartillery.
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  #45  
Old 08-04-18, 00:19
Larry Hayward Larry Hayward is offline
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Default 17/25-pounder Pheasant

Dear Rob,

Will your 17pdr ever be seen at shows such as War & Peace Revival?

What plans are there to exhibit it?
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  #46  
Old 08-04-18, 00:47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Hayward View Post
Dear Rob,

Will your 17pdr ever be seen at shows such as War & Peace Revival?

What plans are there to exhibit it?
Larry, you have not seen this then?

https://www.facebook.com/ausarmour/p...type=3&theater
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  #47  
Old 08-04-18, 11:29
rnixartillery rnixartillery is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Hayward View Post
Dear Rob,

Will your 17pdr ever be seen at shows such as War & Peace Revival?

What plans are there to exhibit it?
Larry ,

I don't publicly display any of my Artillery but happy to invite anyone with a similar interest up to Yorkshire for a private viewing.


Rob..................rnixartillery
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  #48  
Old 18-04-19, 11:52
Nicholas Perry Nicholas Perry is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rnixartillery View Post
Larry ,

I don't publicly display any of my Artillery but happy to invite anyone with a similar interest up to Yorkshire for a private viewing.


Rob..................rnixartillery
That's a stunning restoration job. Is this piece now in Australia then?

While researching I don't suppose you came across anything about 3" AA Guns mounted on either 25pdr or 17pdr carriages (sources differ) and built and used for UK Defence in 1942 or 1944 (again sources differ). I've been following up on these ever since Hogg's British and American artillery book came out.
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  #49  
Old 18-04-19, 12:10
tankbarrell tankbarrell is offline
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I found a reference to that in an official history.
In The development of artillery tactics and equipment, published in 1951 by the War Office, it states that '100 old 3" 20 cwt guns were collected, provided with a special 12 1/2 lb. shot and mounted half in Churchill tanks and half on 17-pr carriages, the production of which was in advance of that of the guns. The Churchill mounting was handicapped by its small internal traverse-only 7 degrees- and the guns so mounted were allotted for home defence only. Of the remaining 50 on 17-pr carriages, 25 were allotted to the Middle East and 25 to Home Forces.'

The reference to production of 17-pr carriages being in advance to that of the guns rather contradicts the idea that 17/25 pr came about due to a shortage of carriages for the 17-pr.
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  #50  
Old 19-04-19, 12:48
Nicholas Perry Nicholas Perry is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tankbarrell View Post
I found a reference to that in an official history.
In The development of artillery tactics and equipment, published in 1951 by the War Office, it states that '100 old 3" 20 cwt guns were collected, provided with a special 12 1/2 lb. shot and mounted half in Churchill tanks and half on 17-pr carriages, the production of which was in advance of that of the guns. The Churchill mounting was handicapped by its small internal traverse-only 7 degrees- and the guns so mounted were allotted for home defence only. Of the remaining 50 on 17-pr carriages, 25 were allotted to the Middle East and 25 to Home Forces.'

The reference to production of 17-pr carriages being in advance to that of the guns rather contradicts the idea that 17/25 pr came about due to a shortage of carriages for the 17-pr.
Very interesting, I'm glad there is something behind it. The Churchill Gun Carriers were built in 1942 with Canadians sent off for training just before Dieppe. Which suggests that your point about the carriage/gun mismatch is even more relevant.

I had a working theory that it could be down to barrels removed for Fireflies until it became apparent that; the 17pdr in the Firefly isn't the same as any other vehicle or field mounted gun, possibly due to separate Australian work on the Sentinel 17pdr, also by then (1944) the carriage/gun production seemed to be working out to the extent that guns were widely available in Italy which tended to get stuff later than Home/Invasion Forces.

Several sources state that the 17/25pdrs were returned to the UK after N. Africa possibly they got the 3" barrels? According to Rob's link in the first post 150 built by Weirs, 100 had their barrels removed and put on standard 17 pdr carriages leaving 50 to start the Italian Campaign. 100 3" barrels available less 50 for Churchill Gun Carriers. Hmm...... I've just sent an email to Weirs asking if there is any more information available. I'll keep everybody informed.

Last edited by Nicholas Perry; 19-04-19 at 13:38.
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  #51  
Old 19-04-19, 17:22
tankbarrell tankbarrell is offline
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All 17 pr barrels were dimensionally the same, very early Mk Is were slightly different at the muzzle but the differences between the various marks of 17 pr are in the breech. There are two distinct types of breech mechanism but your point is still valid as the Firefly gun, Mks IV and VII, would not suit the field carriage.
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