New Zealand Field Artillery question

[Mike Cecil]

Field artillery used by New Zealand during the Second World War was, I assume, the 'Ordnance QF 25-pdr. Mk.2 on carriage, 25-pdr Mk.1.'

Were they manufactured in NZ or procured from overseas sources (Canada/UK/Aust)?

Mike

[Lynn Eades]

Mike, We made 3 inch mortars, Mills bombs, built bodies for trucks, built Beaverettes, built Carriers, (1060?), but until WWII we were at the teat of mother England (is it ok to say that?) We were suddenly weaned off under duress and a shortage of gauges and skilled gaugemakers was the first problem.
As with Australia, heavy industry was centered around the railways. I don't believe we produced any artillery. (I am the wrong person to answer this)
When I was a kid, my Dad talked about making a pelting machine for pelting rocks at the moon....
You obviously need a copy of Jeff Plowman's book "Armoured Fighting Vehicles of New Zealand 1939-59"

[Mike Cecil]

Thanks, Lynn, always get a chuckle from your amusing phraseology.

I have a copy of Jeff's book on AFVs, but I don't remember him venturing into artillery.

So local production is unlikely, which means the RNZA must have procured their guns from elsewhere.

Regards

Mike

[Lynn Eades]

Mike, I gained my heavy trailer license towing a 5.5 gun with an Australian Mk V. Inter 6x6, (4th Med Bty) however my knowledge of artillery has more to do with the electric brakes of the 5.5 than of the gun itself. (ex RNZEME mechanic, hence the Bluebell bit) Someone else needs to chime in.

[Russell Boaler]

I'm with Lynn on that one I don't think that NZ manufactured artillary peices during WW2. Instead we sourced it from wherever we could... UK, Au, Canada... we weren't fussy. I have seen some photos recently of some trial carriages that we made to suit existing guns (post WW2 I think) but they only ever got to prototype phase and as far as I know never went into production.

[Mike Cecil]

Thanks Gents, I'll take that as enough to go with.

New Zealand had three infantry divisions, I think. If that is correct, then NZ would have needed 24 field guns x 3 Regiments x 3 Divisions = 216 plus operational reserve plus training establishments, so probably around 300 field guns that had to be sourced from somewhere.

Lynn - the 5.5-inch BL How was reportedly a very nice medium gun, but I have not looked into its use very much. Aust used the same gun (started arriving in 1943) and post war used the Mack NR as the tractor until the Inter F1 6x6 (what you are calling a Mk.5) came along. It was probably a bit much for a 4x4 Inter to handle safely.

Thanks

Mike