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Q
F 18-pounder
field gun [in service 1904]
The Shrapnel shell fired by this gun was 3.3-inch calibre (84mm); the
shell weighed 18.5-lb (8.4kg). It had a maximum range of 6,525 yards (5.96km),
at an elevation of 16degs with this distance being covered in a little over 12
seconds. The gun could elevate to 16 degrees above horizontal, which meant that
its shell had a fairly flat trajectory.
This design proved to be an excellent gun, and was the
main field artillery weapon employed by the British Army, and the mainstay of
Divisional artillery. A Mark II design came into service in 1916, with an
improved recuperator (the devices
by which the gun is returned to the firing position after the rapid recoil
produced when firing a shell) - the mechanical part of the gun that suffered
most in conditions of prolonged firing.
Ammunition was Shrapnel [Ac X] and H.E. [Ac]. It was a fixed ammunition
system shell and cartridge case came fixed together, the range required was
achieved by the use of elevation and or depression, it also had a limber in
which ammunition and stores were carried.
Shrapnel
ammunition was used to cut wire and for troops in the open and was useless at
solid targets, dugouts trenches etc, H.E. [Ac] was issued Sept 1915, to overcome
this deficiency; other types of ammunition deployed were Gas, Incendiary, Smoke
and Star.
The gun crew comprised of 10 men, normally in command of the gun was a Sgt No1, No2 Loader, No3 Gun Layer, No's 4–6 Ammunition No's and the other four men 7-10 including the coverer in charge of the 2nd ammunition limber which was held at the wagon lines, these four men where also used as replacements for injured or dead members of the gun team.
A
team of 6 horses pulled the gun, with limber attached, 2x Leaders, 2x Centres and 2 x wheelers. The 3 x Drivers would ride on the nearside of the gun team, the
No1 riding the leader.
A
Mark IV (III was not used) came into service later on, which had a faster
loading mechanism, and allowed elevation to 30 degrees. With a good crew and
conditions, this gun could fire H.E., at an incredible 30 rounds a minute, over
an extended range of 9,300 yards
(8.5km).
The gun weighed 2,821 pounds
(1.282 tones).
Some more info on the Royal artillery guns from http://www.1914-1918.net/arms_tactics/art_weapons.htm
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