I noticed that there is no love for Allied indirect fire. The British only have the 6 pdr, and the Americans only have the 105. The Russians and Germans get their own heavy arty, going all the way up to the 152s. I've compiled a list of popular arty that definitely should be added.
Ordinance QF 25 PDR Mk II
Year 1940
Weapon Type Light Field Gun/Howitzer
Origin & Designer Britain/Various
Numbers Produced 13.000
Crew 6 (Gun Sergeant, Gunner, Loader, Breech Operator & 2 x Ammunition Bearers)
Calibre 87.6mm (87x292R)
Elevation -5° to +45°
Traverse 360°
Breech Vertical Sliding Block
Recoil Hydropneumatic
Gun Sight No. 29
Carriage Box Trail
Barrel Length 2.450mm (L/28.
Overall Length 4.60m
Width 2.13m
Height 1.16m
Weight Weight in Traction: 3.327 kg
Weight in Action: 1.799 kg
Round Weight HE: 11.33 kg.
AP: 9.07 kg.
Smoke: 9.89 kg.
Muzzle Velocity HE: 518 m/s.
AP: 610 m/s.
Smoke: 420 m/s.
Practical Rate of Fire 4 r.p.m.
Maximum Rate of Fire 8 r.p.m.
Maximum Range 12.253m
Traction Motorised (Morris C8 Quad)
Notes The 25 pounder answered the needs for a weapon that could be used as a field and a howitzer. The 18/25 pounder served as an interim weapon and many were lost when the BEF evacuated from France, leaving the army short on field artillery. The new version was introduced which combined a new box trail designed by Vickers which came with its own firing platform. This platform gave the gun a 360° traverse which was useful if firing at moving targets. The original barrels stayed the same at 87mm and the gun was called the 25 pounder Mk.2 on Mk.1 carriage. And this became to standard field piece found in both British and Commonwealth field regiments.
BL 60 PDR Mk. IVP
Year 1905
Weapon Type Heavy Gun
Origin & Designer Britain/Elswick
Numbers Produced 92
Crew Crew: 10
No.1: Gun Commander
No.2: Breech Operator
No.3: Gun Layer
No.4: Traverse Operato
No.5: Shell Loader
No.6: Cartridge Loader
No.7: Ammunition
No.8: Ammunition
No.9: Ammunition
No.10: Coverer
Calibre 127mm
Elevation -4.5° to +35°
Traverse 4° Left & Right
Breech Wellin Screw
Recoil Hydropneumatic
Gun Sight No 7 Dial Sight
Carriage Box Trail
Barrel Length 4.670mm (L/37)
Overall Length 6.80m
Width 2.0m
Weight In Action: 4.470 kg
Round Weight (HE) 27.22 kg (Bagged Charge)
Muzzle Velocity 634 m/s
Rate of Fire 1 r.p.m.
Maximum Range 11.245m
Traction Motorised (Scammell Pioneer R100 Tractor)
Notes The 60 pdr proved its worth during the First World War. It went through various modifications and cartridges before being modernised for mechanization with the Mk. IVP carriage with pneumatic wheels. It was still in service in 1939 and BEF took 19 to France and these were all lost. It last saw action in North Africa serving with British and Commonwealth forces.
BL 5.5
Year 1941
Weapon Type Medium Gun
Origin & Designer Britain/State Factories
Numbers Produced 5000
Crew 10
Calibre 140mm
Elevation -5° to +45°
Traverse 60°
Breech Wellin Screw
Recoil Hydropneumatic
Gun Sight No. 7 Dial Sight
Carriage Split Trail
Barrel Length 4.190mm (L/30)
Overall Length 7.52m
Weight In Action: 5.850 kg
Round Weight 45.36 kg
Muzzle Velocity 510 m/s
Rate of Fire 2 r.p.m.
Maximum Range 14.870m
Traction Motorised (AEC Matador)
Notes The 5.5in gun was first introduced in 1941 and replaced the 4.5in as the standard medium gun. The 4.5in lacked the explosive power needed due to the low HE content of its shells. It shared the same carriage as the 4.5in Mk. II and a similar recoil system to the 6in howitzer. The gun was a complete success and it had a long career serving in British and Commonwealth medium artillery regiments.
M1 155mm Field Howitzer
Year 1942
Numbers Produced 10.600
Crew Sergeant/Section Chief + .30 cal M1 Rifle.
Corporal/Gun Layer + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
Pvt/Gunner + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
2 x Pvts/Loaders + .30 cal M1 Carbines.
Corporal/Ammunition .30 cal M1 Carbine.
4 x Pvts/Ammunition Bearers + .30 cal M1 Carbines.
Pvt/Driver (Towing Vehicle) + .30 cal M1 Rifle w/M7 Grenade Launcher.
Calibre 155mm
Elevation -2° to +63°
Traverse 25°
Breech Interrupted Screw
Recoil Hydropeumatic
Gun Sight M12
Carriage M1: Split Trail
Barrel Length 3.79m (L/23)
Overall Length 7.315m
Weight Weight in Transit: 5.850 kg
Weight in Action: 5.600 kg
Round Weight HE (M107) 43.14 kg.
Smoke (M116) 43.14 kg.
Bagged Charges:
M3: 2.69 kg.
M4: 6.29 kg.
M4A1: 6.31 kg.
Muzzle Velocity HE 564 m/s.
Smoke 564 m/s.
Rate of Fire 4 r.p.m.
Maximum Rate of Fire HE: 14.955m
Smoke: 14.955m
Traction Motorised (Diamond T Truck or M5 Tractor)
Notes After developing a new carriage in which to mount their M1918 howitzers, the army decided to design a new howitzer instead of utilizing the older model, resulting in the M1 howitzer mounted on the M1 carriage. This same carriage was also used to mount the 4.5in gun which was to partner the new howitzer. The M1 had a longer barrel than the M1918 and had a new improved breech. The howitzer M1 was to replace the vintage M1918A3 which were still in stock, the M1 proved to be the best medium howitzer available to US forces not only in WW2 but in Korea and Vietnam. Along with the M2A1 105mm, formed the back bone of US Artillery Regiments
The Long Tom M1A1 or 8in M1 Howitzer (exact same chassis with a bigger gun)
Year January 1944
Numbers Produced 1.006
Crew Sergeant/Section Chief + .30 cal M1 Rifle.
Corporal/Gunner + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
Pvt/Assistant Gunner + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
9 x Pvts/Cannoneers + .30 cal M1 Carbines.
Pvt/Gun Mechanic + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
Corporal/Ammunition + .30 cal M1 Carbine.
9 x Pvts/Ammunition Bearers + .30 cal M1 Carbines.
2 x Pvt/Driver (Towing Vehicle) + .30 cal M1 Rifles w/M7 Grenade Launchers.
Calibre 203mm
Elevation -2° to +64°
Traverse 30°
Breech Interrupted Screw
Recoil Hydropeumatic
Gun Sight M12
Carriage M1: Split Trail
Barrel Length 5.140mm (L/25)
Overall Length 10.972m
Weight Weight in Transit: 14.378 kg
Weight in Action: 13.471 kg
Round Weight HE (M106) 90.12 kg.
Bagged Charge (M1) 6.3 kg & 13.56 kg (M2).
Muzzle Velocity 594 m/s
Rate of Fire 1 r.p.m.
Maximum Range 16.800m
Traction Motorised (M4 Tractor or Mack 7 ½ -ton 6x6 Truck)
Notes Designed as a long ranged support weapon to partner its close relative the M1 155mm gun the M1 8in howitzer was also shelved only to be revived later. It was standardized in 1940 but priority went to the M2A1 gun. The first howitzers were produced in 1942 and were kept in production until 1945. The M1 was very accurate and first saw action in Italy in 1943. It was issued at Corps level to US army and the Marine Corps. After WW2 It was redesignated as the M115 howitzer and continued in service through the Korea war and Vietnam.
Here is the 155mm
Here is the 203mm
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Topic: More Allied Artillery (Read 527 times)
