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Tuesday, 23 July 2013

A useful little gun

Looking through my Colonial Wargames website, I came across some photographs and information about the Ordnance Quick Firing 2.95" Mk.1 Gun.




The gun was designed and built by Vickers and was introduced into limited service with the British Army in 1901. Its specifications were:
  • Total Weight: 830 pounds
  • Calibre: 75mm (2.953 inches)
  • Barrel length: 31.6 inches
  • Width: 32 inches
  • Height: 26 inches (barrel axis)/36 inches (wheel)
  • Shells: 12.5 pound Common and Shrapnel shells and 18 pound Double common shell (all fixed rounds)
  • Elevation: -10° to + 27°
  • Rate of fire: 14 rounds per minute
  • Muzzle velocity: 920 feet/second
  • Maximum range: 4,825 yards
The guns were not adopted by the British Army although 24 guns were bought and operated by the Royal West African Frontier Force (WAFF). The biggest user of the Ordnance Quick Firing 2.95" Mk.1 Gun was the United States Army, who bought 132. These were used during the Philippine Insurrection, and sufficient of them were still in service in 1941 for approximately 50 of them to be issued to the Filipino Army artillery regiments, who used them against the Japanese invasion.

One of these guns was used during the filming of CARRY ON, UP THE KHYBER …


… and several of them featured in the Battle of Omdurman scenes in the film YOUNG WINSTON.
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6 comments:

  1. Nigel DruryTuesday, July 23, 2013 4:59:00 pm

    I asked Early War Miniatures to consider making a model of this one. I'll ask again, the Carry On reference can only help!

    ReplyDelete
  2. PatGWednesday, July 24, 2013 7:28:00 pm

    That is a pretty little piece.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Archduke PiccoloFriday, July 26, 2013 1:17:00 am

    It seems to be something like an infantry gun - a battalion gun if you like. The Brits don't seem to have gone in for the concept of battalion guns in any big way. I wonder why?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Robert (Bob) CorderySunday, August 04, 2013 5:32:00 pm

    Nigel Drury,

    I hope that you have some success as I will probably buy some if they ever become available.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  5. Robert (Bob) CorderySunday, August 04, 2013 5:33:00 pm

    Pat G,

    Small ... but beautifully formed!

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  6. Robert (Bob) CorderySunday, August 04, 2013 5:38:00 pm

    Archduke Piccolo,

    I suspect that the British Army's reluctance to field battalion guns within infantry units was the result of a demarcation dispute between the Royal Artillery and the Infantry. The former jealously guarded their monopoly role as the users of everything that could be considered to be some form of artillery.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete

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