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THE BRITISH QUAD
This little combination has always been of interest to me even as a lad, and yes I will admit it, I have the Dinky version somewhere in the attic ready to give to my grandson.
Great little units with over 10,000 produced for WW2. Never seen one here in the UK but this clip proves otherwise. Must be worth a fortune with the 25 pounder
Gun Tractor at Bovington Tankfest 2008 - YouTube
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Not to get off-topic, but how/why do the Brits base these cannons by weight? Is it the entire shell, projectile, or something else? Was it just the Commonwealth countries that did this? As a "yank", all I know is caliber or bore...
Russ
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Airfix had a model kit in the 1960s rigged exacltly like that. I remember building the kit, and intuitively thinking what a perfectly set up system that was for a mobile battlefield that North Africa was.
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Weight of the projectile goes back to muzzle loading cannon. Not having a common measure between countries it was much easier to determine the weight of the projectile as you would then know the 'calibre'.
Each gun maker would make guns to order, thus a huge mix of guns and projectile size. Each country would have its own calibre guns so others wouldn't be able to use them easily when captured. You could always use undersize projectiles with the resulting inaccuracy and possibility of premature explosions.
Thus determine the type of gun by the weight of the projectile. The Brits clung to the calibre by weight longer than other countries.
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The gun behind that tractor needs some explaining. 25prs had a muzzle brake, so it must be another model or a very early one.
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25PDR QF from the web no muzzle brake, #2 25PDR QF Mk 1 10/04/1940
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Brilliant little guns, so manouvarable and portable
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The late Cec. Smith, who was a mate and mentor, served as a 25 Pdr. gunner in the Middle East, North Africa and in New Guinea in WWII. He claimed there was no better or more versatile field gun in the war. The ones they - he - used in New Guinea were the lightened short barrel version, and he said they often had to man-haul them from one place to another.
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Looks like Australian troops pic undated but says 25 PDR Shorts.
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They are the short 25 Pdrs.
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Here are three photos from Flying10UK who took them in April this year in a lane near Marlborough/Pewsey great photos............thanks for that