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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
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
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.
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.
25PDR QF from the web no muzzle brake, #2 25PDR QF Mk 1 10/04/1940
Brilliant little guns, so manouvarable and portable
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.
Looks like Australian troops pic undated but says 25 PDR Shorts.
They are the short 25 Pdrs.
Here are three photos from Flying10UK who took them in April this year in a lane near Marlborough/Pewsey great photos............thanks for that
That photo looks like it was taken about a mile down the road from where a good mate of mine lives in Pewsey.....and he's owned a few ex-mil vehicles in his time including a Ferret and a 1942 GMC 6x6. He still owns a lwt Landie and a WW2 BSA WDM20.
The owner of that Quad really needs to get it re-registered with DVLA if he has enough paperwork for it? At the very least he needs to put some black and white plates on its now its at least under Historic VED tax class.
Shame he didn't have the Limber and the 25 pounder too, but I suppose they ar elike Rocking Horse Poo!!
No ryhme or reason for the odd shape of the Morris, not as if it was built to deflect rounds, still a great piece though!!
Here is a picture showing two versions of the 25 pounder (with later muzzle break fitted).
Standard version and one without the shield fitted.
Regards John.
John,
Is that a museum I have missed on the coast somewhere?
Hi Gil,
That would be Pendennis Castle near Falmouth. They have quite a few artillery pieces, some of which they fire at mid-day on certain days. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.
John.
I'm not, but my brother in law ex 820 Sqn Culdrose lives near by, good excuse to visit next time I'm down for a pastie or three!!:lol:
Local fire brigades were BIG buyers of the ammunition limbers well into the 50's and 60's as they served as good hose reel and carriers for other odds and sods. They were stripped of the internal guts, painted red and towed behind the fire engines of the day. There was a special trail (the chassis) of the actual gun part. It was lighter and had a much narrower axle. It meant that the 'layer' who sighted and fired the gun had nowhere to rest his feet.
Peter,
Interesting fact that and shows the good old British adaptability in something that was a proven piece of kit, and turned to use by the Fire Brigade
Just noticed this thread, There was a few quads at the W&P show at one point, didn't catch all the vehicles this time so not sure of any this year, there was a vehicle with a limber but wasn't sure on the gun. both were in need of some LTC
I know a guy in Tilbury who has a few 25pdrs, they form a group of re enactors who portray an original RA Battery and follow in the steps of the originals of WW2. They pick dates etc of were they would of been and make there way to the exact (or near as) position of the gun during that year etc.
Very interesting as I cycled past his place a thousand times and seen his Land Rover 101, only before the W&P show about 5 years ago he was loading up for the show, I stopped and commented on his 101......
I'll try and dig out some pics of the previous shows.
We had a load of 25 pounders in Malaya (with 14 Light Reg, RA and I think, 6 light Reg R Aust Artillery. The NZ Artillery Regt was in Vietnam as I recall) and the later 105mm Pack Howitzers in the air portable role as they could be slung below the Belvedere freighters (we called them frighteners) they were moved by Morris Commercial 1 tonners. The same chassis and cab was used for all sorts of other stuff, such as water bowsers etc etc. Never saw a forward control Land Rover until the Malay Regt (4RMR) moved into the old KSLI camp at Malacca and they had them as 3" mortar detachment carriers