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Owen · 12-07-2006, 11:34 AM

Reading "Alamein War without Hate" page 104. The Authors attack the British High Command for not pressing the 3.7 in AA gun into service in the anti-tank role as in the German 88. one Veteran says "no excuse for the sheer stupidity of the General Staff" in not allowing it's use in the anti-tank role."During all this time over a thousand 3.7 inch AA guns stood idle in the Middle East.....Many never fired a shot in anger during the whole of the war."Sounds like a fair point. Then looking into the 3.7 in gun I see ;- "A more telling reason was that the 3.75-inch gun mobile mounting was almost twice as heavy as the German "88". Redeploying it was a slower operation and the heavy AEC Matador truck which was normally required to tow it could operate on roads or hard surfaces only.Prolonged firing at low elevations (not part of the original specification) also strained the mounting and recuperating gear"There is the answer. Anyone wish to comment further?

12-07-2006, 11:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Owen Grumpy Old Moose Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Under the stairs Posts: 9,485	3.7in AA gun NOT used as AT gun Reading "Alamein War without Hate" page 104. The Authors attack the British High Command for not pressing the 3.7 in AA gun into service in the anti-tank role as in the German 88. one Veteran says "no excuse for the sheer stupidity of the General Staff" in not allowing it's use in the anti-tank role."During all this time over a thousand 3.7 inch AA guns stood idle in the Middle East.....Many never fired a shot in anger during the whole of the war."Sounds like a fair point. Then looking into the 3.7 in gun I see ;- "A more telling reason was that the 3.75-inch gun mobile mounting was almost twice as heavy as the German "88". Redeploying it was a slower operation and the heavy AEC Matador truck which was normally required to tow it could operate on roads or hard surfaces only.Prolonged firing at low elevations (not part of the original specification) also strained the mounting and recuperating gear"There is the answer. Anyone wish to comment further? Last edited by Owen; 12-07-2006 at 11:39 AM.