Gun Identification

Karen Bloor · 10-05-2005, 07:58 PM

[attachmentid=735]

Dear All

I have a photo of my grandfather with the gun I believe he was bombardier with in North Africa.

Would someone be so kind as to identify the gun for me.

My grandfather is on the left of the picture, he was not in the theatre of war for very long as he arrived in North Africa Nov 41 and I have a press clipping from the local paper in August 42 saying that news had been received that he was in a prisoner of war camp in Italy.

I have since found out that this was PG 68 in Vetralla.

Still looking for where he was taken when Italy capitulated.

Thanks

Karen

thunderbolt47 · 13-05-2005, 02:48 AM

All I could really tell you is it might be some sort of 75mm Howitzer.

angie999 · 13-05-2005, 09:02 AM

The carriage and tyres look British but I do not recognise the gun.

The size of the carriage suggests a larger calibre.

When was the photograph taken? If it dates from the time of the BEF, 1939/40, it could be a WWI howitzer mounted on a more modern carriage for ease of motor transport. The short barrel suggests howitzer.

On the other hand, it does not look much like a split trail to me, in which case could it be sufficiently elevated into the howitzer role?

redcoat · 18-05-2005, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Karen Bloor@May 10 2005, 06:58 PM
[attachmentid=735]

Dear All

I have a photo of my grandfather with the gun I believe he was bombardier with in North Africa.

Would someone be so kind as to identify the gun for me.

M

KarenX X

Quoted post

Its a British 6 Inch 26 Cwt Howitzer.
A first world war design on a modified carriage, over 4,000 were produced, seeing service mainly in N.Africa and the Far East.

For more info on British field guns
http://www.hypospace.net/equipment/Field%20Guns.htm

Karen Bloor · 28-05-2005, 07:49 PM

Thank you for the gun identification.

This raises a few questions. How many men did it take to man the Howitzer. As a bombardier what role would my grandfather have in firing the Howitzer. Were the Howitzers attached to any regiment in particular in North Africa.

Since my first post I believe grandfather was captured at Tobruk.

Also well into reading War without Hate, I am finding it very interesting.

Thanks

Karen

13-05-2005, 09:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
angie999 Very Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: near Bristol, UK Posts: 1,559	The carriage and tyres look British but I do not recognise the gun. The size of the carriage suggests a larger calibre. When was the photograph taken? If it dates from the time of the BEF, 1939/40, it could be a WWI howitzer mounted on a more modern carriage for ease of motor transport. The short barrel suggests howitzer. On the other hand, it does not look much like a split trail to me, in which case could it be sufficiently elevated into the howitzer role? __________________ Angie "History is lived forward but it is written in retrospect. We know the end before we consider the beginning and we can never wholly recapture what it was like to know the beginning only." C V Wedgewood

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10-05-2005, 07:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Karen Bloor Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 15	[attachmentid=735] Dear All I have a photo of my grandfather with the gun I believe he was bombardier with in North Africa. Would someone be so kind as to identify the gun for me. My grandfather is on the left of the picture, he was not in the theatre of war for very long as he arrived in North Africa Nov 41 and I have a press clipping from the local paper in August 42 saying that news had been received that he was in a prisoner of war camp in Italy. I have since found out that this was PG 68 in Vetralla. Still looking for where he was taken when Italy capitulated. Thanks Karen

13-05-2005, 02:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
thunderbolt47 Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wichita Posts: 31	All I could really tell you is it might be some sort of 75mm Howitzer.

28-05-2005, 07:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Karen Bloor Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 15	Thank you for the gun identification. This raises a few questions. How many men did it take to man the Howitzer. As a bombardier what role would my grandfather have in firing the Howitzer. Were the Howitzers attached to any regiment in particular in North Africa. Since my first post I believe grandfather was captured at Tobruk. Also well into reading War without Hate, I am finding it very interesting. Thanks Karen

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