Question about a couple of artillery bits & bobs

Discussion in 'Weapons, Technology & Equipment' started by Chris C, May 9, 2021.

  1. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    In the Archer, securing the gun when it was not in use involved a pair of tie rods to clamp the gun to its trail, and lifting jacks to lift the gun off of its traversing rollers.

    I was wondering whether tie rods were commonly used in field artillery pieces? And also whether the average gunner would have needed to use lifting jacks? (That seems less likely to me...?)

    I'm also wondering about whether these same tools were used for the 25 pounder in the Sexton, and also exactly what the mounting of the gun in the Sexton was like. It had a little rotating element so I would suppose the gun probably did not have a trail of any sort. (I will have to check my copy of Roger Lucy's Ram tank book - I know it has a Sexton chapter, but I'm out at the moment.)
     
  2. Sheldrake

    Sheldrake All over the place....

    I am not familiar with the Archer gun drills, but these features may have been due to the long heavy barrel. I suspect they were only used for long road moves out of contact with the enemy.

    There was no need for a barrel clamp on the Sexton.
    Several artillery pieces require gunners to carry out odd drills to bring them into action. The L118 Light gun detachment needs to remove the wheel to rotate the barrel into the firing position.
     
    Chris C likes this.
  3. Chris C

    Chris C Canadian

    Thanks, Sheldrake!
     

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