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The rapid-fire heavy field 4.5-inch howitzer was one of the guns used by the United Kingdom Army in World War I, developed after the Boer War. During the colonial wars, it became obvious that English howitzers were too heavy and clumsy and had a low rate of fire. Therefore, the command of the army of the British Empire requested new guns for the Royal Artillery. At first, state-owned companies were responsible for developing a new type of weapon. However, later a competition was held among private companies. The competition for the development and production of a new weapon was won by the private arms company Coventry Odnance Works.
The termination of the state monopoly on the production of weapons proved useful: the British Expeditionary Force, which landed in France in 1914, had perhaps the best field howitzers in the world. And they were successfully combined with 18-pounder guns in a regular field artillery regiment. Like 18-pounder guns, 4.5-inch guns were transferred to the armies of the British dominions, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand, and in 1916 to Russia, due to the difficult situation of the Russian army on the eastern fronts. Here they were applied during the events of the 1917 revolution and civil war. In 1941, some guns were captured by the Germans and used as light field 114 mm 363(r) howitzers.
To the first world war the cannon was transported on a horse-drawn carriage (this required 6 horses). The full calculation consisted of 10 fighters, including carriers of shells and riders. Shrapnel was the most common projectile, later replaced by high-explosive projectiles. However, in 1914 there was a major shortage of these shells, resulting in a political crisis in 1915 called the shell scandal. After the end of the First World War, another scandal erupted around the use of these shells. Thus, the German company Krupp sued the British government in international court for using wicks developed by this company. And she won the lawsuit.
Until 1914, 182 howitzers were produced, by 1918 another 3,177 were produced. These guns after the end of the First World War were left in service with the British army. They were still involved in hostilities at the start of World War II. For some time, their wooden wheels with spokes were replaced by pneumatic ones, under mechanical traction. And 96 guns captured by the Germans were installed on the Atlantic Wall, receiving the designation leFH 361 (e). The last models of the gun were in service with the Irish army until the end of the 70s.
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In the 1940s, the 203-mm B-4 howitzer became a symbol of the high-capacity Russian artillery of the Reserve of the Supreme High Command.
During the First World War, heavy large-caliber siege artillery guns "came" into the field war. The strengthening of field defenses and the need to deal with hidden targets in the depths of enemy battle formations determined the development of high-capacity artillery in the interwar period.
HOWitzer ARGC
The creation of high-powered guns for the artillery of the High Command Reserve was one of the first tasks of the Design Bureau of the Artillery Committee, formed in early 1927. The development of the "203-mm long-reach howitzer" was carried out here under the leadership of F.F. Lender, after his death - A.G. Gavrilov. The carriage was developed by the Bolshevik plant. Subsequently, all work was transferred to the plant, where they were led by A. G. Gavrilov and N. N. Magdesiev. The 203-mm howitzer received the factory index B-4. The first prototype made at the beginning of 1931.
In 1932, to increase the firing range, the barrel length was increased - this is how the B-4 BM (“high power”) howitzer appeared, this modification became the main one. Officially 203 mm howitzer mod. 1931 was adopted only in 1934. It was intended for the destruction of especially strong concrete, reinforced concrete, armored, wood-and-earth structures, the fight against large-caliber or enemy artillery sheltered in strong structures, and the suppression of distant targets.
Production of the B-4 was organized at the Bolshevik plant in Leningrad and the Barrikady plant in Stalingrad. Establishing its serial production took a lot of time. In 1938, the Novokramatorsk plant named after V.I. Stalin.
IMPLEMENT DEVICE
The B-4 had a bonded barrel or a monoblock barrel - both with a replaceable liner. The liner could be replaced in the field. The shutter is piston, with four rifled sectors and a Bange-type obturator. The carriage included a barrel cradle with recoil devices, an upper machine with a weapon winch, guidance mechanisms and a lower machine.
Rollback brake - hydraulic, knurler - hydropneumatic, rollback length - variable from 880 to 1400 mm. The upper machine was put on the pin of a single-beam lower machine, equipped with a folding coulter, a combat move, and two seats to accommodate the numbers of the calculation in a marching manner. The caterpillar combat stroke increased not only the patency of the gun, but also its stability when firing, without requiring the equipment of special platforms.
In addition to the rotary and lifting mechanisms of the sector type, there was a mechanism for bringing the barrel to the loading angle. Loading was carried out using a crane with a winch, the projectile and charge were fed to the breech on a special kokora cart and sent manually by a breaker. The gun was to be towed using a front end by a Voroshilovets or Komintern tractor, but the S-65 Stalinets national economic tractors were more often used. The barrel on the campaign was busy on a separate barrel wagon.
AMMUNITION
The howitzer fired shots of separate-cartridge loading with high-explosive and concrete-piercing shells. A 203-mm concrete-piercing projectile pierced a reinforced concrete floor with a thickness of up to 1-1.25 m.
The propelling powder charge was placed in several cloth caps. The variable charge made it possible to obtain 10 values of the initial velocity of the projectile. A shock tube was used as a means of ignition, which was inserted into the bolt after locking the bore.
BATTLE BIOGRAPHY
Combat service 203-mm howitzer mod. 1931 began during the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940 and immediately earned the trust of the troops.
To the beginning of the Great Patriotic War The Red Army had 849 B-4 howitzers. They armed howitzer regiments of high power RVGK. The regiment consisted of three divisions of three two-gun batteries each. Despite the difficult situation in the retreat of the first period of the war, many high-powered guns were saved and pulled to the rear, although some of them fell into the hands of the enemy. The preservation of high-capacity artillery guns and personnel played an important role in the development of offensive operations of the Red Army in the second and third periods of the war. “When organizing breakthroughs, in the general rumble of artillery cannonade, “beautiful voices” of 203-mm howitzers and 280-mm mortars sounded ... ”- recalled Marshal of Artillery N. D. Yakovlev. Divisions of 203-mm howitzers were now reduced to high-capacity howitzer brigades of the RVGK. By the end of the war, the troops had 760 of these howitzers.
The fire of the 203-mm howitzers was carried out mainly along hinged trajectories - since they allowed the choice of the most advantageous trajectory. But even during the Soviet-Finnish war, B-4s sometimes fired at bunkers with direct fire. This experience came in handy in the final period of the Great Patriotic War - for example, during the assault on Koenigsberg and Berlin. Sometimes, for the collapse of a house defended by the enemy, it was enough for the shock wave from a howitzer shot along the wall.
MODERNIZATION
The modernization of the 203 mm howitzer began immediately after the war with the task, first of all, to increase its mobility. In 1955, a combat move was adopted, developed in SKB-221 of the Barrikady plant under the leadership of G.I. Sergeev. It included four wheels with rubber tires and torsion bar balancer suspension. Such a howitzer received the B-4M index. An ATT tractor was used for towing. The speed of towing on dirt roads has increased to 20 km/h, on the highway - up to 30 km/h. The howitzer was now fumbling inseparably - the barrel on the carriage was simply pulled back in a marching manner.
The lower machine is equipped with a jack - with its help, the howitzer relied on pallets before firing, and the wheel travel was unloaded. The turning mechanism in the trunk part of the gun made it possible to increase the firing sector up to ± 10 °. The mass of the B-4M in combat position was 19,700 kg. In the 1960s, a special (nuclear) projectile ZBV2 was introduced into the ammunition load.
You might be interested:
The concept of the technique and technology of stone processing. Stages of technological development.
1. Stone processing and tool making in the Paleolithic era:
techniques and methods of impact processing of stone in the Olduvai and Acheulian eras
Continuation and development of the technological tradition of stone processing in Mousterian
Prismatic splitting in the Upper Paleolithic
2. Stone processing and tool making in the Mesolithic:
Production of microliths, methods of their fastening
The origin of the technique of drilling, grinding stone
3. Stone processing and tool making in the Neolithic era:
The rise of grinding technology, sawing, drilling stone
The emergence of the technique of enhanced spinning.
Literature
Girya E.Yu. Problems of technological analysis of stone splitting products // SA. 1991. No. 3. S. 115-128.
Semenov S.A. The development of technology in the Stone Age. L., 1968.
Semenov S.A. Production and functions of stone tools // Stone Age in the USSR. M., 1970. S. 7-18.
Serikov Yu.B. Paleolithic and Mesolithic of the Middle Trans-Urals. Nizhny Tagil, 2000, pp. 97-114.
Production technology in the Paleolithic era. L., 1983.
Whittaker J.Ch. Stone splitting: technology, function, experiment. Irkutsk, 2004.
In preparation for a practical lesson on this topic, one should get acquainted with the works of the founder of the traceological method for studying stone products S.A. Semenov. Then you should study the work of modern specialists.
To the first question. Show the evolution of stone processing techniques in the Paleolithic. Explain the difference between upholstery and stone splitting. Pay attention to the relationship between primary and secondary blanks. Draw different types of nuclei. Determine the types of blanks from the training collection, show and explain what retouching is.
To the second question. Explain the difference between microliths and macroliths. Find out how to fix microliths.
To the third question. Show the reason for the emergence and flourishing of new methods of stone processing. Associate these methods with the feedstock.
The result of practical classes should be a clear understanding by students of the evolution of stone processing, the differences between the main processing techniques, between blanks and products, the relationship between the type of blank and the shape of the core.
Topic 4. Ceramics as a historical source (6 hours)
1. Technique and technology of ceramic production (molding masses, molding, surface treatment, firing).
2. Ornamentation of vessels (tools for ornamentation, techniques).
3. Classification of the ornament and its function.
4. Possibilities of using ceramics as a historical source.
Literature
Bobrinsky A.A. Pottery of Eastern Europe. M., 1978.
Bobrinsky A.A. The potter's wheel and its origins: Preprint. Yekaterinburg, 1993.
Vinogradov N.B., Mukhina M.A. New data on the technology of pottery among the population of the Alakul culture of the Southern Trans-Urals and Northern Kazakhstan // Antiquities of the Middle Volga. Kuibyshev, 1985, pp. 79-84.
Gening V.F. The program of statistical processing of ceramics from archaeological excavations // SA. 1973. No. 1. S. 114-136.
Gening V.F. Ancient pottery. Methods and program of research in archeology. Kyiv, 1992.
Glushkov I.G. Ceramics as a historical source. Novosibirsk, 1996. S. 15-19, 22-24, 36, 43-44, 53-67, 76-78.
Danchenko E.M. About broken pots // Cultures of the steppe Eurasia and their interaction with ancient civilizations: Materials of the international. scientific conf., dedicated 110th anniversary of the birth. outstanding Russian archaeologist M.P. Gryaznov. - St. Petersburg: IIMK RAS, Periphery, 2012. Book. 2. - S. 57-61.
Kalinina I.V., Gadzhieva E.A. The use of animal jaws for ornamentation of ceramics in the Ural region // AS GE. 1991. No. 32.
Kalinina I.V., Ustinova E.A. Technological classification of ornaments of Neolithic - Eneolithic ceramics of the Ural region // AS GE. 1990. Issue. 30. S. 7-19.
Ceramics as a historical source. Novosibirsk, 1989.
(http://www.arheolog-ck.ru/?p=4673) (articles by P.M. Kozhin, Yu.B. Tsetlin)
Melnikova L.N. Methods for the study of archaeological ceramics: Textbook.-Method. settlement Novosibirsk, 2007.
Molodin V.I. On the issue of stamps for ornamentation of ancient ceramics // Ancient ceramics of Siberia: typology, technology, semantics. Novosibirsk, 1990. S. 76-80.
In preparation for a practical lesson on this topic, you should study the manual of L.N. Melnikova, as well as the monograph by A.A. Bobrinsky. For the second and third questions, it is necessary to refer to the works of I.G. Glushkova, I.V. Kalinina and E.A. Ustinova, as well as V.I. Molodin. During the classes, students may be asked to perform practical tasks.
To the first question. Pay attention to modern data on the time of the appearance of ceramics (Internet search). Explain what causes the differences in molding ceramic masses. Determine impurities in ceramics from the study collection.
To the second and third questions. Describe the techniques used to decorate ancient pottery. Analyze and criticize well-known classifications of ornament and views on its function. Determine the ways of ornamentation of vessels in the educational collection.
To the fourth question. Compare the points of view of different authors on the possibility of using ceramics (ornament on ceramics) as a historical source (see the works of I.G. Glushkov, E.M. Danchenko, P.M. Kozhin, Yu.B. Tsetlin). Give criticism of different positions on this issue.
Naval gun 6-pdr/10cwt QF Mk-I
The gun was put into service in 1937 and was intended to fight torpedo boats and submarines. It was also used in coastal defense. A total of 155 coastal artillery mounts and 22 naval ones were built. TTX guns: caliber - 57 mm; length - 2.7 m; barrel length - 2.6 m; gun weight - 481 kg; projectile weight - 2.8 kg; charge mass - 576 g; initial speed - 727 m / s; rate of fire - 18 rounds per minute; firing range - 10 km; calculation - 6 people.
The semi-automatic gun was developed on the basis of an anti-tank gun and put into service in 1941. It was installed on torpedo boats. In total, about 600 guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber - 57 mm; length - 2.4 m; barrel length - 1.9 m; gun weight - 345 kg; ammunition weight - 12.2 kg; projectile weight - 2.7 kg; initial speed - 655 m / s; rate of fire - 18 rounds per minute; firing range - 5.6 km; barrel survivability - 4000 shots; ammunition - store for 6 shots.
Ship gun QF-4 inch Mk-IV
QF-4 inch Mk-IV naval gun mounted on a merchant ship
The Mk-IV gun is the result of the modernization of the BL-4 inch Mk-VIII gun, carried out in 1911. The gun was installed on a series of ships built in 1916-1917, and was also installed on auxiliary ships and was in service until 1947 A total of 979 guns were in service. TTX guns: caliber - 101.6 mm; weight - 1.2 t; length - 4 m; projectile weight - 14.6 kg; initial speed - 720 m / s; firing range - 9 km.
Modification guns Mk-XII and Mk-XXII were developed for arming submarines. The gun served as a ship and anti-aircraft gun. By the beginning of the war, 58 guns were in service on L, O, P and R class boats. TTX guns: caliber - 101.6 mm; length - 4.2 m; barrel length - 4 m; weight - 1.3 tons; ammunition weight - 47.5 kg; projectile weight - 21 kg; rate of fire - 13 rounds per minute; initial speed - 664 m / s; firing range - 9.5 km.
The gun was put into service in 1908. It was installed on large ships to fight torpedo boats, and on small ships as the main caliber.
A total of 600 guns were built. The guns decommissioned from battleships and cruisers were used to equip torpedo boats, small and merchant ships. TTX guns: caliber - 101.6 mm; barrel length - 5.1 m; installation weight - 4.6 tons; barrel and bolt weight - 2.1 t; weight - projectile - 14.6 kg; charge mass - 4.3 kg; initial speed - 869 m / s; rate of fire - 8 rounds per minute; firing range - 10.6 km.
Ship gun 4″/40 QF Мk-XIX
The 102-mm dual-purpose gun was put into service in 1939 and was installed on corvettes, frigates and merchant ships as anti-submarine weapons. A total of 2023 guns were built, incl. 219 - at factories in Australia and 1006 at factories in Canada. TTX guns: caliber - 101.6 mm; barrel length - 4.1 m; installation weight - 2.9 tons; barrel and bolt weight - 1.3 tons; ammunition weight - 22.7 kg; projectile weight - 16 kg; charge mass - 1.8 - 2.2 kg; initial speed - 396 m / s; rate of fire - 15 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 8.9 km; barrel survivability - 2000 shots.
The gun was put into service in 1916 as a secondary weapon for cruisers, and then it was equipped with small ships - corvettes, minesweepers to fight submarines. The gun was also used in coastal defense. In total, at least 500 guns were in service. TTX guns: caliber - 101.6 mm; barrel length - 4.5 m; installation weight - 17.4 tons; barrel and bolt weight - 2 tons; projectile weight - 14 kg; initial speed - 800 m / s; rate of fire - 12 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 12.6 km.
Naval gun 4.7″/45 BL Mk-I
The 120-mm Mk-I gun was produced since 1918 and was intended to arm destroyers in single-gun mounts with shield cover. Modifications of the Mk-III and Mk-IV were also produced for coastal defense and ground forces. By the beginning of the war, 176 Mk-I guns were in service. Since 1940, a modification of the Mk-II gun has been produced. During the war, 32 guns were fired. The guns removed from the ships were used in coastal defense, and were also installed on merchant ships. TTX guns: caliber - 120 mm; length - 5.6 m; table length - 4.6 m; installation weight - 7 tons; projectile weight - 22.3 kg; initial speed - 814 m / s; rate of fire - 5 - 6 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 14.4 km.
The 120 mm gun was produced by Elswick Ordnance Company for export (Argentina, China, Norway). In 1900, the UK acquired 7 guns for coastal defense. In 1915, 620 guns were built at the factories of Japan, of which, by the beginning of the war, Great Britain had 525 in service. They were installed on obsolete destroyers, merchant and auxiliary ships. TTX guns: caliber - 120 mm; length - 5.4 m; barrel length - 4.2 m; installation weight - 6 tons; barrel weight - 2.7 tons; projectile weight - 22.7 kg; initial speed - 710 m / s; rate of fire - 8-10 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 15.1 km.
QF 4.7-inch Mk-IX naval gun in a single-gun turret
QF 4.7-inch Mk-XII naval gun in a two-gun turret
The 120-mm gun was produced since 1930 in two modifications: Mk-IX (in a single-gun turret) and Mk-XII (in a two-gun turret). The gun was installed on destroyers. The gun was delivered to 10 allied countries under the designation "4.7" / 45 Vickers "E".
A total of 742 Mk-IX and 372 Mk-XII guns were built. TTX guns: caliber - 120 mm; length Mk-IX - 5.6 m, length Mk-XII - 5.7 m; barrel length - 5.4 m; barrel weight Mk-IX - 3 tons, barrel weight Mk-XII - 3.3 tons; barrel recoil length - 0.7 m; projectile weight - 22.7 kg; initial speed - 810 m / s; rate of fire - 12 rounds per minute; firing range - 15.5 km; barrel survivability - 1400 shots.
4.7″/50 QF Mk-XX naval guns on the Matchless destroyer
The 120-mm dual-purpose gun was put into service in 1940 and was produced in two versions: Mk-XI (single-gun turret) and Mk-XX (two-gun turret). The gun was installed on destroyers. A total of 96 guns were built. TTX guns: caliber - 120 mm; length - 6.3 m; barrel length - 6 m; weight of a two-gun installation - 38 tons; barrel weight - 3.4 tons; ammunition weight - 62 kg; projectile weight - 28 kg; initial speed - 774 m / s; rate of fire - 10 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 19.4 km; barrel survivability - 800 shots.
BL-5.5 inch Mk-I naval gun
BL-5.5 inch Mk-I gun in coastal defense
The gun was developed in 1913 by Coventry for Greek cruisers under construction. With the outbreak of war, the ships remained at the disposal of England. The guns were installed on the cruisers Birkenhead, Chester, Hood, Furious, Hermes. The guns removed from the ships served in coastal defense, and were also installed on merchant ships. By the beginning of the war, 79 guns were in service. TTX guns: caliber - 140 mm; barrel length - 5.9 m; projectile weight - 37 kg; charge mass - 10 kg; initial speed - 850 m / s; rate of fire - 12 rounds per minute; firing range - 16 km.
QF-6 inch/40 ship gun as anti-aircraft gun
QF-6 inch/40 naval gun mounted on the Japanese battleship Mikasa
The gun was produced since 1892 for the secondary armament of battleships and cruisers in modifications Mk-I/II/III. The gun was produced in Japan under license (Type-41), and was also used in Argentina and Italy.
The guns removed from the ships were used in coastal defense and as anti-aircraft guns, and were also installed on armored trains. By the beginning of the war, 67 guns were in service. TTX guns: caliber - 152.4 mm; barrel length - 6 m; weight - 6.7 tons; projectile weight - 45 kg; projectile length - 673 mm; charge mass - 13.4 kg; initial speed - 657 m / s; rate of fire - 7 rounds per minute; firing range - 9 km.
The gun was manufactured by Vickers and was put into service in 1901. Modifications Mk-VII, Mk-VIII were installed on battleships and cruisers, and later on the mosquito fleet. Guns removed from ships were also used in coastal defense. A modification of the Mk-XXIV gun was produced during the war years as a coastal gun. By the beginning of the war, there were 629 naval guns and 243 coastal guns in service. TTX guns: caliber - 152.4 mm; barrel length - 6.8 m; barrel and bolt weight - 7.5 tons; projectile weight - 45.4 kg; projectile length - 579 mm; charge mass - 9.1 kg; initial speed - 770 m / s; rate of fire - 7 rounds per minute; firing range - 13.6 km.
The gun was put into service in 1906. By the beginning of the war, 126 guns remained in service. They were installed on light cruisers. After the decommissioning of the guns from the ships, they were used in coastal defense. TTX guns: caliber - 152.4 mm; barrel length - 7.6 m; gun weight - 8.7 tons; projectile weight - 45.3 kg; projectile length - 582 mm; charge mass - 14.6 kg; initial speed - 884 m / s; rate of fire - 7 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 18 km.
The gun was manufactured by Vickers and was put into service in 1914. By the beginning of the war, 431 guns remained in service. The gun was mounted on light cruisers as the main armament and secondary armament of battleships in single and double gun turrets. The guns removed from the ships were used in coastal defense. TTX guns: caliber - 152.4 mm; barrel length - 6.8 m; weight of a two-gun turret - 14.3 tons; barrel and bolt weight - 7 tons; projectile weight - 45.3 kg; projectile length - 597 mm; charge mass - 12.3 kg; initial speed - 861 m / s; rate of fire - 7 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 21.7 km.
Gunboat "Aphis" with a gun 6 ″ / 50 BL Mk-XIII in a single-gun turret
Gun barrel 6″/50 BL Мk-XIII
152-mm guns were put into service in 1914 and served on battleships as a secondary armament. In 1939, the guns were reinstalled on gunboats, and were also used in coastal defense. By the beginning of the war, 24 guns were in use. TTX guns: caliber - 152.4 mm; length - 7.8 m; installation weight - 8.9 tons; barrel and bolt weight - 7 tons; projectile weight - 45 kg; projectile length - 597 mm; charge mass - 11.2 kg; initial speed - 844 m / s; rate of fire - 7 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 12.3 km.
Ship gun 6″/ 50 BL Мk-XXII
The gun was put into service in 1926 for the secondary armament of the Nelson-class battleships. It had a dual purpose and was installed in two-gun turrets. A total of 40 guns were built. TTX guns: caliber - 152.4 mm; length - 7.9 m; installation weight - 9 tons; projectile weight - 45 kg; charge mass - 14 kg; initial speed - 898 m / s; rate of fire - 5 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 22.8 km; barrel recoil - 420 mm; barrel survivability - 600 shots.
BL-6 inch Mk-XXIII ship gun in a two-gun turret
The gun was put into service in 1933 and was installed in two or three gun turrets. Used in the navies of Australia, India and New Zealand. A total of 469 guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber - 152.4 mm; barrel length - 7.6 m; the mass of a two-gun turret is 92 tons, a three-gun turret is 185 tons; weight - 7 tons; projectile weight - 51 kg; charge mass - 13.6 kg; initial speed - 840 m / s; rate of fire 8 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 23 km.
The gun was put into service in 1919 and was used to equip cruisers of the Hawkins class in single turret mounts. A total of 44 guns were built, of which 17 were used in coastal defense. TTX guns: caliber - 190 mm; barrel length - 8.6 m; weight - 14 tons; projectile weight - 91 kg; initial speed - 844 m / s; rate of fire - 6 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 19 km; barrel survivability - 650 shots.
The gun was put into service in 1927 and was installed on heavy cruisers in twin turrets. A total of 168 guns were fired, of which 6 were used as coastal guns in single-gun turrets. The gun was also used in Australia. TTX guns: caliber - 203 mm; barrel length 10 m; tower weight - from 157 to 226 tons; gun weight - 17.5 tons; projectile weight - 116 kg; charge mass - 30 kg; initial speed - 855 m / s; rate of fire - 5 rounds per minute; maximum firing range - 28 km.
BL 9.2 inch Mk-XIV naval gun mounted on the Georges Averof cruiser
The 234 mm gun was put into service in 1900 and was produced in two modifications. Beardmore made 14 Mk-IX guns and Vickers made 282 Mk-X guns. The guns were mounted on battleships, cruisers and monitors. 106 guns were used in coastal defense during the war. 4 guns were built in 1910 for a Greek cruiser under the designation Mk-XIV. TTX guns: caliber - 233.7 m; barrel length - 10.9 mm; barrel and bolt weight - 28 tons; projectile weight - 170 kg; projectile length - 890 mm; initial speed - 875 m / s; rate of fire - 4 rounds per minute; firing range - 26.7 km.
The gun was developed by Vickers and put into service in 1912 as the main armament of battleships and cruisers. By the beginning of the war, 54 guns remained in service, of which 3 guns were used as railway guns. TTX guns: caliber - 342.9 mm; barrel length - 15.4 m; tower weight - 610 tons; weight of the gun without a shutter - 76 tons; projectile weight - from 567 to 635 kg; projectile length - 1.2 m; initial speed - from 787 to 899 m / s; rate of fire - 1 shot in 3 minutes; maximum firing range - 21 km.
The gun was put into service in 1940 and was intended to arm the battleships of the King George V class. The guns were installed in two-gun (weight 915 tons) or four-gun towers (weight - 1582 tons). A total of 78 guns were built, of which 2 were used as coastal guns.
BL-14 gun in a four-gun Mk-III turret
BL-14 gun in a two-gun Mk-II turret
Coastal gun BL-14
TTX guns: caliber - 360 mm; barrel length - 16 m; weight - 80.2 tons; projectile weight - 720 kg; initial speed - 730 m / s; rate of fire - 1 shot in 2 minutes; maximum firing range - 35 km.
BL-15 inch Mk-I ship gun barrels
The BL-15 inch Mk-I naval gun was adopted in 1913 and was used to arm coastal batteries, battleships (such as Queen Elizabeth, Glories) and monitors (such as Erebus, Roberts). The barrel of the gun was designed for 335 shots. The guns were withdrawn from service in 1959. A total of 186 guns were produced, of which 11 were used in coastal batteries. TTX guns: caliber - 381 mm; weight - 102 tons; barrel length - 16.5 m; rate of fire - 2 rounds per minute; projectile weight - 871 kg; initial speed - 785 m / s; firing range - 29 km.
BL16 inch Mk-I ship gun in a three-gun turret on the battleship Rodney
Preparing to load the BL16 gun on the battleship Nelson
The gun with a wired barrel was put into service in 1927 and then mounted on the battleships Nelson and Rodney. Each ship was equipped with three three-gun turrets, designated Mk-I. Armor-piercing (weight - 929 kg, length - 1.6 m) and high-explosive (weight - 929 kg, length - 1.9 m) shells were used. The charge (224 - 231 kg) of cap-type cordite consisted of 6 parts. This made it possible to use a reduced propellant charge for practical shooting and shelling of the coast. The ammunition consisted of 95 armor-piercing and 5 high-explosive shells. The maximum armor penetration of the side was 366 mm, decks - 165 mm. The guns were withdrawn from service in 1948. A total of 29 guns were fired. TTX guns: caliber - 406 mm; diameter of the tower along the roller shoulder strap - 10 m; mass of the rotating part of the three-gun turret - 1500 tons; the thickness of the frontal armor of the tower - 398 mm; weight - 109.7 tons; barrel length - 18.8 m; rate of fire - 2 shots in 3 minutes; mass of a high-explosive projectile - 929 kg; initial speed - 788 m / s; firing range - 37 km; barrel survivability - 200 - 250 shots; barrel rollback length - 1.1 m; calculation of the tower - 89 - 101 people.
| 4.5 inch Gun M1 | |
|---|---|
| Caliber, mm | 114 |
| Instances | 416 |
| Trunk | |
| Barrel length, mm/klb | 4918/43 |
| Bore length, mm/klb | 4756/41,6 |
| Weight | |
| Weight in the stowed position, kg | 5654 |
| 5654 | |
| Dimensions in the stowed position | |
| Length, mm | 8150 |
| Width, mm | 2400 |
| Height, mm | 2120 |
| firing angles | |
| Angle VN, deg | from 0 to +65° |
| GN angle, deg | 53° |
4.5 inch Gun M1- American cannon of the Second World War. This artillery piece was created in 1939-41 and was an overlay of a 114 mm caliber barrel on a carriage of a 155 mm M1 howitzer. The caliber, non-standard for American field artillery, was chosen based on considerations of using the ammunition already available for it, produced in allied Great Britain. This artillery system was in mass production from 1942 to 1944, a total of 416 guns were made. They were used only by the US Army in the northwestern European theater of operations and were rather reservedly evaluated by military specialists based on the results of their combat use. Already in 1945, the 114-mm M1 guns were declared obsolete and removed from service.
Story
Creation
In 1920, the US Army Ordnance Corps United States Army Ordnance Corps ) began work on the design of a new medium field gun. Since the US Army had already used the 4.7-inch (120-mm) gun of the 1906 model in World War I, it was decided to use this particular caliber for the newly created gun. As a result, an experienced gun was born 4.7 inch Gun M1922E on Carriage M1921E, but due to insufficient funding, she did not go into the series.
The program to create a new gun was resumed only in 1939; updated design, designated 4.7 inch Gun T3, was built a year later. The barrel group of this gun was placed on the same carriage as the 155 mm M1 howitzer (later redesignated M114) developed at the same time. However, at this stage, the army leadership decided to change the caliber of the system to use British-made 4.5-inch (114 mm) ammunition. The gun thus modified was standardized in April 1941 under the name 4.5 inch Gun M1 on Carriage M1.
Mass production
Manufacturing new system began only in September 1942 and was neither numerous nor long-lasting - already in February 1944 it was over:
| Serial production of 114 mm gun M1 | |||||||||||
| Year | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | Total | |||||||
| Manufactured guns, pcs. | 41 | 345 | 40 | 416 | |||||||
Service and combat use
Design Description
155 mm Howitzer M1 (left) and 4.5 inch Gun M1 (right) at the US Army Field Artillery Museum, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Pay attention to the similarity of these two guns.
The M1 gun was very similar in design and appearance with 155 mm howitzer M1. The only significant difference was the 4.5 in (114 mm) caliber barrel. It had a uniform right-hand thread in 32-caliber increments and was equipped with a balancing mechanism in the form of two helical springs on both sides of the gun cradle, in front of its trunnions. Other design features the barrel group are a piston-type shutter, hydropneumatic recoil devices with a variable recoil length. The carriage is of a modern design for those years - with sliding beds, without suspension, wheels with pneumatic tires. To fix the gun in the combat position and hang out the wheel travel, a retractable support was intended. The M12 panoramic sight was used to aim the gun. The elevation angle could vary from 0° to 65°, the sector of fire in the horizontal plane was 53°.
Modifications
Experienced
Serial
ACS
The gun was experimentally mounted on the extended chassis of the M5 Stuart light tank in the M1 gun mount. The resulting SPG of the self-propelled howitzer class open type designated as 4.5in Gun Motor Carriage T16. The work was limited to the construction of one prototype.
Ammunition and ballistics
The 114 mm M1 gun used separate cartridge loading ammunition. Of the main-purpose shells, only the high-explosive M65 was available. . For him, only two propellant charges were provided - M7 (normal, eng. normal) for firing with a reduced initial speed and M8 (reinforced, eng. super) to reach full muzzle velocity. There was also a training dummy) the M8 projectile and an imitation of the M6 propellant charge especially for it. The ballistic data in the table below corresponds to the M8 charge.
| Shells for 4.5 inch Gun M1. | ||||||
| Type of | Designation | Projectile weight, kg | Mass of explosives, kg | BB type | Muzzle velocity, m/s | Range, m |
| high explosive | HE M65 Shell | 24,9 | 2,04 | TNT | 693 | 19 317 |
| 1,85 | Ammotol 50/50 | |||||
| 2,10 | "Trimonite" | |||||
| Training | Dummy M8 Projectile | ? | – | – | – | – |
| Charges for 4.5 inch Gun M1 | ||
| Designation | Weight, kg | Compound |
| M7 (normal) | 2,95 | Single cap |
| M8 (super) | 5,08 | Main package and bundle |
| M6 (dummy) | 5,40 | Main package and bundle |
| Table of penetration of reinforced concrete, mm | ||||
| Ammunition \ Distance, m | 0 | 914 | 4,572 | 9,144 |
| HE M65 Shell (on normal hit) | 1,158 | 1,067 | 640 | 366 |
| The given data refer to the American method of calculating the penetrating power. It should be remembered that this indicator can differ markedly when using different batches of shells and different reinforced concrete manufacturing technology, as well as different calculation methods. | ||||
Project evaluation
Among American guns, the 114 mm M1 gun had a good maximum range, almost 5 km more than the second component of the duplex, the 155 mm M1 howitzer. She also outperformed 155 mm Gun M1918MI- licensed version of the French heavy gun produced in the USA Canon de 155mm GPF era of the First World War. Only the new 155 mm Gun M1, known by the nickname "Long Tom", outperformed the 4.5-inch in maximum range, while being two and a half times more massive. On the other hand, the military criticized the 114 mm artillery system for its insufficiently powerful high-explosive projectile. It was made of low-quality steel, and therefore, in order to avoid splitting when moving in the barrel, it had thicker walls compared to ammunition made from "adequate" material. As a consequence, its bursting charge was only about 2 kg of TNT or substitute, actually less than the 105mm M2 howitzer HE round. In addition, the presence in the troops of a small number of guns with an atypical caliber complicated the supply without much need.
| Characteristic | M1 | BL 4.5 inch | s.K.18 | A-19 mod. 1931/37 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | ||||
| Caliber, mm / barrel length, klb | 114/43 | 114/41 | 105/52 | 122/46,3 |
| Weight in combat position, kg | 5654 | 5900 | 5642 | 7117 |
| Initial speed, m/s | 693 | 690 | 835 | 800 |
| Maximum range of HE grenade fire, m | 19 317 | 18 745 | 19 075 | 19 800 |
| Maximum rate of fire, rounds / min | 3-4 | 3-4 | 6 | 3-4 |
| Maximum angle HV, ° | 65 | 45 | 48 | 65 |
| Maximum angle GN, ° | 53 | ? | 64 | 58 |
| Mass of HE grenades, kg | 25,0 | 25,0 | 15,0 | 25,0 |
| Mass of explosives in HE grenade, kg | 1,8-2,1 | 1,8-2,1 | ? | 3,6-3,8 |
Compared to foreign guns, the 114-mm M1 gun looks quite modest. According to its declared (for related issues, see paragraph below) maximum range of fire, it somewhat exceeds the slightly heavier British counterpart,
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