As stated earlier from information supplied the gun is a little more inaccurate as depicted by K&C. The gun seems to be on the wrong carriage. Early 25 pdr guns were on the 18pdr gun carriage with split trails and, the firing wheel was carried on top of the limber/ammo cart and not as seen here under the trail.
In 43 all 25 pdr were fitted with a double muzzle break so, the gun had increased range and, a higher velocity to be more effective against AFV's.
So, with no muzzle break it means the gun is inaccurate for the NW theatre of operations. Without a muzzle break its identified as a pre 43 gun and therefore would work for North Africa and or Pacific theatre.
I initially thought this gun was for FOB which, I think would have been more acceptable I don't know a lot about the gun but, from what has been said these are bigger errors than the ranking system. At least we all know now
Mitch
Mitch,
thanks for the added infomation about the gun.
Yes, the 25 PR MkI was used in 1940, see picture below.
Ordnance QF 25-pr Mark 1 on carriage Mark 4P
I was under the misaprehension that the muzzle break was only added on post war guns, but it seems that they came as a result the introduction of 'Charge Super', ( previously only 3 charges available) and so someting was needed to reduce the recoil.
My research was based upon an original 1940 handbook that I 'liberated' from the Regiment's Library about 30 years ago, after we disposed of the guns.
"HANDBOOK for the ORDNANCE, Q.F. 25-PR., Mark II on CARRIAGE, 25-PR., MARK I LAND SERVICE 1940" published by HM's Stationary Office, London 1940
It contains line drawings of the gun a limber and all its individual componets.
The Aussie guns that were used in the North African campaingn, and subsequently take back to the Pacific, didn't have the muzzle break, and that was what I based my opinin on the new K&C gun.
Yes, the new gun is suitable for Noth Africa and up to mid 1943 in Europe, but if its a D-Day gun you want, I think we need to ask Andy to add the muzzle break.
With the gun crew, this is the breakdown of the numbers and jobs:
No 1 - detachment commander (a sergeant)
No 2 - operated the breech and rammed the shell
No 3 - layer (seated)
No 4 - loader
No 5 - ammunition
No 6 - ammunition, normally the 'coverer' - second in command and responsible for ammunition preparation and operating the fuze indicator and he would be close to the limber.
This gunner isn't part of the K&C crew.
Regards,
John