WWII British 6 pdr AT Gun (1 Viewer)

[Arnhemjim]

Although clearly outside of the intended scope of this forum, I would like to pose the following question to anyone who might have the answer. On the WWII British Ordnance, QF, 6 pdr Anti-Tank Gun Mk IV, Carriage Mk III (Airborne) what is the function of the six small lugs/protrusions on each of the rims of the carriage wheels? They appear to be installed only on the Carriage Mk III. Would hope that someone might have a copy of the gun’s technical manual in their reference library. Would anticipate that going any quasi-formal route through either MoD channels or a museum staff would take a lot of time. Please see the attached photograph.
Arnhem Jim
Arizona Territory

 

[Phantom Warrior]

It's to do with wheel size. The wheels on the cut down airborne version are very small and would get stuck in mud, deep sand and ruts. The flanges are to attach ropes or chains to help hall out the gun. Like the ropes used to haul the heavy Napoleonic guns back to their firing position after a shot. With 6 flanges, more than one rope could be attached to give the wheel a complete rotation. Full size gun carriages for the 6 pdr had larger wheels which rolled more easily over rough ground and didn't have the flanges. Plus the flanges are also useful as a bottle opener before twist tops and to punch a hole in the top of a can of food.

Terry

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I remember they were called tabs. The proper drag rope for the 6 pdr had a hook which went into the eye at the centre of the wheel and with the drag rope hooked into the eye, the rope would be wrapped around the wheel via the tabs like the string on a yo-yo. A pull on the rope would rotate the wheel 360.

Terry

 

[Arnhemjim]

Hello Terry,
Sincere thanks for the explanation. From your knowledge and description would strongly suspect that you "have been there, done that".
Best regards,
Jim
Arizona Territory

 

[Obee]

Thanks for that explanation on the 6 Pounder.

I have looked at images of 25 Pounders and I see that they also have the lugs on their wheels, and I can recall that now, after serving on them in the 1970's

This is an image of one of the guns outside the South Perth RSL

John

 

[Martin Tabony]

The 6prd in the old Airfix gun portee has them. I now know why.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

To clarify. For the carriage of the 6 pdr airborne, there are six "T" shaped tabs on the outside rim of the wheel and six on the inside rim

Terry

 

[Phantom Warrior]

The drag rope for the 6 pdr airborne ends in a steel ring to which are attached two chains ending in steel rings.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

The metal rings go over a "T" tab on both sides of the wheel and wrap around the tire.

Terry

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Some of he 25 pdr and 17 pdr wheel rims have five tabs that are hook shaped. They must work much differently than the 6 pdr "T" tabs but I don't knnow how they work or even if the hook shaped tabs are on the inside of the wheel rims.

Terry