Английская Википедия:BL 6-inch 26 cwt howitzer

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Infobox weapon The Ordnance BL 6 inch 26cwt howitzer was a British howitzer used during World War I and World War II. The qualifier "26cwt" refers to the weight of the barrel and breech together which weighed Шаблон:Convert.

History

World War I

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It was developed to replace the obsolescent 6 inch 25 cwt and 6 inch 30 cwt howitzers which were outclassed by German artillery such as the 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 13. Design began in January 1915, the first proof-firing occurred on 30 July 1915 and it entered service in late 1915.[1] Its combination of firepower, range and mobility (for its day) made it one of the British Empire's most important weapons in World War I.

It was originally towed by horses but from 1916 onwards was commonly towed by the FWD 4 wheel drive 3 ton lorry as heavy field artillery. The wooden spoked wheels could be fitted with "girdles" for work in mud or sand to prevent them sinking. Towards the end of the war solid rubber tyres were fitted over the iron tyres on the wheel rims, giving the rims a heavier appearance. It fired 22.4 million rounds on the Western Front.[2]

World War II

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During the interwar period the carriage had its wooden spoked wheels replaced with modern steel wheels and pneumatic tyres. During World War II, its use was restricted after 1942 when the replacement BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun came into use but it was reintroduced in Burma due to a number of premature detonations in Шаблон:Convert guns. It was declared obsolete with the end of the war in 1945.

Captured examples received the designation FH-412(e) in German use.

Surviving examples

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These guns are being restored by the Gunner's Association of South Africa

World War I ammunition

Projectiles used in World War I weighed Шаблон:Convert. A lighter Шаблон:Convert long-range projectile was introduced in November 1918, too late to see service in the war [2]

See also

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

Notes and references

Шаблон:Reflist

Bibliography

External links

Шаблон:Commons category

Шаблон:GreatWarBritishWeapons Шаблон:WWIIBritishCommGuns

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  1. Hogg & Thurston 1972, Page 126-127
  2. 2,0 2,1 Clarke 2005, page 37