BL 7.2-inch howitzer

BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mk I-IV
7.2-inch howitzer of 51st Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery, France, 2 September 1944. Gun crew em-placing recoil ramps in rear and setting wheel brakes. Front ramps prevent howitzer from rolling past position fired from.
Type	Howitzer
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Specifications
Weight	22,000 lb (10,000 kg)
Length	24 ft 4 in (7.42 m)
Barrel length	22.4 calibres / 14 ft 3 in (4.34 m)
Width	9 ft (2.7 m)
Height	4 ft 3 in (1.30 m)
Crew	10

Shell	HE
Shell weight	202 pounds (92 kg)
Calibre	7.2 inches (182.9 mm)
Breech	Welin screw & Asbury mech
Carriage	Box trail
Elevation	0° to 45°
Traverse	4° Left & Right
Rate of fire	1/3 rpm
Muzzle velocity	1,697 ft/s (517 m/s)
Maximum firing range	16,900 yd (15,500 m)

BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mk 6
Specifications
Weight	38,580 lb (17,500 kg)
Length	34 ft (10 m)
Barrel length	33.1 calibres / 20 ft 8 in (6.30 m)
Width	8 ft (2.4 m)
Height	8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
Crew	12

Carriage	Split trail
Elevation	-1° to 63°
Traverse	30° Left & Right
Muzzle velocity	1,925 ft/s (587 m/s)
Maximum firing range	19,667 yd (17,984 m)

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The BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mks I–V and Mk 6, were a series of heavy artillery pieces used by the British Army throughout World War II.

History

In 1940 the British Army concluded that the only available heavy artillery, the World War I era BL 8-inch howitzer, had insufficient range for the conditions of World War II. As a stopgap the decision was made to re-line the existing barrels to a smaller calibre and develop a new range of ammunition to achieve the desired ranges.

Development

Marks I–IV

The 8 inch barrels were re-lined to 7.2 inches (180 mm) and the old carriages were retained although the original steel rimmed wheels were replaced with new pneumatic balloon-tyre wheels, as was consistent with the motorisation of the British Army. The new four-charge ammunition increased the range to 16,900 yd (15,500 m), but when fired at full charge the recoil caused the weapon to rear violently and jump backwards. To help counter this, two wedge shaped ramps were placed behind the wheels although the gun could sometimes still jump over them, presenting a hazard to crews. Marks I–IV differed only in the original 8-inch barrel used and the type of conversion; some barrels and carriages were also supplied from US World War I stocks.

Mark V

In 1944 several 7.2-inch barrels were placed in the US Carriage M1 used by the 155 mm Long Tom already in use by the British Army, becoming the BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mk V. Few Mk Vs were produced and it was never issued to batteries, as it was apparent that the Carriage M1 was capable of accepting greater recoil forces.

Mark 6

The BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mk 6 (there was a shift from Roman numerals) retained the Carriage M1 of the Mk V but had a new built 7.2 inch barrel 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) longer than previous marks and a fifth charge was added to the ammunition. The longer barrel and extra charge provided a range increase to 19,667 yd (17,984 m). The new carriage also provided a far more stable platform, greatly increasing accuracy. The Mk 6 was considered a highly effective gun.

Use

The original marks performed well. The first 7.2-inch howitzers were issued to batteries from mid-1942 and used in action in North Africa and later following the Normandy landings. In Burma they were provided as a pool of two guns per corps and used by Regiments as required. By the end of 1944, most of the earlier marks had been replaced by the Mk 6.

The usual gun tractor for the 7.2-inch howitzer in the early war years was the Scammell Pioneer, although this was never available in sufficient numbers. From late 1943 the Pioneer was supplemented by the Albion CX22S.^[1]

The BL 7.2-inch howitzer formed parts of "Heavy" regiments of Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA) units, providing heavy fire support for British and Commonwealth troops. The Mk 6 remained in British Army service until the early 1960s.

A modified version of the gun was used as the main armament of the experimental FV4005 Stage II tank,^[2] based on the centurion main battle tank, as well as the main armament of the experimental FV215b tank.^[2]

Operators

See: "7.2-Inch Howitzer". British Artillery in World War 2.^[3]

7.2 in howitzer Mk 6 at Rhine crossing 1945

Newfoundland

57 (later 166) (Newfoundland) Field Artillery Regiment
59 (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment

United Kingdom

Royal Artillery
- 1 Heavy Regiment
- 32 Heavy Regiment
- 51 (Lowland) Heavy Regiment
- 52 (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Regiment
- 53 Heavy Regiment
- 54 Heavy Regiment
- 55 Heavy Regiment
- 56 Heavy Regiment
- 58 Heavy Regiment
- 60 Heavy Regiment
- 61 Heavy Regiment
- 75 Heavy Regiment
- 171 Heavy Regiment
- 8th (Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – section only; in Burma campaign^[4]
- 52nd (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – section only; in Burma campaign^[4]
- 56th (Cornwall) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – section only; in Burma campaign^[4]
- 67th (York and Lancaster Regiment) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – section only; in Burma campaign^[4]

References

↑ Pat Ware: A complete dictionary of military vehicles, Anness Publishing, 2012, p101.
1 2 http://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=825
↑ "7.2-Inch Howitzer". British Artillery in World War 2. 17 Nov 2007. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
1 2 3 4 Brig N.W. Routledge, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994, ISBN 978-1870114004, p. 244.

British Commonwealth artillery of World War II

Tank guns	QF 2 pounder QF 3 pounder QF 6 pounder QF 75 mm QF 3 inch Howitzer QF 17 pounder 77 mm HV QF 95 mm Howitzer

Anti-tank guns	QF 2 pounder QF 6 pounder QF 17 pounder

Field guns and howitzers	75 mm Gun M1917 QF 18 pounder 25 pounder Gun-Howitzer 25 pounder Short QF 4.5-inch howitzer

Medium and heavy guns and howitzers	BL 4.5-inch Medium Field Gun BL 60-pounder gun BL 5.5-inch Medium Gun BL 6 inch Howitzer BL 6-inch Gun Mk XIX 155 mm Long Tom BL 7.2-inch howitzer BL 8 inch Howitzer BL 9.2-inch howitzer 240 mm howitzer M1

Mountain guns	75mm Pack Howitzer M1 3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer

Mortars	SBML 2inch Mortar ML 3-inch Mortar ML 4.2 inch Mortar

Anti-aircraft weapons	Z Battery 20 mm Oerlikon 20 mm Polsten QF 1½-pounder Mk III QF 2-pounder naval gun Bofors 40 mm QF 3 inch QF 3.7 inch QF 4.5 inch Mk II QF 5.25 inch Mk II

Coast defence	QF 6 pounder 10 cwt QF 12 pounder QF 4.7-inch Mk I–IV BL 6 inch Mk VII & Mk XXIV BL 7.5 inch Mk VI BL 8 inch Mk VIII BL 9.2 inch Mk X BL 14 inch Mk VII BL 15 inch Mk I

Railway artillery	BL 9.2 inch Mk XIII railway gun BL 12 inch Mk V railway howitzer BL 13.5 inch Mk V railway gun BL 18 inch railway howitzer

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