Royal Artillery Gun 1895

[kc]

From Navy and Army Illustrated 1895, Royal Artillery Gunners usjng a 12-pounder during a drill. The text below is from the time.

http://www.armynavyairforce.co.uk/images/1%2015.jpg

Here we have a 12-pounder gun, which a squad of gunners, in field service uniform, are pointing at an imaginary enemy during the New Forest operations of August 1895. This is one of the weapons with which the Royal Artillery, both field and horse batteries, have recently been supplied. It is claimed for the 12-pounder that as a light field gun it is second to none. It weighs under the third of a ton, and with a service charge of 4lbs, if given 25 degrees of elevation, has a range just under five miles. The calibre of the piece or size of the bore is three inches. The drill is taking place in camp.

[jainso31]

kc. I found that particularly interesting ie. because you pointed out the guns versatility; and this led me to thinking about the 12pdr gun mounted on the after deck of one of the ships my father served in; HM Paddle Minesweeper Mercury in WW2, which it was claimed of Boer War origin.On this ship it was used for AA defence. Is this likely,seems too much of a coincidence not to be.
Thank you very much for the thread.

jainso31

[patroclus]

kc. I found that particularly interesting ie. because you pointed out the guns versatility; and this led me to thinking about the 12pdr gun mounted on the after deck of one of the ships my father served in; HM Paddle Minesweeper Mercury in WW2, which it was claimed of Boer War origin.On this ship it was used for AA defence. Is this likely,seems too much of a coincidence not to be.
Thank you very much for the thread.

jainso31

Quite probable. The 12pdr that was introduced into the RN in 1894 was still around in WW2, some in high angle mountings.

[jainso31]

patroclus- you've managed to hit on the answer to my query straight away;
and that fills a big hole for me .re.the guns on the ships in which my father served in WW2. my thanks to kc (the originator of the thread) and yourself
for the postscript.

jainso31

[astraltrader]

Jainso here are pictures of typical 12 pounder naval guns as employed on ships....

[jainso31]

Thanks Terry -I have saved the high angled AA version on the minesweeoer.
I am ,most of the time astonished by the number of photographs held by members of the Forum,despite the period they were taken.

jainso31

[astraltrader]

Thanks Jainso - yes we are fortunate in that there are now about 10 of us that are large scale photo collectors here in the forum, as well as many other members able and willing to contribute pictures here and there.
Between all of us we can usually come up with something appropriate! :)

[jainso31]

TERRY YOU CAN DO JUST THAT --IN SPADES!
I won't ever be shy of asking again.

jainso31