Mk I was introduced from March 1916. It is identified by its short barrel and recuperator above the barrel.
Mark IIIedit
Mk III at Wareham, Dorset, 26 February 1941
The longer-barrelled Mk III soon followed, with a heavier breech to balance the gun. It retained the recuperator above the barrel.
Mark Vedit
One Mk V (foreground) and two Mk IIIs, Catterick UK, 12 December 1940
Mk V, dating from July 1917, moved the recoil buffer and recuperator into a single housing below the barrel, which was common for all new British artillery developed during World War I. It also had a lighter breech with the gun balanced by the redesigned recoil system and altered gun positioning on the cradle.[2] Mk V also relocated the loading platform from the railway wagon to the revolving gun mounting, which now allowed 120° of traverse, and by overhanging the opposite side provided crew access when the gun fired to the side (90° traverse) and also helped to balance it.[2]
^Mk I = Mark 1, Mk III = Mark 3, Mk V = Mark 5. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (i.e. models) of ordnance until after World War II. Hence this article covers the first, third and fifth models of British 12-inch howitzers. Mks II and IV were the unrelated BL 12-inch siege howitzer.
I.V. Hogg & L.F. Thurston, British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914–1918. London: Ian Allan, 1972.
Further readingedit
Harry W Miller, United States Army Ordnance Department, Railway Artillery: A Report on the Characteristics, Scope of Utility, Etc., of Railway Artillery, Volume II, Pages 136-145. Washington : Government Print Office, 1921
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BL 12 inch railway howitzer.
Newsreel showing 12" Mk I railway howitzer and other heavy weapons in action
May 22, 2024
inch, railway, howitzer, british, ordnance, inch, howitzer, truck, railway, type, railway, developed, following, success, inch, siege, howitzer, similar, unrelated, inch, siege, howitzers, ordnance, inch, howitzer, truck, railwaymk, hilda, action, ypres, novem. The British Ordnance BL 12 inch howitzer on truck railway a type of railway gun was developed following the success of the 9 2 inch siege howitzer It was similar but unrelated to the 12 inch siege howitzers Mk II and IV Ordnance BL 12 inch Howitzer Mk I III V on truck railwayMk I Hilda in action Ypres 7 November 1917TypeRailway howitzerPlace of originUnited KingdomService historyIn service1916 1940Used byUnited KingdomWarsFirst World WarProduction historyDesignerElswick Ordnance CompanyManufacturerElswick Ordnance CompanyNo built81VariantsMk I III V note 1 SpecificationsBarrel lengthMk I 12 ft 3 7 m Mk III amp V 17 ft 3 in 5 26 m 1 ShellHE 750 lb 340 kg Calibre12 inch 305 mm ElevationMk I amp III 40 65 Mk V 20 65 TraverseMk I amp III 20 L amp RMk V 120 L amp R 1 Muzzle velocityMk I 1 175 ft s 358 m s Mk III amp V 1 468 ft s 447 m s 1 Effective firing rangeMk I 11 132 yd 10 179 m Mk III 15 000 yd 14 000 m Mk V 14 350 yd 13 120 m Filling weight83lb 3oz 37 96 kg Amatol Contents 1 Design and development 1 1 Mark I 1 2 Mark III 1 3 Mark V 2 Combat service 3 Ammunition 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 Further reading 9 External linksDesign and development editMark I edit Mk I was introduced from March 1916 It is identified by its short barrel and recuperator above the barrel Mark III edit nbsp Mk III at Wareham Dorset 26 February 1941 The longer barrelled Mk III soon followed with a heavier breech to balance the gun It retained the recuperator above the barrel Mark V edit nbsp One Mk V foreground and two Mk IIIs Catterick UK 12 December 1940 Mk V dating from July 1917 moved the recoil buffer and recuperator into a single housing below the barrel which was common for all new British artillery developed during World War I It also had a lighter breech with the gun balanced by the redesigned recoil system and altered gun positioning on the cradle 2 Mk V also relocated the loading platform from the railway wagon to the revolving gun mounting which now allowed 120 of traverse and by overhanging the opposite side provided crew access when the gun fired to the side 90 traverse and also helped to balance it 2 Combat service edit nbsp Mk V in action at Soissons France 19 May 1918 All 3 versions served on the Western Front in World War I usually in 2 gun batteries operated by the Royal Garrison Artillery Mk III and MK V were deployed for the home defence of Great Britain in World War II Ammunition edit nbsp Mk V HE shell WWI nbsp Officer of 444 Siege Battery and kitten Mk V howitzer near Arras 19 July 1918See also editList of railway artilleryNotes edit Mk I Mark 1 Mk III Mark 3 Mk V Mark 5 Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks i e models of ordnance until after World War II Hence this article covers the first third and fifth models of British 12 inch howitzers Mks II and IV were the unrelated BL 12 inch siege howitzer References edit a b c Hogg amp Thurston 1972 page 179 183 187 a b Hogg amp Thurston 1972 page 186Bibliography editDale Clarke British Artillery 1914 1919 Heavy Artillery Osprey Publishing Oxford UK 2005 ISBN 1 84176 788 3 I V Hogg amp L F Thurston British Artillery Weapons amp Ammunition 1914 1918 London Ian Allan 1972 Further reading editHarry W Miller United States Army Ordnance Department Railway Artillery A Report on the Characteristics Scope of Utility Etc of Railway Artillery Volume II Pages 136 145 Washington Government Print Office 1921External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to BL 12 inch railway howitzer Newsreel showing 12 Mk I railway howitzer and other heavy weapons in action Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BL 12 inch railway howitzer amp oldid 1096275320, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
