Despite proving itself a practical proposition the Birch Gun was never highly regarded by the British High Command, not for any particular defect or capability issue, but due to the belief that such an innovation was unrequired, expensive and unnecessary.[1] Named after General Sir Noel Birch, who was Master General of Ordnance at the time, the Birch gun comprised a Vickers Medium Mark II tank chassis originally fitted with a QF 18-pounder (83.8 mm) gun. This remained the armament in all the models, although the latest version, generally called the Mk III, had limited elevation.[2] Birch Guns were used in the Experimental Mechanized Force manoeuvres of 1928, but by 1931 they had been removed from service and political pressure was applied to prevent any plans to complete the third revision of the weapon.
The armament for the original Birch Gun consisted of an Ordnance QF 18 pounder field gun (3.3 inch, 84 mm).[3] The mounting and sighting arrangements varied in the various versions but the gun remained the same.
Powerplantedit
The Armstrong Siddeley engine was only moderately powerful by later standards, an 8-cylinder 90 horse power unit which gave a maximum speed of 28 mph/45 km/h, however, by comparison with tracked armour of the era – the Medium Mark A Whippet 'cavalry tank' of World War I was twenty miles per hour slower – it was considered more than adequate and had twice the Whippet's range.
Useedit
The Birch gun was tested as part of the Experimental Mechanized Force (EMF) in the 1920s. The Force undertook various experiments in mechanized warfare combining tanks and infantry with their own motorised transport.
^J.B.A. Bailey Field Artillery and Firepower, Oxford, 1989, ISBN0-85066-810-7, p. 156
^Nicholas, David (2014). "The Birch Gun". Tankette. 49/6. Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicle Association: 5–11. OCLC 911901879.
^. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 28 March 2007.
Bibliographyedit
Fletcher, David (1990). Moving the Guns: the Mechanisation of the Royal Artillery, 1854–1939. HMSO. ISBN0-11-290477-7.
Livesey, Jack (2007). Armoured Fighting Vehicles of World War I and II. London: Southwater. ISBN978-1-84476-370-2.
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
birch, birch, first, practical, british, self, propelled, artillery, built, royal, arsenal, woolwich, 1925, birch, iimark, birch, action, during, british, army, manoeuvrestypeself, propelled, gunplace, originunited, kingdomproduction, historymanufacturervicker. The Birch Gun was the first practical British self propelled artillery gun built at the Royal Arsenal Woolwich in 1925 Birch Gun Mk IIMark II Birch Gun in action during British Army manoeuvresTypeSelf propelled gunPlace of originUnited KingdomProduction historyManufacturerVickers chassis Royal Arsenal conversion SpecificationsMass26 700 lb 12 100 kg Length19 ft 3 8 in 5 80 m Width7 ft 10 1 2 in 2 40 m Height7 ft 6 1 2 in 2 30 m Crew6Armour6 mm 0 24 in SteelMainarmament1 QF 18 pounder 3 30 in 83 8 mm gunEngine1 Armstrong Siddeley 8 cylinder petrol engine90 hp 67 kW SuspensionbogieOperationalrange119 mi 192 km Maximum speed28 mph 45 km h Despite proving itself a practical proposition the Birch Gun was never highly regarded by the British High Command not for any particular defect or capability issue but due to the belief that such an innovation was unrequired expensive and unnecessary 1 Named after General Sir Noel Birch who was Master General of Ordnance at the time the Birch gun comprised a Vickers Medium Mark II tank chassis originally fitted with a QF 18 pounder 83 8 mm gun This remained the armament in all the models although the latest version generally called the Mk III had limited elevation 2 Birch Guns were used in the Experimental Mechanized Force manoeuvres of 1928 but by 1931 they had been removed from service and political pressure was applied to prevent any plans to complete the third revision of the weapon Contents 1 Armament 2 Powerplant 3 Use 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksArmament editThe armament for the original Birch Gun consisted of an Ordnance QF 18 pounder field gun 3 3 inch 84 mm 3 The mounting and sighting arrangements varied in the various versions but the gun remained the same Powerplant editThe Armstrong Siddeley engine was only moderately powerful by later standards an 8 cylinder 90 horse power unit which gave a maximum speed of 28 mph 45 km h however by comparison with tracked armour of the era the Medium Mark A Whippet cavalry tank of World War I was twenty miles per hour slower it was considered more than adequate and had twice the Whippet s range Use editThe Birch gun was tested as part of the Experimental Mechanized Force EMF in the 1920s The Force undertook various experiments in mechanized warfare combining tanks and infantry with their own motorised transport The components of the EMF were reconnaissance group with tankettes and armoured cars battalion of 48 Vickers medium tanks motorised machine gun battalion mechanised artillery regiment including one battery of Birch guns motorised field engineer companyReferences edit J B A Bailey Field Artillery and Firepower Oxford 1989 ISBN 0 85066 810 7 p 156 Nicholas David 2014 The Birch Gun Tankette 49 6 Miniature Armoured Fighting Vehicle Association 5 11 OCLC 911901879 Detail photos of the British 18 pounder 18 pdr QF Field Gun Archived from the original on 22 October 2007 Retrieved 28 March 2007 Bibliography editFletcher David 1990 Moving the Guns the Mechanisation of the Royal Artillery 1854 1939 HMSO ISBN 0 11 290477 7 Livesey Jack 2007 Armoured Fighting Vehicles of World War I and II London Southwater ISBN 978 1 84476 370 2 External links editSelf Propelled Field and Medium Guns Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Birch gun amp oldid 1180354136, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
