The 3.45 inch RCL was an 88mm British recoilless weapon, designed by Sir Dennis Burney during the Second World War. Delayed by problems due to breach wear because of gas erosion upon firing, it did not see action, as was hoped, in the Far East, particularly Burma. However, it did lead to the post-war Mobat and Wombat recoilless rifles.
Burney was privy to the design of the 20mm m/42, a recoilless rifle designed by the Swedish Bofors Carl Gustaf company during World War II, but it had little bearing on his work as the Carl Gustav was a large bore rifle design intended to remove the recoil experienced with anti-tank rifles such as the Boys anti-tank rifle or similar large calibre bolt-action rifles which required large cartridges to deliver high-velocity rounds. The usefulness of anti-tank rifles was lost as tanks were built with much thicker armour during the war. Although Burney's designs did not have high muzzle velocities, this was compensated for by the use of a shell which relied on a HESH explosive instead of speed and weight to penetrate the armour.
Burney founded the Broadway Trust Company for the production of the gun.
Designedit
This was a weapon that could be fired from the shoulder, giving unrestricted traverse or elevation within the limits of the human frame, or mounted on a simple tripod. A portion of the propelling charge bled through holes in the cartridge wall and into a space around the breech and then backwards through four venturis. This counterblast backwards cancelled out the recoil.
Hogg, Ian V. (1978). British & American Artillery of World War Two. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN0-85368-242-9.
January 01, 1970
ordnance, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, july, 2013, learn, when, remove, this, message, inch, 88mm, british,. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message The 3 45 inch RCL was an 88mm British recoilless weapon designed by Sir Dennis Burney during the Second World War Delayed by problems due to breach wear because of gas erosion upon firing it did not see action as was hoped in the Far East particularly Burma However it did lead to the post war Mobat and Wombat recoilless rifles Ordnance RCL 3 45 in Mk 1TypeRecoilless riflePlace of originUnited KingdomService historyUsed byUnited KingdomProduction historyDesignerDennis BurneyManufacturerBroadway Trust CompanySpecificationsMass75 lb 34 kg Barrel length5 ft 8 in 1 73 m L 14 75ShellHESHShell weight16 lb 4 oz 7 4 kg Calibre3 45 in 88 mm Muzzle velocity600 ft s 180 m s Effective firing range1 000 yd 910 m Contents 1 History 2 Design 3 Specification 4 ReferencesHistory editBurney was privy to the design of the 20mm m 42 a recoilless rifle designed by the Swedish Bofors Carl Gustaf company during World War II but it had little bearing on his work as the Carl Gustav was a large bore rifle design intended to remove the recoil experienced with anti tank rifles such as the Boys anti tank rifle or similar large calibre bolt action rifles which required large cartridges to deliver high velocity rounds The usefulness of anti tank rifles was lost as tanks were built with much thicker armour during the war Although Burney s designs did not have high muzzle velocities this was compensated for by the use of a shell which relied on a HESH explosive instead of speed and weight to penetrate the armour Burney founded the Broadway Trust Company for the production of the gun Design editThis was a weapon that could be fired from the shoulder giving unrestricted traverse or elevation within the limits of the human frame or mounted on a simple tripod A portion of the propelling charge bled through holes in the cartridge wall and into a space around the breech and then backwards through four venturis This counterblast backwards cancelled out the recoil Specification editOrdnance RCL 3 45in Mk 1 1 Weight 75 pounds 34 kg Length 68 55 inches 174 1 cm Barrel length 14 75 calibres Muzzle velocity 600 ft second 180 m s Range 1 000 yards 910 m Ammunition Cartridge RCL 3 45 inch WB Wallbuster 3 45 inches 8 8 cm Type HESH Propellant 11 125 pounds 5 046 kg cordite Filling plastic explosive Weight complete round 16 25 pounds 7 37 kg References edit Hogg 1978 p 233 Hogg Ian V 1978 British amp American Artillery of World War Two London Arms and Armour Press ISBN 0 85368 242 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ordnance RCL 3 45 in amp oldid 1210668251, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
