www.passioncompassion1418.com
SURVIVING GUN FILE (# 315)
Version française

Great Britain

QF 4.7-in. field gun Mk. I

Heavy artillery

Contributor :
John Woo     
     
     
Not posted on the blog

Location :
Spain
Valladolid
Artillery Park
Coordinates : Lat : 41.63530 / Long : -4.72610
General comments on this surviving gun :


Identical items in the same location : 1
Items covered by this file : 1

Precise location unknown. The picture doesn't show the short carriage trail

Zoom on the breech markings 'QF 4.7 in VI (?) - Nr 959 - VS&M 1902'


Historic and technical information
Denomination :     QF 4.7-in. field gun Origin :       ( Royal Ordnance Factory)          

Historic context :

The 4.7 inches barrel was introduced as a naval and coastal gun in 1888. But the urgent need of heavy long range guns for british troops during the Boers War incited the Royal Navy officer, Captain (and future Admiral) Percy Scott, to remove some tubes from three cruisers and mount them on improvised wooden carriages to become heavy field guns.

Later, a new steel carriage was designed (with spring recuperator, oil buffers and recoil-spade) to form the 'QF 4.7 inches MkI field gun'. The length of the tube, associated with the short and massive carriage gave this gun an excessive weight for its calibre, and a propension to dig its spade in the groung at each shot. Moreover it was cumbersome and unstable during fire, so crews never appreciated it.

Anyhow, its success in South Africa was so popular that by political decision 30 batteries of such guns were ordered in 1903, although the modern 5 inches 60 Pdr was in development. As a consequence, these obsolete and average quality guns were used extensively in 1914-1915 on the Western Front, and slowly replaced by 60 Pdr. They were officially removed from active service on the Western Front in 1917, but continued to operate on side fronts and stayed in service until 1922.

Technical data :

  • Complete description : Ordnance Quick Fire 4.7 inches field gun Mark I
  • Design year : 1903
  • Calibre : 119.40 mm (4.7 in)
  • Weight in firing position : 3819 kg
  • Weight for transportation :
  • Tube length in calibres : 40.00
  • Grooves : 0
  • Projectile weight : 21.1 kg
  • Initial speed : 655 m/s
  • Fire rate :
  • Range : 9144 m
  • Elevation range : -6 to +20 degrees
  • Direction range : none


Sources
  • Allied Artillery of World War One           Ian V. Hogg                   Crowood   1998  
  • British Artillery 1914-19, Field Army Artillery       Dale Clarke                   Osprey Publishing   2004