The 4.7 inches guns was introduced as a naval and coastal gun in 1888. But the urgent need of heavy long range guns of british troops during the Boers War incited the Royal Navy officer, Captain 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 60 Pdr was in development. As a consequence, these obsolete and mean 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.

Main characteristics :

Weight in firing position : 3819 kg
Calibre : 119.4 mm (4.7 in.)
Tube length : 40 calibres
Projectile weight : 21.1 kg
Initial velocity : 655 m/s
Maximum range : 9144 m
Elevation range : -6 / +20 degrees
Direction range : 0 degrees