British 3.7in RCL Gun

[Robert Hurst]

Hi

The next gun to be developed was a slightly heavier weapon of 3.7in calibre, mounted on a light wheeled carriage. This appears to have taken much the same development course as the 3.45in and at much the same period. The objective was to provide a weapon capable of being carried by two men, and yet capable of firing a powerful shell. Burney's original drawings show two oval jets alongside a downward-opening breech, but the design was subsequently changed to have six circular jets above and below a side-swinging breech. In this form, the gun was accepted for trials in August 1945, was formally introduced on 4 July 1946, and declared obsolete in December 1947.

Data

Ordance, RCL, 3.7in Mk 1

Weight of gun and breech mechanism: 222lb
Total length: 112.75in
Length of bore: 83.717in (22.6 cal)
Rifling 28 grooves, uniform RH 1/44.76
Breech mechanism: Interrupted screw, percussion fired, six venturis
Elevation: + 10 degrees and - 5 degrees
Traverse: Free
Weight in action: 375lb

Performance

Firing standard 221/2lb Wallbuster shell

Muzzle velocity: 1,000ft/sec
Maximum range: 2,000 yards

Ammunition

Cartridge, RCL, 3.7in WB Shell Mk 1. This consisted of a 221/2lb Wallbuster shell filled with Plastic Explosive and fuzed Base Percussion No. 295, attached to a perforated cartridge case containing 4lb 1oz of Cordite.

The above and the attached photos were taken from 'British & American Artillery of World War Two', by Ian V.Hogg

Regards

Bob