Vickers medium MK II QF 3pdr gun capabilities

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Dili
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Vickers medium MK II QF 3pdr gun capabilities

#1

Post by Dili » 03 Feb 2018, 18:48

I have only that it fired a 1.47kg round at 560m/s nothing more. Any data on penetration, HE round etc? I suppose less than 2Pdr since it was replaced by it.

Knouterer
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Re: Vickers medium MK II QF 3pdr gun capabilities

#2

Post by Knouterer » 04 Feb 2018, 21:10

From "Firing Now!" by Dick Taylor (an overview of Britisn and American tank, anti-tank and SP artillery ammunition in WWII):
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3pdr 001.jpg
3pdr 002.jpg
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Knouterer
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Re: Vickers medium MK II QF 3pdr gun capabilities

#3

Post by Knouterer » 04 Feb 2018, 21:14

For visual comparison, a picture of two old Mediums with 3pdr guns next to an early Matilda II with a 2pdr, in Britain in the summer of 1940, when these old tanks were reactivated to resist invasion.
The 3pdr looked more powerful than it actually was. The French 47 mm Model 1935 tank gun, as mounted in the Somua 35 and Char B1bis tanks, had a shorter barrel but superior performance.
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IWM.H2530.jpg
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David W
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Re: Vickers medium MK II QF 3pdr gun capabilities

#4

Post by David W » 04 Feb 2018, 21:51

Was the APHE readily available in 1939/40?

It must have been better than the 2Pdr solid shot surely?

Knouterer
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Re: Vickers medium MK II QF 3pdr gun capabilities

#5

Post by Knouterer » 05 Feb 2018, 09:58

Well, the APHE round was the standard round from the beginning apparently, the drawings above represent such rounds loaded in 1928 and 1940. This was the round supposed to penetrate 25 mm/30°/1000 yards as mentioned above. But it was not a hollow/shaped charge round, the HE charge did not improve the anti-armour effect in any way.

The 2-pounder AP rounds also had an explosive filling when introduced in 1936 but this was not a success and by 1939 had been replaced by solid shot penetrating 42 mm/30°/1000 yds. Later on improved ammunition (APCBC) did better.
Last edited by Knouterer on 05 Feb 2018, 14:00, edited 1 time in total.
"The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man's observation, not overturning it." Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

Dili
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Re: Vickers medium MK II QF 3pdr gun capabilities

#6

Post by Dili » 05 Feb 2018, 12:34

Thank you for all this info Knouterer

I have only 27mm for 2Pdr at 1000yds but says meet angle 60º - shouldn't this be the angle between the projectile and the plate?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_QF_2-pounder

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Re: Vickers medium MK II QF 3pdr gun capabilities

#7

Post by Knouterer » 29 Mar 2018, 11:01

Another picture with a "medium", quite possibly the same exercice as above. The big box at the rear of the turret held the radio.
IWM caption : "Troops of the 5th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, shelter behind a Matilda II tank of 42nd Royal Tank Regiment during manoeuvres at Knowsley Park, Prescot, near Liverpool. A Vickers Medium tank can be seen in the background. Taken on 30 July 1940 "
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LineDoggie
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Re: Vickers medium MK II QF 3pdr gun capabilities

#8

Post by LineDoggie » 29 Mar 2018, 17:20

Knouterer wrote:Another picture with a "medium", quite possibly the same exercice as above. The big box at the rear of the turret held the radio.
IWM caption : "Troops of the 5th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, shelter behind a Matilda II tank of 42nd Royal Tank Regiment during manoeuvres at Knowsley Park, Prescot, near Liverpool. A Vickers Medium tank can be seen in the background. Taken on 30 July 1940 "
Note also the Matilda II's suspension units have been adjusted, normally they dont protrude below the side skirts to that extent
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