Molins gun question

[karlik]

Hi!
Tell me please, what kind of Molins gun?


I know that these guns mounted on Mosquito fighter-bomber anb motor torpedo boat. Here the gun on a gun carriage of anti-tank gun. What is this? А prototype?

[Ex Fred]

Could it be a carriage for when the weapon is not fitted to the aircraft

A QF 6-pounder 7-cwt anti-tank gun on its carriage in front of a De Havilland Mosquito Mark XVIII 'Tstetse' of No. 248 Squadron RAF Special Detachment, which mounts a similar weapon, minus the carriage and fitted with automatic loader, in its nose, (note the protruding barrel). This version was also known as the 'Molins gun' after its manufacturer. Location of the photograph is Portreath, Cornwall.

[phylo_roadking]

Fed, if that were the answer I'd have expected a single-trail rather than the split trail we can see in the original pic? This does look as if it's intended to fire from the split-trail.

[phylo_roadking]

http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/Molins.htm

In order to meet a perceived need for a rapid-reaction vehicle-mounted anti-tank gun, the notion was developed of fitting the 6pdr 7cwt with an autoloading mechanism and mounting it in a fast, armoured tank destroyer. The Molins Machinery Company (previously mainly noted for making cigarette manufacturing machinery) duly designed and produced a suitable mechanism. By the time it emerged, however, it had been realised that the 6pdr was not powerful enough to defeat the new Tiger tank so the British Army dropped its requirement.

In your pic it does look as if the split trail is clamped together. Possibly just using the spare early carriages instead of bothering developing anything else?

[Ex Fred]

That was sort of what I was thinking as it appears to be connected to a tractor/tug as well as having the trails clamped together.

I had a look at that article but did not see any mention of a ground use mount being developed and built although I would have assumed something would have been.

The carriage itself looks like a standard 6 pdr carriage (although i do not know the version).

[phylo_roadking]

http://www.risboroughu3a.org.uk/reports ... RY&Rpt=361

During the 1939 – 1945 World War, the majority of Molins’ activities were directed to the development and manufacture of armaments. These ranged from field gun loaders to flare guns. The most notable was probably what became known as the “Molins Gun”. This was intended to be a seven pounder anti-tank gun and while it did see service in the North African campaign, adaptations were adopted by the Navy and the RAF. The latter ingeniously fitting the gun into the de Havilland Mosquito (“Tsetse”) aircraft for use against tanks and U-boats.

[phylo_roadking]

REALLY stupid question now...

What would "normal" a 6-pdr without muzzle brake, gun shield and with a Molins autoloader fitted...look like?

Because....
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205210612

A QF 6-pounder 7-cwt anti-tank gun on its carriage in front of a De Havilland Mosquito Mark XVIII 'Tstetse' of No. 248 Squadron RAF Special Detachment, which mounts a similar weapon, minus the carriage and fitted with automatic loader, in its nose, (note the protruding barrel). This version was also known as the 'Molins gun' after its manufacturer. Location of the photograph is Portreath, Cornwall.

Looking again at it - the rather Heath Robinson arrangement of a bit of girder plus some Dexion to hold the autoloader in place

A/ looks a bit naff, and

B/ isn't present on the museum piece

This looks more like a "posed" cdemonstration pic for the camera after a few hours work by the fitters