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BL 12-inch railway howitzer
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Ordnance BL 12-inch Howitzer Mk I, III, V on truck, railway |
| image | 12inchRailwayHowitzerHildaYpres7November1917.jpeg |
| image_size | 300 |
| caption | Mk. I "Hilda" in action, Ypres, 7 November 1917 |
| origin | United Kingdom |
| type | Railway howitzer |
| is_artillery | yes |
| is_ranged | yes |
| is_explosive | yes |
| is_UK | yes |
| service | 1916–1940 |
| used_by | United Kingdom |
| wars | First World War |
| designer | Elswick Ordnance Company |
| manufacturer | Elswick Ordnance Company |
| number | 81 |
| variants | Mk I, III, VMk I = Mark 1, Mk III = Mark 3, Mk V = Mark 5. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (i.e. models) of ordnance until after World War II. Hence this article covers the first, third and fifth models of British 12-inch howitzers. Mks II and IV were the unrelated BL 12-inch siege howitzer. |
| part_length | Mk I: 12 ft |
| Mk III & V: 17 ft | |
| cartridge | HE; 750 lb |
| caliber | 12-inch (305 mm) |
| velocity | Mk I: 1175 ft/s |
| Mk III & V: 1468 ft/s | |
| range | Mk I: 11132 yd |
| Mk III: 15000 yd | |
| Mk V: 14350 yd | |
| elevation | Mk I & III: 40° - 65° |
| Mk V: 20° - 65° | |
| traverse | Mk I & III: 20° L & R |
| Mk V: 120° L & R | |
| filling_weight | 83lb 3oz (37.96 kg) Amatol |
Mk III & V: 17 ft Mk III & V: 1468 ft/s Mk III: 15000 yd Mk V: 14350 yd Mk V: 20° - 65° Mk V: 120° L & R The British Ordnance BL 12 inch howitzer on truck, railway, a type of railway gun, was developed following the success of the 9.2-inch siege howitzer. It was similar but unrelated to the 12-inch siege howitzers Mk II and IV.
Design and development
Mark I
Mk I was introduced from March 1916. It is identified by its short barrel and recuperator above the barrel.
Mark III
The longer-barrelled Mk III soon followed, with a heavier breech to balance the gun. It retained the recuperator above the barrel.
Mark V
Mk V, dating from July 1917, moved the recoil buffer and recuperator into a single housing below the barrel, which was common for all new British artillery developed during World War I. It also had a lighter breech with the gun balanced by the redesigned recoil system and altered gun positioning on the cradle. Mk V also relocated the loading platform from the railway wagon to the revolving gun mounting, which now allowed 120° of traverse, and by overhanging the opposite side provided crew access when the gun fired to the side (90° traverse) and also helped to balance it.
Combat service
All 3 versions served on the Western Front in World War I, usually in 2-gun batteries, operated by the Royal Garrison Artillery.
Mk III and MK V were deployed for the home defence of Great Britain in World War II.
Ammunition
Image:BL 12 inch Howitzer Shell Mk V Diagram.jpg| Image:12inchRailwayHowitzerShell444SiegeBatteryAndKitten19July1918.jpg|
Notes
References
Bibliography
- Dale Clarke, British Artillery 1914-1919. Heavy Artillery. Osprey Publishing, Oxford UK, 2005
- I.V. Hogg & L.F. Thurston, British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914–1918. London: Ian Allan, 1972.
References
- Hogg & Thurston 1972, page 179, 183, 187
- Hogg & Thurston 1972, page 186
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