2.75 inch Mountain Gun

Infobox Weapon
is_artillery=yes


caption=Men of the 4th (Highland) Mountain Brigade with convert|2.75|in|mm|sing=on mountain gun, Kamberli, Salonika front, June 1918. Contributed by [mailto:[e-mail] Mike Morrison]
name=Ordnance BL 2.75 inch mountain gun
type=Mountain artillery
origin=India/UK
era=World War I
platform=Crew served
target=
date=1911
prod_date=
service=1914 - 1919
used_by=UK
wars=World War I
spec_type=Mountain screw gun
caliber=70 mm
part_length=72.5 inch (1.84 m)
carriage=wheeled,single pole trail
recoil=Hydro-spring, constant, 38 inches
weight=586 kg (1,292 lb)
cartridge=Separate loading Breech Loading 5.67 kg (12.5 lb)
action=
ammo_wt=
velocity=1,290 ft/s (393 m/s)
elevation=-15° - 22°
traverse=4° L & R
max_range=(shrapnel) 5,600 yds
(5,120 m)
(HE) 5,800 yds (5,303 m)
rate=
number=183|The Ordnance BL 2.75 inch Mountain Gun was a screw gun designed for and used by the Indian Mountain Artillery into World War I.

Description

The gun was an improved version of the 1901 BL 10 pounder Mountain Gun.

The new 1911 version improved on the 1901 gun with a new pole trail, recoil buffer, recuperator and gunshield, and increased shell weight from 10 to convert|12.5|lb|abbr=on. It was a screw gun design, where the barrel could be separated into two parts via a screw joint. This allowed for the gun to have a heavier barrel, but still be broken into smaller portions for transport by mule teams. This was important for a weapon designed to be used in mountainous and rough terrain, or where adequate vehicle and horse transport was not readily available. The weapon could be carried by 6 mules or towed.

Service History

The gun was adopted in 1911 and began entering service in 1914.

The weapon served primarily with the Indian Mountain Artillery in the northwest portion of British Indian territory (on what is now the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan) and participated in British-led military action in that theatre.

It also served in Mesopotamia and the Salonika front during World War I.

It was superseded at the end of World War I by the 3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer.

Ammunition

See also

* List of artillery#Infantry and mountain guns

Notes and References

*Dale Clarke, [http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S6887 British Artillery 1914-1919. Field Army Artillery. Osprey Publishing, Oxford UK, 2004]
*Hogg, Ian; 2000; "Twentieth Century Artillery"; Amber Books, Ltd., ISBN 1-58663-299-X
*I.V. Hogg & L.F. Thurston, British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition. London: Ian Allan, 1972