RML 7 pounder Mountain Gun

Infobox Weapon
name= Ordnance RML 7 pounder Mk IV Mountain Gun


caption=No. 4 (Hazara) Mountain Battery with RML 7 pounder circa. 1895
origin= UK
type=mountain gun
is_artillery=yes
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=yes
is_UK=yes
service=1873 - 19?
used_by=British Empire
wars=Anglo-Zulu War
First Boer War
Second Boer War
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants=
spec_label=
weight=convert|200|lb|kg|sigfig=4 barrel
length=
part_length=convert|36|in|mm|sigfig=3
width=
height=
diameter=
crew=
cartridge=ML, 7lb 11 oz (shrapnel)
7lb 4oz (Common)
12lb 4oz (Double)Hall, December 1972]
caliber=convert|3|in|mm|sigfig=3
action=
rate=
velocity=convert|968|ft/s|m/s
range=
max_range=convert|3000|yd|m
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=
traverse=nil
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=The Ordnance RML 7 pounder Mk IV "Steel Gun" was a rifled muzzle-loading mountain gun primarily used by the Indian Army. 7 pounder referred to the approximate weight of the shell it fired.

History

Development began in 1864 to replace the RBL 6 pounder convert|2.5|in|mm|sing=on gun of 3cwt, which had proved too heavy for a mountain gun. Several Mks of 7 pounder RML of 2 cwt were tried in 1865 by boring out and rifling old SBML bronze guns, but were still too heavy.Ruffell]

Several Mks of new steel barrels (the first British all-steel gun, hence the name "Steel Gun") were then produced of convert|190|lb|abbr=on and convert|150|lb|abbr=on but were not considered powerful enough.

Mk IV of convert|200|lb|abbr=on with a longer bore was settled on for production in 1873.

It was superseded by the RML 2.5 inch Mountain Gun from 1879.

Combat Use

It could be assembled and a round loaded in 20 seconds. Its Common shell was considered ineffective. To give it a high angle capability, a Double shell was produced of increased length and containing a larger bursting charge. This was fired with a reduced charge, but the low muzzle velocity did not always arm the fuze, or prevent the over-long projectile from somersaulting. Shell rotation was effected by studs on the body of the shell. Elevation was by quoin or wedge and by screw.

=Anglo-Zulu War 1879=

Britain deployed several guns mounted on Colonial (or "Kaffraria") carriages : light field gun type carriages with larger wider-spaced wheels suited for being horse-drawn across long grass.

=First Boer War 1880-1881=

Britain deployed 4 guns mounted on standard small mountain carriages during the war.

=Second Boer War 1899-1902=

The gun was employed mounted on armoured trains and used by local militia forces early in the war.

It was also employed mounted on normal Field carriages with larger wheels which increased mobility in the long grass and allowed it to be towed by horses.Hall, June 1971]

See also

* Battle of Laing's Nek

* List of Infantry and mountain guns

urviving examples

* [http://www.royalarmouries.org/visit-us/fort-nelson Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson, Hampshire, UK]
* [http://www.firepower.org.uk Royal Artillery Museum, London]
*South African National Museum of Military History, Johannesburg, South Africa

Notes

References

*Major Darrell D Hall, [http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol021dh.html "Guns in South Africa 1899-1902" in The South African Military History Society Military History Journal - Vol 2 No 1, June 1971]
*Major Darrell D. Hall, [http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol024dh.html "Field Artillery of the British Army 1860-1960. Part I, 1860 - 1900" in The South African Military History Society. Military History Journal - Vol 2 No 4, December 1972] (web page is incorrectly titled 1900-1914)
*W. L. Ruffell, [http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/gun/rifled9.htm The Gun - Rifled Ordnance: Mountain Artillery. RML 7 pounder]

External links

*Pietro Bello [http://petruspulcher.monicadue.co.uk/rml7pdrgun.html Photogallery of the suviving example at the Firepower, Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich Royal Arsenal, London]
*Major D.D. Hall, [http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol044dh.html The South African Military History Society Military History Journal Vol 4 No 4, December 1978. "ARTILLERY IN THE ZULU WAR - 1879"]
*Major D.D. Hall, [http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol052dh.html The South African Military History Society Military History Journal - Vol 5 No 2, December 1980. "The Artillery of the First Anglo-Boer War 1880 - 1881"]
*MAJOR G. TYLDEN, ED, [http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol012gt.html The South African Military History Society Military History Journal - Vol 1 No 2, June 1968. Further Notes on Early Rhodesian Military Units and Early Rhodesia's Weapons]