BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun

Infobox Weapon
name=BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun Mk 3


caption=BL 5.5 inch Mk 3 in Finnish Artillery Museum
origin=UK
type=field gun
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_missile=
is_UK=yes
service=1942-1978(?)
used_by=UK & Commonwealth
wars=WWII
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
unit_cost=
production_date=1941-
number=
variants=
weight=6,190 kg (13,647 lbs)
length=
part_length=4.2 m (13.77 ft)
30 calibers
width=
height=
diameter=
crew=9
cartridge=HE 45.5 kg (100 lbs)
caliber=5.5 inch (140 mm)
action=
rate=3 rounds per minute
velocity=517 m/s (1,696 ft/s)
range=
max_range=14 km (9 mi)
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=split trail
elevation=
traverse=
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
transmission=
payload_capacity=
fuel_capacity=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
clearance=
vehicle_range=
speed=
guidance=

The BL 5.5 inch Field Gun was a British artillery gun introduced during the middle of the Second World War.

History

In January 1939 a specification was issued for a gun to replace the 60 pounder guns and 6 inch 26 cwt howitzers in use. The first units were equipped with the new gun in May 1942, and the first actions were in the Western Desert Campaign. Initially the range was disappointing, but a new shell 20 pounds (9 kg) lighter solved the problem. A companion piece with a 4.5 inch calibre barrel and longer range was also introduced but demonstrated poor lethality due to low grade steel used in its projectiles (a problem shared with its US equivalent) and was retired shortly after WWII.

The 5.5 survived after the war until replaced by the FH-70 155 mm towed howitzer in service as L121. The last 5.5 rounds were fired in UK in 1995.

The gun was known as the G2 in the South African Defence Force and was extensively used in the early stages of the South African Border War, including Operation Savannah.

In use, the 5.5, like the 4.5 before was generally teamed with the AEC Matador artillery tractor. From the 1950s in British service, the 5.5 was typically towed by an AEC Militant Mk 1 6x6 truck an subsequently the FV 1103 6x6 Medium Artillery Tractor built by Leyland.

Variants

*Mark III:Model in use in WW2
*Mark IV:Appeared after WW2

External links

* [http://members.tripod.com/~nigelef/55inchsheet.htm Specifications sheet]