Cutaway model of a 57 mm ‘Granaatkartets’ for the Dutch ‘6 veld’ gun. The Gun was taken into service of the dutch army in 1894. By may 1940 the 6 veld was completely obsolete, however by lack of better it was placed in the forward lines as an anti tank gun, however due to the stiff gun carriage and the rudimentary sights this was not a succes.
However, in the normal artillery role it still did a remarkably good job.
The gun ‘6 veld’:
The gun was bought in 1894 from the Krupp factory. It was served by a crew of four. It had no shield , spoked wheels and was drawn by two or four horses. Later types (after 1925) were pulled by a truck and had rubber tyres mounted.
The gun had no recoil system and the kickback of the recoil was reduced by a spade blade below the gun that was stuck into the ground.
Length of barrel : 1,425 mtr.
Vo : 480 mtr/sec.
Max. Range : 3.500 mtrs
Fire rate : 4 to 5 rounds/minute.
Available number in May 1940: 206 guns
Weight of complete gun : 577 kg.
Seven types of shells were available for the gun:
- a 3,9 kg heavy shrappnel cannister (total weight of cartridge : 4,5 kg).
- a high explosive shell of 2,95 kg (total weight of cartridge : 3,91kg).
- a black powder filled high explosive shell of 2,73 kg.
- a 2,73 kg heavy shrappnel cannister (total weight of cartridge : 3,35 kg) (cutaway model in this posting).
- an armour piercing high explosive shell.
- a blank.
- a salute shot.
The ‘6 cm granaatkartets’ cartridge:
The shell exists of a brass shellase with a small charge of granular black powder below a cork closing disc. The igniter in the base of the shelcase is the ’Ontstekingsdop No.3’.
The projectile is steel made with a red copper drivingband. On top the pytotechnic time –impact fuze No.6 is placed.
Inside the projectile body a step is machined on which a flange rests. This is the expulsion flange. In the center of the flange a brass pipe filled with black powder is placed, ending below the center of the fuze. Below the flange a charge of black powder is placed. Above the flange -and around the pipe- a load of lead balls is placed, cast in resign.
Functioning of time impact fuze (tijdschokbuis) No.6:
The fuze has two inertia activated firing caps which are placed in inertia cylinders. The upper firing cap is held in place by means of a brass cup with four outward bend lips that keep the firing cap in upper postion. Upon firing of the projectile, inertia moves the firing cap backward, bending the lips on the cup inward. The firing cap now moves into the firing pin below it. This ignites the pyrotechnic powder mechanism.
The lower firing cap cylinder is kept away from the firing pin above it by a brass cylinder that also rests on a brass cup with four outward bend lips. Upon firing of the projectile, inertia throws down the ring, bending the four lips inward. The firing cap is now free to move forward into the firing pin upon impact. This part of the fuze is the impact fuze.
The distance is set by rotating the lower ring by means of a key. The division is in mtrs. ranging from 0-3000 mtrs with 50 mtrs. divisions.
The groove in the pyrotechnic ring –housing the black powder path- is interrupted for about one cm. Rotating this part above the flash hole of the magazine shuts off the time function, leaving the impact function only. This position can be recognized by the + on the outside of the lower ring being set above the zero set line on the outer rim of the body. Rotating the lower ring into the 3000 mtrs. direction ring will lengthen the path of black powder to be burned. If the black powder in the ring is burned up, it will end in the flash hole of the powder magazine below it (containing black powder) in the lower fuze body. This will activate the black powder in the pipe downward, activating the expulsion charge. The build up presure will rip off the thread of the fuze from the body projecting the balls forward. The rotation of the projectile enshures dispersion of the lead balls.
The shrappnel projectile is meant primarally against groups of –dug in and non dug in- troops as well as unarmoured targets
Regards, DJH
However, in the normal artillery role it still did a remarkably good job.
The gun ‘6 veld’:
The gun was bought in 1894 from the Krupp factory. It was served by a crew of four. It had no shield , spoked wheels and was drawn by two or four horses. Later types (after 1925) were pulled by a truck and had rubber tyres mounted.
The gun had no recoil system and the kickback of the recoil was reduced by a spade blade below the gun that was stuck into the ground.
Length of barrel : 1,425 mtr.
Vo : 480 mtr/sec.
Max. Range : 3.500 mtrs
Fire rate : 4 to 5 rounds/minute.
Available number in May 1940: 206 guns
Weight of complete gun : 577 kg.
Seven types of shells were available for the gun:
- a 3,9 kg heavy shrappnel cannister (total weight of cartridge : 4,5 kg).
- a high explosive shell of 2,95 kg (total weight of cartridge : 3,91kg).
- a black powder filled high explosive shell of 2,73 kg.
- a 2,73 kg heavy shrappnel cannister (total weight of cartridge : 3,35 kg) (cutaway model in this posting).
- an armour piercing high explosive shell.
- a blank.
- a salute shot.
The ‘6 cm granaatkartets’ cartridge:
The shell exists of a brass shellase with a small charge of granular black powder below a cork closing disc. The igniter in the base of the shelcase is the ’Ontstekingsdop No.3’.
The projectile is steel made with a red copper drivingband. On top the pytotechnic time –impact fuze No.6 is placed.
Inside the projectile body a step is machined on which a flange rests. This is the expulsion flange. In the center of the flange a brass pipe filled with black powder is placed, ending below the center of the fuze. Below the flange a charge of black powder is placed. Above the flange -and around the pipe- a load of lead balls is placed, cast in resign.
Functioning of time impact fuze (tijdschokbuis) No.6:
The fuze has two inertia activated firing caps which are placed in inertia cylinders. The upper firing cap is held in place by means of a brass cup with four outward bend lips that keep the firing cap in upper postion. Upon firing of the projectile, inertia moves the firing cap backward, bending the lips on the cup inward. The firing cap now moves into the firing pin below it. This ignites the pyrotechnic powder mechanism.
The lower firing cap cylinder is kept away from the firing pin above it by a brass cylinder that also rests on a brass cup with four outward bend lips. Upon firing of the projectile, inertia throws down the ring, bending the four lips inward. The firing cap is now free to move forward into the firing pin upon impact. This part of the fuze is the impact fuze.
The distance is set by rotating the lower ring by means of a key. The division is in mtrs. ranging from 0-3000 mtrs with 50 mtrs. divisions.
The groove in the pyrotechnic ring –housing the black powder path- is interrupted for about one cm. Rotating this part above the flash hole of the magazine shuts off the time function, leaving the impact function only. This position can be recognized by the + on the outside of the lower ring being set above the zero set line on the outer rim of the body. Rotating the lower ring into the 3000 mtrs. direction ring will lengthen the path of black powder to be burned. If the black powder in the ring is burned up, it will end in the flash hole of the powder magazine below it (containing black powder) in the lower fuze body. This will activate the black powder in the pipe downward, activating the expulsion charge. The build up presure will rip off the thread of the fuze from the body projecting the balls forward. The rotation of the projectile enshures dispersion of the lead balls.
The shrappnel projectile is meant primarally against groups of –dug in and non dug in- troops as well as unarmoured targets
Regards, DJH
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