Home Guard weapon The Smith Gun & ammo

[roller63]

Hi again Guys, here are some pics of the Smith Gun and it's approved ammunition. Oficially known as the Ordnance Smooth Bore 3 inch or OSB. A weapon mostly issued to the Home Guard for anti tank and HE purposes, apparently also used for airfield defence in small numbers. If I remember rightly there was a Dads Army episode with one in, probably just a wooden prop though. Hope it is of some interest. Tony.

 

[roller63]

HE bomb and No245 fuse

 

[roller63]

practice shell and fuse

 

[roller63]

3 inch mortar WP smith gun use

 

[roller63]

3inch mortar HE smith gun use

 

[roller63]

No247 all ways bakelite fuse used on later smith gun shells

 

[roller63]

3inch mortar fuse No150 smith gun use

 

[roller63]

3inch mortar fuse No152 smith gun use

 

[roller63]

anti tank shell for smith gun-looks like a No68 grenade but bigger.

 

[roller63]

and then home in time for tea !

 

[spotter]

The dads army episode with the smith gun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8giek9FfmyU

 

[Quatermass]

Hi Tony,

This is a Smith Gun cartridge from my collection. Is there any chance you could send me copies of the pictures you've posted?
Excellent post.

Quatermass

 

[Quatermass]

Not having the best of days today! The picture of the other side.
Quatermass

 

[roller63]

Hi Qm, Nice SG cartridge ! I do have one myself, but its a relic and has been dug up. It still has the thread in the top though. I would love a complete shell ! If you send me your e mail adress, I can send you hi-res scans, full size, from the files on my pc. I have an original manual for the weapon, but it runs into a good few pages and most of it is text.
I find that the pics I take myself fit on here ok, but the ones I scan in are too large and have to be edited, right click on image, go to edit pictures and select \"for website\" size, works ok for me. Tony.

 

[Quatermass]

Re:Home Guard weapon The Smith Gun & ammo

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the pictures, really excellent stuff.

If theres ever anything I can do for you don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks again.

P.S. interesting to note that the markings on the cartridge would be hidden when fitted to the projectile.

 

[Ammodillo]

...

 

[roller63]

Thought I would resurrect this post with a couple of pics of the Smith Gun in the Artillery Hall collection at Fort Nelson. Unfortunately the day I went was dark and wet, the worst weather for weeks, hope the pics look ok, Tony.

 

[Rrickoshae]

excellent info - there is a Smith Gun on display at Fort Nelson (Portsmouth).

 

[TimG]

Missed this first time around. On the cartridge case, the 'T' in the triangle shows that it was manufactured by Trianco. Trianco, were at the time an engineering company based in Imber Court, East Molesey, Surrey. Smith was their chief engineer and a prolific inventor of diverse articles. They, the company, patented one of the first oil fired 'combi' boilers in the early 50's. Company is now based in sheffield.

Regards

Tim. G.

 

[sgtlynn]

Here are some photos I took on my trip over to England in 2005. The first is in the National Army Museum and the others are from a Storage building at Duxford.