Mystery shell!

[ydnum303]

Hi all,

I have a 12-Pdr shrapnel projectile (fired, unfortunately) which has stamped on the base "12 PR III BL 6 CWT OR Q.F" (It also has F S, and R.L) On the side is stamped 11/97.

As my books tell me that the 12-Pdr 6Cwt field gun was not introduced until 3 years after this shell was made, and was used with bag charges only, with what BL and QF guns was this shell used? And what were the dimensions of the cartridge case for the QF gun?

Any information gratefully received!

Roger

 

[Dronic69]

Hi Roger,

A quick google search seems to indicate that the 12pdr 6Cwt was introduced in 1892, your projectile is dated November 1897 (11/97).

"The 12 pounder 6 cwt gun was thus developed in 1892, when the new more powerful, as a lighter version of the BL 12 pounder 7 cwt gun. It had a barrel 18 inches (460 mm) shorter, on a lighter and simpler carriage, and it entered service in 1894."

Ref:
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_BL_12_pounder_6_cwt"]Ordnance BL 12 pounder 6 cwt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:BL12pdr6cwtSecondBoerWar.jpg" class="image"><img alt="BL12pdr6cwtSecondBoerWar.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/BL12pdr6cwtSecondBoerWar.jpg/300px-BL12pdr6cwtSecondBoerWar.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/7/7c/BL12pdr6cwtSecondBoerWar.jpg/300px-BL12pdr6cwtSecondBoerWar.jpg[/ame]


Curious as to which reference bks are indicating the later introduction date?

Thanks
Cheers
Drew

 

[ydnum303]

Thanks

Hi Drew,

Many thanks for this.

The book was Hogg & Thurstons work on WW1 British artillery, if memory serves me correctly.

If the other source is correct, then it answers the "date" question, but still leaves me puzzled over what the QF gun would have been,

Regards,

Roger.