FIRE AT WILL!!!
The purpose of this report is to introduce you to the BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer, a crude and robust weapon that was born from an adaptation of a reliable WWI heavy howitzer to provide heavy fire support to the British until almost the end of WWII, when more modern artillery pieces became available.
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| The big 7,2-inch heavy howitzer pampering your gunners... |
The BL 7.2-inch howitzer was a heavy artillery piece used by the British Army throughout the Second World War. The term BL, in its general sense, stood for breech loading, and contrasted with muzzle loading.
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer |
History
In 1940 the British Army concluded that the only heavy howitzer available to it, the First World War-era BL 8-inch howitzer, had insufficient range for the conditions of the Second World War. As a stopgap the decision was made to re-line the barrels to a smaller calibre and develop a new range of ammunition to achieve the desired ranges.
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| A BL 8-inch Mark VI heavy howitzer with steel rimmed wheels in the Battle of Hazebrouck (Battle of the Lys) The Royal Garrison Artillery howitzer sinks at the side of the road on its way back to Caestre - April 1918 Australian troops helping British RGA gunners font: IWM (Q 8706) |
Marks I - IV
The 7.2-inch heavy howitzer was developed from the 8-inch howitzer used in WWI. In July 1940, the British Army concluded that there was a serious shortage of heavy artillery, and a demand was created for a new weapon of about 8 inches in calibre, but with a longer range than the existing 8-inch howitzer. For reasons of logistics and urgency, this new weapon also had to use the same type of carriage as the 8-inch howitzer. In August 1940, tests were carried out to determine how much stress the carriage and recoil system of the 8-inch howitzer could withstand. As a result, development was begun on a 7.2-inch (183mm) howitzer firing a 200 lb (90.7 kg) shell with a maximum muzzle velocity of 518 metres per second. The existing 8-inch howitzers were taken to the maintenance shops where the barrel lining was removed and replaced with a 7.2-inch liner. Changes were made to the breech mechanisms to suit the new calibre. This new weapon was then officially introduced into service as the 7.2-inch Mark 1 heavy howitzer on 7 April 1941. Somewhat later, American 8-inch howitzers were purchased to be converted to the 7.2-inch standard in the same manner.
The old carriages were retained although the original steel rimmed wheels were replaced with new pneumatic balloon-tyre wheels, as was consistent with the motorisation of the British Army.
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| A BL 8-inch howitzer during an inspection by French General Georges at Bethune, France. 23 April 1940. Notice the old carriage and pneumatic balloon-tyre wheels font: IWM (F 3971) |
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| The big pneumatic balloon-tyre wheels in close vision |
A new four-charge ammunition increased the range to 15.500 m, but when fired at full charge the recoil caused the weapon to rear violently and jump backwards. With the reduction in caliber but the increase in propellant charge, a problem was discovered with the recoil of the gun when firing, as the force of the shot was greater than the recoil system could fully absorb. As a result, the carriage would move backwards when firing, and on wet ground this movement could be unpredictable and dangerous, with the howitzer bucking wildly and the crew having to stand well clear of the gun before firing.
Even with these wedges ramps, firing was still daunting for the crew. Early in 1943 it was decided that with Charge 4 the gun was not fully under control and so a search began for a new carriage.
Marks I–IV differed only in the original 8-inch barrel used and the type of conversion; some barrels and carriages were also supplied from US First World War stocks.
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| An 7.2-inch Mk I heavy howitzer with two large wedge-shaped ramps, placed just behind the large wheels, to absorb the recoil forces of the howitzer when firing, and two small ramps placed in front of the tires, to prevent the howitzer from moving too much when descending from the rear ramps. |
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| Positioning an neatly camouflaged 7.2-inch (BL) heavy howitzer of 51 (Lowland) Heavy Regiment - Royal Artillery 02 September 1944 Notice the wedge shaped ramps. font: IWM (B 9956) |
Mark V
In 1943 several 7.2-inch barrels were placed in the US Carriage M1 used by the 155 mm Long Tom already in use by the British Army. This combination was approved in November 1943 becoming the BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mk V. Few Mk Vs were produced and it was never issued to batteries.
Mark 6
The BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mk 6 (there was a shift from Roman numerals) retained the Carriage M1 of the Mk V but had a new 6,0 m longer barrel than previous marks and a fifth charge was added to the ammunition. The longer barrel and extra charge provided an increase in range to 17,900 m and the new carriage also provided a far more stable platform, greatly increasing accuracy. The new howitzer was approved and adopted on the 21st December 1943 as the Mark 6 Heavy Howitzer. The Mk 6 was considered a highly effective gun and it was retained in service after the war.
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| An 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk 6, on the US M1 carriage. Operation Plunder - Rhine Crossing, March, 1945. Notice the rear of Scammell Pioneer R100 tractor in background font: IWM B 15776 |
- Mark I : Converted from 8 inch Howitzer Mk 8
- Mark I*: Mk I repaired by insertion of inner ‘A’ tube into worn barrels
- Mark II: Conversion of ex-US 8 inch Mk VI
- Mark III: Conversion of ex-US 8 inch Mks VII, VII* &VII**
- Mark IV: Conversion of ex-US 8 inch Mk VIII or VIII½
- Mark V: Conversion of Mk I to suit US 155 mm mounting
- Mark V*: Conversion of Mk I* to suit US 155 mm mounting
- Mark 6: New construction, 33 calibres long (6,0 meters) to suit US 155 mm mounting
- Mark 6/1: Mk 6 repaired, body prepared for shrunk in ‘A’ tube
The American 155 mm Gun M1 started to arrive in the UK. Its carriage could be adjusted to take the US 8 inch Howitzer so in April 1943 a trial fitting was made of the 7.2 inch. It was successful and the combination was approved in November 1943 as the 7.2 inch Howitzer Mark 5. At the same time a new, more powerful howitzer was being prepared. A completely new design, 33 calibres long (6,0 meters), it was approved and adopted on the 21st December 1943 as the Mark 6 Howitzer. As a result the Mark 5 was never issued for service.
Use
The original Marks performed well. The first 7.2-inch howitzers were issued to batteries from mid-1942 and used in action in North Africa and in 1944 following the Normandy landings.
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| An 7.2-inch heavy howitzer of 18/56 Heavy Regiment, R.A. moving along the road to take up positions on the 46 Division 10 Corps sector of the Fifth Army front - Italy - December, 1943. font: IWM (NA 10155) |
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| A front view of 7.2-inch heavy howitzer of 18/56 Heavy Regiment, R.A. moving along the road to take up positions on the 46 Division 10 Corps sector of the Fifth Army front - Italy - December, 1943. font: IWM (NA 10157) |
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| Gunners of the 59th Newfoundland Heavy Regiment loading a HE shell into the breech of an 7.2-inch heavy howitzer to go into action - late 1944. |
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| An 7.2-inch heavy howitzer emplaced in the ruins of a windmill in the Village of Oeffelt, Province of North Brabant - Netherlands. The adjacent roof was blown off by the blast from the howitzer's muzzle... 19 February 1945 font: IWM (B 14745) |
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| Brushing the dirt from the HE shells of 7,2-inch howitzer. This care is essential for good conditions of the howitzer barrel and weapon accuracy. Western front - 02 September , 1944. font: IWM (B 9959) |
In Burma they were provided as a pool of two guns per Corps and used by Regiments as required. By the end of 1944, most of the earlier marks had been replaced by the Mk 6. The usual gun tractor for the 7.2-inch howitzer in the early war years was the Scammell Pioneer R100, although this was never available in sufficient numbers and from late 1943 the Pioneer was supplemented by the Albion CX22S. The BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer was usually employed in two four-gun batteries (alongside two four-gun batteries equipped with the 155 mm Long Tom) of "Heavy" regiments of Army Group Royal Artillery (AGRA) units, providing heavy fire support for British and Commonwealth troops. The Mk 6 remained in British Army service until the early 1960s.
In 1957, Indian Army raised 60 Heavy Regiment from the erstwhile J&K Bodyguard Cavalry. The unit was unique in its composition of four batteries with four Mk 6 BL 7.2-inch Howitzers in each battery, unlike the standard three-battery (six guns each) composition of other Indian artillery regiments. The guns of 60 Heavy Regiment saw combat in the 1965 and 1971 wars against Pakistan. In the early 1990s 60 Heavy Regiment was converted to a field regiment and the guns were passed on to 61 Heavy Regiment. They were finally retired from service by the late 1990s.
User units
- 59 (Newfoundland) Heavy Regiment
- 1st Heavy Regiment
- 32nd Heavy Regiment
- 51st (Lowland) Heavy Regiment – North West Europe Campaign
- 52nd (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Regiment – North West Europe Campaign
- 53rd Heavy Regiment
- 54th Heavy Regiment
- 55th Heavy Regiment
- 56th Heavy Regiment – Mediterranean Theatre and North West Europe Campaign
- 58th Heavy Regiment
- 60th Heavy Regiment
- 61st Heavy Regiment
- 75th Heavy Regiment
- 171st Heavy Regiment
- 114th (Sussex) Field Regiment – 2 gun section during Burma Campaign
- 8th (Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – 2 gun section during Burma Campaign
- 52nd (London) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – 2 gun section during Burma Campaign
- 56th (Cornwall) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – 2 gun section during Burma Campaign
- 67th (York and Lancaster Regiment) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – 2 gun section during Burma Campaign
- 101st Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment – 2 gun section during Burma Campaign
- 143 Heavy Regiment Artillery (TA) (1951-1957)
- 60th Heavy Regiment (now 60 Medium Regiment) (1957-1991)128 Hy Bty
- 129th Hy Bty
- 130th Hy Bty
- 131st Hy Bty (later transferred to 106 Med Regt after one gun was put out of action)
- 61st Heavy Regiment (1991-1996)
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| The Royal Artillery contingent in the Victory Parade in London Two Scammells Pioneer R100 towing 7.2-inch heavy howitzers Mk 6 lead four 17 pdr. Archer self-propelled guns. 8 June 1946. font: IWM (H 42778) |
Specs
| BL 7.2 inch heavy howitzer Mk I-IV | |
|---|---|
| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1941–1944 |
| Wars | Second World War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1940 |
| Produced | 1940–1944 |
| Variants | 5 (see text) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 10.324 Kg |
| Length | 7.42 m |
| Barrel length | 4,10 m L/22.4 (calibres) |
| Width | 2.7 m |
| Height | 1.30 m |
| Crew | 10 |
| Shell | HE |
| Shell weight | 92 kg |
| Calibre | 7.2 inches (182.9 mm) |
| Breech | Welin screw & asbury mech |
| Carriage | Box trail |
| Elevation | 0° to 45° |
| Traverse Rifling | 4° left & right 40 grooves, uniform Right Hand 1/20 |
| Rate of fire | 3 rpm under optimal conditions |
| Muzzle velocity | 517 m/s |
| Maximum firing range | 15,500 m |
The kit:
This construction project was carried out in parallel with that of his tractor, the Scammell Pioneer R100, which we saw in this previous report.
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| The bald one with the two kits... |
The model that was used was the Thunder Model British 7.2 inch Howitzer (#35211).
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| Thunder Model British 7.2 inch Howitzer (#35211) box kit art |
So, let's start the task: Normally, I am quite orthodox, following the steps in the instruction manual... But this time, I was attracted to the larger parts of the kit, namely the wheels and ramps. And when I looked at the ramps, I realized how simple and lacking in detail they were made by Thunder: hollow, with no bottom, no detailing whatsoever. Looking at the real photos, it is noticeable the enormous amount of detail that was omitted in these unique and eye-catching parts, which are practically the trademark of this weapon. What a shame, Thunder!!! In today's world, this is truly an unforgivable omission!!!
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| Ramps completely devoid of details...it seems that these parts were forgotten by Thunder's Research Department. Closing the horrible voids with thin sheets (0.3mm thick) of plasticard |
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| Shame on you, Thunder!!! |
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| Ramps, wheels and ammo... |
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| The large pneumatic balloon wheels are very well detailed. And they really are huge!!! Well done, Thunder!! |
After this first bipolar experience with Thunder, we will follow the instruction manual, with the construction of the artillery piece carriage. Be very careful at this stage, as the thickness of the plastic is very thin and the possibility of gluing a poorly positioned piece is real. Check the alignment and do not overdo the amount of glue!!!
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| Building the carriage of the heavy howitzer... |
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| Alignment and squaring!! |
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| The piece, although large, is relatively fragile. Its construction must always be careful... |
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| The interconnected, non-moving carriage trails denote the age of this weapon's design. They merge into the rear spade platform. |
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| Building the cradle, recuperators and gun elevation system. |
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| Adapting the cradle to the howitzer carriage. |
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| The tube and breech of the howitzer. |
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| The crank wheels for elevation and drift of the weapon are quite fragile, as is the aiming device... But compatible with the size and scale of the model. You must be very careful when handling this set now, to avoid accidents... |
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| Adding some metal details provided by Thunder... and others made in scratch... |
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| Right side view of the howitzer |
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| Rear view of the howitzer. The weapon is almost ready... |
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| Adding some details to the ramps, based on photos. Using parts from my scrap box and Plastruct plastic parts |
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| Holes and handles were added to help the poor gunners move these huge pieces... |
With the kit built, it's time for painting. As always, after some historical research, here is the Panzerserra Bunker Markings & Color Guide. I adapted our heavy howitzer to its Scammell Pioneer heavy artillery tractor.
Base color in shades of olive green:
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| Starting by the color base... |
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| Tonal variations of the base color... |
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| Wheels!! Don't forget that I built (and painted...) this howitzer along with its tractor |
Painting the typical camouflage of English cannons, carried out with masking tape. The objective of this cammo was to "narrow" the barrel and the recuperator of the weapon, "reducing" its profile (and its importance...), when seen from a distance... Remember the Sherman Firefly??
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| Painting the cammo in the tube and recuperator of the heavy howitzer - left view |
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| Painting the cammo in the tube and recuperator of the heavy howitzer - right view |
Gluing the large wheels to the howitzer carriage. Here, two important details: since they are very large wheels, the alignment must be precise, because any deviation will be very obvious. Another detail is the gluing of the parts themselves, which adapt to the carriage by very short pins. I reinforced this joint with a small piece of plasticard, which became practically invisible once installed.
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| The alignment of the wheels must be precise!! |
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| Perfect vertical and longitudinal alignment when squaring!! |
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| Oils and pigments... Notice the ramps in background right side view |
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| Oils and pigments... left side view |
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| As we saw in the report about the Scammell Pioneer R100, I decided to add details of the Value Gear in our project. Steve Munsell's roll bags are simply fantastic!!! |
Since resin is not flexible like canvas, we have to hollow out the resin to fit the piece into the relief of the piece. A small surgery done with my wonderful and invaluable Dremel...
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| Carving the roll bag (red) to fit the resin part into the relief (green) of the carriage part |
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| Pelfect, Centurion!!!! |
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| And, after painting, glued into position. Nice touch!! |
And after a few more weathering touches, our heavy howitzer was ready to make life hell for some Krauts. Here you have it, a BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I, proudly flying the colors of the 2nd British Army, with the 52nd Heavy Regiment-Royal Artillery (Bedfordshire Yeomanry), fighting in France, September 1944, after Normandy, in the 419th Heavy Battery.
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I 52nd Heavy Regiment-Royal Artillery (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) 2nd British Army - 419th Heavy Battery. France - September 1944 |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I left side view |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I rear left side view |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I rear right side view |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I right side view |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I top right side view |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I front right side view |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I in firing position and accessories |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I in firing position - left view |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I with Kojak |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I with ramps |
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| Scammell Pioneer R100 Heavy Artillery Tractor towing the 7,2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I |
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| Scammell Pioneer R100 Heavy Artillery Tractor and the 7,2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I |
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| BL 7.2-inch heavy howitzer Mk I 52nd Heavy Regiment-Royal Artillery (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) 2nd British Army - 419th Heavy Battery. France - September 1944 |
I´m in artillery...
...ANYTHING
JUST PLAY IT LOUD,OK??!!
