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About this blog

Royal Artillery topics

Information and topics relating to the Gunners of the Royal Horse Artillery, Royal Field Artillery, and the Royal Garrison Artillery during the First World War. 

As I meander through research, battlefield tours and contributions to the GWF Forum, certain topics arise an interest which I record here. 

 

Entries in this blog

Northumbrian Gunner Promotion

Wow !!! - interesting day on the Great War Forum. Promoted to Lieut. Colonel with my 500th post 1,000th view to the Blog this will be my 45th Blog post. Only joined the forum to get a bit more information about my Regiment - now developing a deep interest in the Royal Artillery in WW1.
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl

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13 pounder 9cwt

Always learning on the forum !! Many thanks to Keith aka Rockdoc. Source: 13pdr Shell Identification Wkikipedia QF 13 pounder 9 cwt Very clever idea, though must have been a Quartermasters nightmare with Ordnance phoning him up "there appears to be a problem with your ammunition indent, you have ordered 13 pounder shells which are for a RHA gun, 18 pounder cartridges which are for a RFA gun, and you are a Quartermaster in the RGA". No wonder everyone is looking a littl
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RA Units

Royal Marine Artillery

Royal Marine Artillery - always wondered about these chaps. Source: RMA? Long Long Trail - The Batteries of the Royal Marine Artillery - The Long, Long Trail (longlongtrail.co.uk) A SHORT HISTORY OF THE ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY Source: Royal Marines Museum inofrmation The Howitzer Brigade, R.M.A. As has been already stated, the Royal Marine Artillery Battalion was withdrawn from the R.M. Brigade for purely Artillery work. A portion of t
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl in RA Units

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Artillery Command and Control

Artillery Command and control is often a strange concept to grasp. The chain of command for the infantry was hierarchical, from C in C BEF down to the Private in the trench, direct orders would be passed from commander to commander. As outlined in the post: GHQ Artillery , the Royal Artillery was different. The Commander's function was the allocation of resources. So Army level resources were allocated to Corps, the allocation being based upon the Army commanders plan. Similarly at Corps le
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From: Did the British ever deliver gas in artillery shells?

Interesting question from Steve......... Source: Did the British ever deliver gas in artillery shells? Yes - however I am surprised at the extent of it;s usage. A quick look at Farndales History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery Western Front 1914 - 1918 shows a number of references for Shells, Gas. The first mention is in the planning of the Somme bombardment. Indeed the official history out lines "shelling of communications every night (but lacrymatory shell was not to be
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From: GALLIPOLI - DEPLOYMENT OF RFA

Interesting post from Michael. Must look in to RFA in Gallipoli sometime. Source: GALLIPOLI - DEPLOYMENT OF RFA I visited Gallipoli a few years ago... it would be interesting to see where the guns were positioned, particularly in the Anzac Cove area. I can appreciate the problems of finding wagon lines for the horses in such a congested area. This is not exactly a good location for 18 pounders with limited elevation. And remembering one of the hero's of Gallipoli - John Simpson Ki
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From: Division Ammunition Column 1916 - 1918

An oft forgotten part of Artillery operations, the Divisional Ammunition Columns (DAC) would have seen over million shells pass through them during the war in France and Flanders. Approximate Expenditure of Ammunition in France and Belgium during the war 1914-18 Source: Farndale History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery Western Front 1914-18 18 pounder gun 99,397,670 4.5 inch howitzer 25,326,276 ----------------- 124,723,946 And that excludes 15 pounder BLC an
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The Military Port of Richborough, Sandwich, Kent

Came across this post Source: The Military Port of Richborough, Sandwich, Kent The artillery logistic trail stretches from factory to a shell being delivered onto an enemy target. Whilst I have looked at the ammunition supply mechanism in France, and munitions factories ion the UK, never gave much thought to the bit in between, especially the movement across the channel. What I did not realise was a purpose built port was built, and that it operated train ferries. Consequently guns and
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ianjonesncl

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Bombardment, Concentration, Barrage ...

Terminology within the Royal Artillery is now quite precises, especially with the adoption of standard NATO agreements [sTANAGS]. Indeed although it has changed over the years the Gunners who know a regimental target as a uniform target number, could easily understand that this was a Mike target in a previous generation. However as is pointed out in Phil Jobsons Royal Artillery Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations the 'development of indirect fire, counter-battery, .......required a novel vo
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Psyops - RFC/RAF Leaflet Drops

Fundamentally there two ways to defeat an enemy. Destroy them, or cause them to loose the will to fight, indeed it usually a combination of both. The attritional war of WW1 ended when the Germans could see no point in going on. So why talk about leaflet drops in relation to the Royal Artillery ? In the modern targeting process Psyops is often part of the mechanism in reducing the enemies will to fight, the use of firepower being integrated with non kinetic methods. So this information
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl

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Gun designation - Shell weight v Calibre

Interesting question fromRGAArtillery aka David. Why some guns are designated by shell weight and others by calibre ? Always wondered !!! Many thanks to Nigel and Centurion. Source: Shell weights
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl

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From: Gun emplacements on aer photographs

Interesting question from regarding locating artilley by areal photograph. Although he is specificaly asking about Gallipoli, the question would apply to any front, and indeed any conflict. Can anyone provide me with any pointers with regard to identifying gun emplacements from aer photographs with particular reference to Turkish emplacements at Gallipoli. I have read the Turks were at pains to disguise their emplacements by use of camouflage, yet aer photo interpreters at the time were abl
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ianjonesncl

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Growth of Artillery in BEF - Field V Heavy Artillery

Just been looking at the growth of the artillery from 1914 to 1916, and as part of that how the doctrine and focus changed from mobility to firepower When the BEF deployed in 1914, 72 field, 5 horse artillery and 6 heavy batteries provided the artillery support.The ratio of field to heavy batteries / artillery is 13 to 1. The doctrine is one of mobility and close support of infantry and cavalry. Role on a year and the arrival of the Territorial divisions and the first of Kitcheners New
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Aerial Observation for Artillery

The ability to direct Artillery for from the air, particularly for targets in depth out of the view of Forward Observation Officers, provides an essential dimension, particularly for counter battery fire. The use of aircraft for target location was detailed in both the Field Artillery Training and Garrison Artillery (Siege) Training Manuals for 1914. The procedures involved large letters on the ground, very lights, and even aircraft indicating azimuth by flying down the intended line of fir
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl

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154 Siege Battery site

Coemar aka Marc has updated his site on the 154th Siege Battery RGA. [/url] https://sites.google...54siegebattery/ Interesting information which details the Battery history, it's movements and some excellent contemporary photographs. Really highlights the way in which the Siege Batteries operated - movements between the various Heavy Artillery Groups and where they were deployed.
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl

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Shrapnel Shells

At the begining of World War One Shrapnel was the only shell available for the mainstay of Divisional Artillery, the 18 pounder. The first HE shell was fired in action was 22nd October 1914 near Aubers by 49th Battery RFA. The 18 pounder sharpnel shell contained 375 bullets and it's cone of dispersion was 18 to 30 yards depending upon the range. Topic Shrapnel Topic Shrapnel Balls Primarly designed for use against troops in the open, the positional warfare of dug in troops changed
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl

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Small collection of shells

Shell from Ypres Case from Flea Bay 18 Pounder Shrapnel Shell & Shell Case 18 Pounder Shrapnel Shell - cutaway Few more pics of interest in this topic: Small collection of shells
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No Comms - No Bombs

The Royal School of Artillery Signals Section displayed a sign "No Comms - No Bombs" In World War One Artillery communications realy meant line. Radio was in it's infancy and mainly confined to air observation. Signal rockets could be used to call for fire on SOS targets. However, it was line, miles and miles of line and the courage of the signallers of the Royal Artillery, to lay and reapair the line, often under fire, that provided communiations. Line was required: From Observe
ianjonesncl

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Somme Artillery

Off to the Somme in April so keen to look at the Royal Artillery aspects of the Battles, and in particular the role in the preliminary bombardment. The Battle of the Somme saw the largest number of Artillery guns and howitzers in the war so far, however the 12 mile (19km) frontage meant the concentration was less than previous Battles. According to Farndale's , History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery Western Front 1914 - 1918, the artillery power available for the Somme amounted to 1,010
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl

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Artillery Guns serviceability

Interesting question raised regarding the serviceability of the guns. Old Tom points out that average life for the barrel was 7,000 rounds for a gun, 10,000 rounds for a howitzer. The ammo preparation for the Somme for the field guns was 1,000 rounds, the bombardment planned for 4 days, then extended to 6 days. At that rate of fire guns would have needed a new barrel per month. Source: Artillery
ianjonesncl

ianjonesncl

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From: Artillery Board

I have just finished Richard Holmes 'Shots from the front' The British Soldier 1914-1918. Before getting to the point of this post I would like to express the opinion that this book is one of the finest I have read dealing with the generalities of the Great War. It is, of course, largely a book of pictures with supporting text. One of the pictures - Fig.71 - shows a sergeant of the RGA, a 60 pounder battery, taking notes from an artillery board. The board, chalk on a black surface, is not e
ianjonesncl

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From: Counter Battery Fire

SDGW lists some 3000 RFA/RHA/RGA officers and a correspondingly large number of ORs. I don`t know whether this number is large as a percentage compared with infantry regiments but it does show how dangerous artillery service was. I assume that the major danger was from counter battery fire (or possibly accidents) - were there other major dangers? Assuming that the RGA were further back, did they run less risk from counter fire or did the calibre of their guns make them a preferred target? S
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No. 106 Fuze

RodB has researched and published information on the No 106 Fuze. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._106_Fuze He raised the following questions, which others here may be interested in : 1. I was surprised to find this did not appear to be a graze fuze, but really a super-sensitive D.A. (direct action) fuze. I.e. the only way to action the fuze was to push in the hammer projecting from the nose. There did not appear to be any internal inertia plunger or weights, balls, gizmos etc. typical of
ianjonesncl

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