bushfighter Posted 22 May , 2011 Share Posted 22 May , 2011 Please can any member identify these guns? Are they naval guns mounted on wheels? Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 22 May , 2011 Share Posted 22 May , 2011 (edited) Harry, The two nearest to the camera look very similar to QF 3-pdr or perhaps 6-pdr Hotchkiss; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_3_pounder_Hotchkiss & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_6_pounder_Hotchkiss regards Michael Edited 22 May , 2011 by michaeldr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 22 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 22 May , 2011 Michael Thank you - I agree. The Official History East Africa on page 436 describes a naval field battery formed on the south side of Lake Victoria in 1916: one 15-pdr BL two 6-pdr two 3-pdr two MG on extemporised field mountings, drawn by oxen. I cannot identify two 6-pounders there, but the references that you kindly gave show the 3-pdr and 6-pdr as being similar, with a low charge being used in the 6-pdr. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 22 May , 2011 Share Posted 22 May , 2011 Not necessarily related to your original question, but possibly of interest as it is in the same neck-of-the-woods; see http://www.naval-review.co.uk/issues/1921-2.pdf#Page=121&View=Fit for A BACKWATER. LAKE VICTORIA NYANZA DURING THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST GERMAN EAST AFRICA enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 22 May , 2011 Share Posted 22 May , 2011 The two guns closest the camera do look like naval Hotchkiss 6 pdr quick firers. The 'ladder' bit on the gunners' shoulder piece (designed to allow tracking of fast torpedo boats - useless on a field mounting) I think was different on 3 pdrs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 23 May , 2011 Author Share Posted 23 May , 2011 Thank you Gentlemen As, according to Michael's links, there only was 10mm difference between the two guns I am pretty sure now that these weapons are the battery mentioned. In this image I believe that the Askari are from 4KAR (Uganda) and the white troops are naval crew from the Lake Victoria Flotilla. Oxen were used to pull the guns. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headgardener Posted 23 May , 2011 Share Posted 23 May , 2011 Are they naval guns mounted on wheels? That's certainly a naval flag on the structure behind them. I'm assuming you'd noticed it, but thought I'd point it out just in case..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 23 May , 2011 Share Posted 23 May , 2011 That's certainly a naval flag on the structure behind them. I'm assuming you'd noticed it, but thought I'd point it out just in case..... I can see what may be a flag but how do you make it out to be naval? It could be the Ruritanian royal standard for all I can make out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4thGordons Posted 23 May , 2011 Share Posted 23 May , 2011 I can see what may be a flag but how do you make it out to be naval? It could be the Ruritanian royal standard for all I can make out. I think Headgardener is referring to the first picture posted - looks like an naval flag to me - but then I am not up on Ruritanian Royalty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombadier Posted 23 May , 2011 Share Posted 23 May , 2011 I can see what may be a flag but how do you make it out to be naval? It could be the Ruritanian royal standard for all I can make out. Definitely looks like a white ensign to me. Union flag in the upper quarter of a Cross of St George Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
headgardener Posted 23 May , 2011 Share Posted 23 May , 2011 Yes, that is exactly the flag that I'm referring to. FYI, this is the Royal standard of Ruritania; Very different design. Doubt they sent troops to East Africa, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RodB Posted 24 May , 2011 Share Posted 24 May , 2011 Please can any member identify these guns? Are they naval guns mounted on wheels? Harry The 2 guns in foreground appear to be Hotchkiss 6-pounders, identified by slim gently-tapering barrel & 4 recoil cylinders (3-pounders had 2 recoil cylinders, either side of the barrel, and slightly shorter fatter-looking barrel). The 3-pounder wasn't much smaller in total and may be the gun on the other side of the 15-pounder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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