WARFORUM Posted 8 November , 2011 Share Posted 8 November , 2011 Can anyone with any knowledge on the RFA help me with information regading 86th Battery, 32nd Brigade, which I believe became D (Howitzer) Battery of the same Brigade. I would like to know what type of Howitzer the Battery may have used, and where they were located during October 1917, any info would be grately appreciated and would help fill a gap in our family history. Many thanks Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonmate Posted 8 November , 2011 Share Posted 8 November , 2011 G The LLT states that 4.5 inch Howitzers were used by the RFA units. 32 Bde RFA were part of 4 Division's strength. War Diary which runs from Aug 1914 to Jan 1919 is at Kew under WO95/1467.Not yet digital. October 1917 saw them at the battles of Third Ypres with 5th Army: Polygon Wood from 26 Sep to 3 Oct Broodseinde 4 Oct Poelcapelle 9 Oct,and, First Passchendaele 17 Oct. LLT does not list them as partaking in Second Passchendaele a few days later. Sotonmate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertBr Posted 8 November , 2011 Share Posted 8 November , 2011 Graham Try googling 'The William Roberts Society' where you should find: "4.5 Howitzer Gunner Royal Field Artillery 1916–1918 Memories of the War to End War" This gives you a good intro into the life of a Gunner. 4.5 QF Designed by the Coventry Ordnance Works, the British Ordnance QF 4.5in Howitzer appeared in 1910 and went on to become one of the most efficient medium howitzers of World War 1. At a time when few field guns could elevate beyond 20°, it became a valuable support to the field artillery, since it could drop shells into trenches and field defences which the flat trajectory guns (like the 13Pdr and the 18Pdr could not do). Several thousand were produced and the gun was sold widely to several countries in the post-war years, modernised with pneumatic tyres, it served throughout World War 2 as well. Calibre 114mm or 4.5 in Weight in action 3020 lbs Gun length 1.63mm or 64.7in Elevation -5º to +45º Traverse 6º Ammunition and weight High Explosive, Shrapnel Weight of shell 35.0lb Muzzle Velocity 1,026 ft/sec Maximum Range 7,000 yards See my avatar Regards Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WARFORUM Posted 20 November , 2011 Author Share Posted 20 November , 2011 Hi Bob, Thanks very much for the info, sorry it took me so long to reply haven't been able to get on for a while. Graham Graham Try googling 'The William Roberts Society' where you should find: "4.5 Howitzer Gunner Royal Field Artillery 1916–1918 Memories of the War to End War" This gives you a good intro into the life of a Gunner. 4.5 QF Designed by the Coventry Ordnance Works, the British Ordnance QF 4.5in Howitzer appeared in 1910 and went on to become one of the most efficient medium howitzers of World War 1. At a time when few field guns could elevate beyond 20°, it became a valuable support to the field artillery, since it could drop shells into trenches and field defences which the flat trajectory guns (like the 13Pdr and the 18Pdr could not do). Several thousand were produced and the gun was sold widely to several countries in the post-war years, modernised with pneumatic tyres, it served throughout World War 2 as well. Calibre 114mm or 4.5 in Weight in action 3020 lbs Gun length 1.63mm or 64.7in Elevation -5º to +45º Traverse 6º Ammunition and weight High Explosive, Shrapnel Weight of shell 35.0lb Muzzle Velocity 1,026 ft/sec Maximum Range 7,000 yards See my avatar Regards Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now