5.9" from 150mm

[mebu]

Does anyone know when 150mm (shell) first referred to as 5.9" ? 

 

Thanks Peter

[Ron Clifton]

The British did not use metric measurements, though the French and Germans did. I think, therefore, that 150mm guns/shells were first referred to as 5.9s when the British came across them.

 

Ron

[Stoppage Drill]

But the Brits always referred to the French 75 and the German 77

[Ron Clifton]

When the French or Germans were using them, possibly, but when a small number of 75s were used in British service they were designated 2.95-inch.

 

Ron

[mebu]

Thanks all for the replies, most helpful. Typical British to mix inches and decimals (at school I was told you cannot mix fractions and decimals. Then they brought in the half new penny). 

 

Just wanted to know when, or at what stage, term 5.9 appeared.....any pre-war or early references?

 

Peter