Naval Artillery on the Western Front

[Fattyowls]

I've been trying to find some information about the French naval officer and later Admiral of the Fleet Francois Darlan and his experiences as a gunner on land at Verdun. He commanded a battery of naval guns which engaged the massive German gamma guns and seem to have used flash spotting and possibly sound ranging techniques, although I've yet to find any details in English.

 

It set me to thinking if the Royal Navy provided any guns and gunners for the BEF on the Western Front, I couldn't think of any examples but I'm sure I've seen pictures of railway mounted long guns and I wondered who had manned them. Any steer or expertise will be greatly appreciated.

 

Pete.

[ianjonesncl]

Pete

 

Some information on Royal Navy guns in Nieuport which may be of interest.#

 

Ian

 

 

[barkalotloudly]

"Naval guns in Flanders Fields " a book you might wish to look at 

[Fattyowls]

Thank you gentlemen, I had a feeling that I'd missed something.

 

Pete.

[Keith_history_buff]

There's the Royal Naval Siege Guns that were commanded by Henry Crosby Halahan, situated near the coast. From an accounting and legal perspective I believe they appear as HMS Attentive II within the Dover Patrol.

Away from the coast, the Royal Marine Artillery were manning what could be loosely described as "siege artillery", in keeping with the roots of the RMA in 1805, albeit on shore rather than aboard a gun ketch.

[Keith_history_buff]

 

[Fattyowls]

Thanks Keith, that's really interesting. A picture is starting to emerge.....

 

Pete.

[Keith_history_buff]

That I am aware the Royal Naval Division's artillery component were gunners from the components of the Royal Artillery. I think they went to Gallipoli with no artillery whatsoever, but I may be mistaken.

[horatio2]

15 minutes ago, Keith_history_buff said:

I think they went to Gallipoli with no artillery whatsoever, but I may be mistaken.

Correct. The RND did not have divisional artillery until they joined the BEF (2nd Northumbrian RFA – 223rd, 315th and 317th Field Artillery Brigades) .

[michaeldr]

1 hour ago, Keith_history_buff said:

 

 

Blumberg's history of the RM includes a very good chapter on these guns -

see https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89100004282&view=1up&seq=343&size=125

[sheldrake]

1 hour ago, Keith_history_buff said:

 

There are some politics behind this. The Ordnance BL 15-inch howitzer was developed by the Coventry Ordnance Works late in 1914 in response to the success of its design of the 9.2-inch siege howitzer. Unfortunately, this scaled up howitzer did not perform well in trials and was rejected by the Army. One reason was that the round was unstable and tended to tumble - hence the large number of 15" blinds reported on the Somme.  Churchill in charge of the Admiralty stepped in and took the howitzers for the Royal Marine Artillery.  

[michaeldr]

6 hours ago, sheldrake said:

Churchill in charge of the Admiralty stepped in and took the howitzers for the Royal Marine Artillery.  

 

Reading Martin Gilbert's 'Winston S. Churchill, vol.III, 1914-1916' and that volume's 'Companions' it seems that French was really desperate for any heavy guns which he could get his hands on, 'by hook, or by crook'.

 

Writing to the First Lord of the Admiralty from his GHQ on 23^rd January 1915, Sir John French said [amongst much else]:-

“This force will be supported by (I hope) four or five 9.2” Howitzers and as many of the 15” guns as you will let me have by that time [mid-March 1915]. ….............

Just as I am sending this letter I hear that the arrival of the 9.2'' Howitzers is to be delayed for three or four weeks. I really think this is too bad. We must have power to keep down the enemy's long range artillery fire, and at present we have only got one 9.2'' Howitzer and the eight 6'' guns.

May I appeal to you and Bacon to come to the rescue and send us one or two of the 15'' guns which you are preparing? You see in all my troubles I fall back upon you.........”

 

Edited 13 November , 2020 by michaeldr