Weapons Artillery - 18 lb field gun

[Dan Morton]

Wikipedia:

Ordnance QF 18 pounder​

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Type Field gun
Place of origin United Kingdom

Service history​

In service 1904–1945 (UK)
Used by British Empire
Russian Empire
Irish Free State
Finland
Estonia
Wars First World War[1]
Third Afghan War
Russian Civil War
Irish Civil War
Waziristan 1936-37
Continuation War
Second World War

Production history​

Designer Armstrong Whitworth
Vickers
Royal Arsenal
Designed 1901
Manufacturer
Armstrong Whitworth
Woolwich Arsenal
Royal Ordnance Factory
Vickers
Beardmore
Bethlehem Steel
Produced 1903–1940
Number built approx. 10,469
(Mk I & II)[2]

Specifications​

Weight 1.282 tonnes
2,825 lb (1,281 kg)
Barrel length 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)[3]
Width 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Crew 6[note 1]
Shell
18.5 lb (8.4 kg) projectile
23 lb (10 kg) total including case.
Armour piercing
Smoke
Gas
Star
Incendiary
Shrapnel shell
High explosive
Calibre 3.3in (83.8mm)
Recoil 41 in (1.0 m) (Mk I - II);
26 in (0.66 m) to 48 in (1.2 m) (Mk III - V)
Carriage pole trail (Mk I & II)
box trail (Mk III & IV)
split trail (Mk V)
Elevation -5° to +16°(Mk I & II)
+30°[4] (Mk III)
+37°(Mk IV & V)[5]
Traverse 4.5° left and right
(Mk I - IV)
25° left and right (Mk V)
Rate of fire 20 rpm (max);[6]
4 rpm (sustained)[7][note 2]
Muzzle velocity 1,615 ft/s (492 m/s)
(Mk I & II)[3]
1,615 ft/s (492 m/s)
(Mk IV)[8]
Effective firing range 6,525 yd (5,966 m)
Mk I & II
7,800 yd (7,100 m)
with trail dug in
9,300 yd (8,500 m)
(Mk III, IV & V)
11,100 yd (10,100 m)
(streamlined HE Shell Mk IC)
The Ordnance QF 18 pounder,[note 3] or simply 18-pounder Gun, was the standard British Empire field gun of the World War I era. It formed the backbone of the Royal Field Artillery during the war, and was produced in large numbers. It was used by British and Empire Forces in all the main theatres, and by British troops in Russia in 1919. Its calibre (84 mm) and shell weight were greater than those of the equivalent field guns in French (75 mm) and German (77 mm) service. It was generally horse drawn until mechanisation in the 1930s.
The first versions were introduced in 1904. Later versions remained in service with British forces until early 1942. During the interwar period, the 18-pounder formed the basis of early versions of the equally famous Ordnance QF 25 pounder, which would form the basis of the British artillery forces during and after World War II, in much the same fashion as the 18-pounder had during World War I.