The shell fired by this gun was 3.3-inch calibre (84mm); the shell weighed 18.5-lb (8.4kg). It had a maximum range of 6,525 yards (5.96km), with this distance being covered in a little over 12 seconds. The gun could elevate to 16 degrees above horizontal, which meant that its shell had a fairly flat trajectory. This design proved to be an excellent gun, and was the main field artillery weapon employed by the British Army, and the mainstay of Divisional artillery. A Mark II design came into service in 1916, with an improved recuperator (the devices by which the gun is returned to the firing position after the rapid recoil produced when firing a shell) - the mechanical part of the gun that suffered most in conditions of prolonged firing. A Mark IV (III was not used) came into service later on, which had a faster loading mechanism, and allowed elevation to 30 degrees. With a good crew and conditions, this gun could fire at an incredible 30 rounds a minute, over an extended range of 9,300 yards (8.5km). The gun weighed 2,821 pounds (1.282 tonnes)             

60 POUNDER (13lb) GUN

Introduced in 1904 as one of the spate of new specifications issued following the experience of the Boer War, by 1914 it was the mainstay of the heavy weaponry of the BEF (at this time under Divisional command). The shell fired by this gun was 5-inch calibre (127mm); the shell weighed 60-lb (27.3kg). It had a maximum range of 10,300 yards (9.4km), with this distance being covered in a little under 15 seconds. Weighing 9,856-lb (4.4 tonnes), the gun was hauled by horses, until modifications made to facilitate faster manufacture added another ton. This was beyond horse capacity, so different wheels were added and the 60-pounder otherwise modified to be pulled by a Holt's caterpillar steam tractor. Late in 1915, another modification was made to the way the gun was stowed for a journey, a design which proved better and the Mk III gun carriage replaced the Mk II on all units. Other modifications extended range to 12,300 yards (11.2km).
 

A re-bored and shortened version of old 6" naval and army guns. An expedient to provide heavy weapons before the 4.5" and 9.2" were available in large numbers. The best versions has a range of 12,300 yards (11.24km), and fired a 200-lb (90.8kg) shell

3.7 INCH HOWITZER

The 3.7 inch Howitzer (officially known as Ordnance, Q.F. 3.7-inch How Mk 3 on Carriage Mk 2P) was originally designed before World War One, to replace the earlier 2.75 inch (70mm) Howitzer in use at the time. However, it only entered service until in 1917 and was used in Palestine and East Africa by British and Indian Mountain batteries. Between the wars they were used on the NW Frontier of India and developed a reputation for good accuracy. It was originally designed for use as pack artillery, with the barrel being of a two-piece 'screw-jack' assembly held together by a junction nut in the middle. This meant it could be disassembled and carried by mules (in 8 loads) or towed by short draught (no limber), but in line with the general mechanisation of the British Army, in the 1930s, it was adapted for vehicle towing, using the Mk 2P carriage.

It was used by 3rd RHA from the end of the 1930's equipping them until mid 1940 and during the rest of the war it also saw limited use in European theatres, being generally replaced by 75-mm M1 in some units, but seeing wider service in Italy. However, it was much more widely used in Burma, mainly by Indian mountain batteries and but also by some British Field batteries.