View Single Post
  #7  
Old March 12th, 2017, 01:36 PM
cbo's Avatar

cbo cbo is offline
Sergeant
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 300
Thanks: 1
Thanked 31 Times in 23 Posts
cbo is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Firing a German Pak-40 75mm Anti Tank Gun

This shield might give some protection....





The 88mm Gun Equipment X5E1 (the "Garrington Gun"): an experimental gun developed to replace the British 25 pounder of WW2 fame. This prototype was produced by Garringtons Ltd (part of the GKN group) was one of the most innovative of its time. A new gun was needed to fire shells made of higher grade steel and containing more explosive than the 25 pounder. The guns carriage had an upswept trail with a large overhead shield to protect the gun crew from shell splinters and the flash effects of nuclear explosions. To compensate for the weight, hydraulics were used for traversing the gun in action. For fine traversing the trail end was slid hydraulically from side to side across a rear plate. For larger switches, the whole gun was tilted forward, lifting the trail end and allowing the gun to be rotated on its platform.

Unfortunately firing trials at the Royal School of Artillery in 1958 revealed serious flaws in the design. The guns sights and elevating arrangements were defective and its excessive weight made it almost impossible to manhandle. Propellant fumes built up under the protective dome like shield so only thirty minutes of continuous firing were possible. Later in 1958, NATO adopted 105mm as the standard calibre for close support weapons and the project was cancelled.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to cbo For This Useful Post: