ANZAC 3.7in Mtn Gun

[TDR]

This howitzer has dates from Jan 30 to Dec 47.
What does this represent in terms of who is using it?
That is, is it representing purely Aust or New Zealand tps manning it or representing a weapon crewed by UK Arty tps in an in support role and hence a game convenience?

[Mobhack]

http://members.tripod.com/~nigelef/37inchowsheet.htm

The 3.7-inch How was designed before WW1 but did not enter service until about 1916, and was used in Palestine and East Africa with both British and Indian mountain batteries. Between the wars they were used on the NW Frontier of India and developed a reputation for accurate and consistent shooting. Designed as pack artillery they could be disassembled and carried by mules or towed by short draught (no limber). In the 1930s they were further adapted for vehicle towing, the Mk 2P carriage. During WW2 they had some use in European and African theatres and initially with airborne batteries, being generally but not entirely replaced by 75-mm M1. However, they were widely used in Burma, mainly by Indian mountain batteries but also by British field batteries and continued to serve on India's NW Frontier. A few were also used in Guadacanal by RNZA and New Guinea by RAA. Production was transferred to India and during WW2 798 carriages and 805 ordnances were manufactured there together with some 2.7 million HE rounds.

(found within 2 minutes using Google with "3.7 inch australian" as the search term)

Cheers
Andy

[TDR]

Mobhack said:
http://members.tripod.com/~nigelef/37inchowsheet.htm

(found within 2 minutes using Google with "3.7 inch australian" as the search term)

Cheers
Andy

Andy, Besides that, which does not cover numbers or users fully.

Ref "The Guns of the Regiment", Major General S.N. Gower, AWM, 1989, which points out that there were only ever 4 guns under Australian control and the were introduce in July 1942 and withdrawn in 43, (lost and abandoned due to lack of any ammunition). Used in New Guinea only.

So this comes back to my question of the dates for this weapon and operator.

If they were only used by RNZA and RAA in the Pacific the dates would be inaccurate in this OOB in view of this and your quote.

[Mobhack]

They used this thing at some time - so it is made available in the OOB.

Cheers
Andy

[TDR]

Mobhack said:
They used this thing at some time - so it is made available in the OOB.

Cheers
Andy

So dates like Jan 1930 to Dec 1947 cover this 'some time'.
It would seem more like 42 - 43 for the Pacific for either RNZA or RAA.
So far I have not found any reference to either army using this gun prior to the as already mentioned.

[DRG]

So in other words you want to change what you consider a guess on our part with a guess on your part becasue you cannot find info. Tell you what....you FIND info and I'll pay attention. Not finding info doesn't mean it wasn't used elsewhere or wasn't available before and after those events.

I didn't put it in the OOB but I'm not taking it out or altering the in service dates unless someone can come up with something concrete. The information file provided does say it is to be used in the Pacific or Asian theatres. Maybe it was only used in Guadacanal by RNZA and New Guinea by RAA.

Maybe not.

[TDR]

So getting back to my origian question then these are in general mainly New Zealand units.

[Mobhack]

Apart from when they are used by Australian troops.

(I am presuming that the O'Hare troop mentioned here are Australians)
Warren Force - Papua

Or at Buna:
Kokoda

mentioned in this site on RA methods (Assuming 'RAA' is the Australian Arty? - and RNZA is the Kiwis)
3.7 Howitzer

the main site here looks interesting for British Arty in general British Artillery in WW2

Cheers
Andy

[TDR]

With respect to the Australian use of this gun:

These 2 references refer to the same 4 guns.
"(I am presuming that the O'Hare troop mentioned here are Australians)
Warren Force - Papua

Or at Buna:
Kokoda"

From: "Guns of the regiment", Major General S.N. Gower, 1981.

Ordnance QF 3.7 in Mountain Howitzer Mark 1 on Carriage Mountain Howitzer Mark 1

Date of Introduction 1942
Date of Withdrawal 1943

Australians only had 4 of these guns.
3 guns were abandoned at Salamaua due to lack of ammunition. The forth was lost in transport back to Port Moresby.

The Australian guns only had the spoked/wooden carriage wheels. New Zealand guns had pneumatic wheels.

1 st Australian Mountain Battery equipped with this gun. Formed in July 1942.
Maj M.P. O'Hare was the commander of the 1 st Australian Mountain Battery. This battery had only these 4 x 3.7 inch mountain howitzers

Max range of 6217 meters with normal max charge of a No 4 and No 5 bag, (super charge).
Special "O'Hare’s Charge" of 2 x No5 bag max range of 6580 meters.

[Mobhack]

Special "O'Hare’s Charge" of 2 x No5 bag max range of 6580 meters.

I really would not like to be near the gun when that one was used !

Andy