One for the Gunners

[Matzos]

Can anyone give me any information on this equipment. Photographed at RAF Cosford 1980.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v312/matzos/Art.jpg

And before anyone asks ;) - information on the artillery piece and not the aircraft - thank you

[Bombardier]

This my friend is a 5.5 inch howitzer.
Im at work at the moment but will post more info when I get home, unless Droney is around to assist.(Y)

Great Picture.

[Drone_pilot]

glad to help.

The 5.5 became the principal Commonwealth medium artillery piece during World War 2. Artillery was then designated 'field' 'medium' or 'heavy'. The term 'field' included guns up to and including the 4.5-inch howitzer, while medium covered those from the 4.5-inch gun up to and including the 6-inch howitzer. Guns of 6-inch calibre or above were 'heavy'. During World War 1 the principal medium equipments were the BL 60-pr (5-inch) gun and the BL 6-inch 26-cwt howitzer. The former remained in service until 1941, the latter until 1945.

More info (http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/local/bl55in.htm)

in the background is a wombat 120mm recoilless anti tank gun.(infantry use)
and further away is the older mobat 120mm recoilless anti tank gun

[Matzos]

Thank you both for the information and the link DP.
I was at Cosford last week and did not see the 5.5. Well, it was over 20 years ago when I first saw it.