Strange Q.F. 25-Pdr Howitzer
 

This photograph was in the July-August 1967 edition of Sentinel Magazine and was taken at Valcartier. The strange Q.F. 25-Pdr Howitzer is what caught my eye.

Attachment 129600

I'd say it is not even a 25-pdr gun (let alone a strange one), is it?

Something with less recoil force?
 

Cylinder block/cradle look much too small to absorb the recoil of a 25-pdr.


Mike

Strange Howitzer
 

Perhaps then it is foreign or a mountain gun? I have been to Valcartier and don't recall seeing this gun on display anywhere on base.

A mockup for local Centennial Celebrations back in the day, perhaps?

David

The army generally doesn't have to make up guns Dave, there are always monuments around if you know who to ask.



The gun in the photo is puzzling. The flat face of the recoil mech looks familiar but I can't place where. The tires are odd, and the bolt pattern and rims almost look like 3/4 ton. I was leaning towards antitank as well, but the caliber sure looks large. Odd, too, that they would have the muzzle brake venting up and down. That would raise an awful cloud upon firing.



If you scale it using the guy standing behind the shield, the top of the shield will be about 3 feet off the ground. That is a very compact gun.


There were experimental guns out of CARDE back in the day. It is possible this is a long forgotten and poorly documented project gun, however that does not explain that pattern of tire. I would have expected non-directional for a Cdn made gun.

I agree with you, Rob, about the muzzle brake: makes no sense whatsoever to vent vertically - besides the increased dust signature from the downward blast, the vertical blast would be like sending up a 'here I am' smoke signal, even with smokeless propellant.

The small size of the buffer and recuperator seems to indicate it is hydro-pneumatic and spring, so possibly relatively low recoil power, like a howitzer.

Cannot find anything resembling it in my references. Maybe an experimental mountain or airborne howitzer? Very interested to learn what it actually is.

Mike