3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer

[Gerry McGinty]

Thanks chaps for your answers: they seem to confirm that these guns saw some service in NW Europe.
Any further evidence would be most welcome.
Best regards
Gerry

[Derek Barton]

1 Mountain Rgt were in action with their 3.7's at Walcheren. At one point, the advance had been held up by a pillbox built into the wall of a reservoir which despite several direct hits continued in action. Capt Cohen of 452 Bty returned to the beach and collected D sub borrowing the Brigadiers Weasel to tow it. He took them to a house next to the Bty OP and the gun was broken down and carried to an upstairs room overlooking the pillbox.

Firing over open sights the gun fired 8 rounds into the target. The first round opened a large crack in the ceiling of the room they were in and by the 8th round the gun trails were nearly in the room below. They were just about to risk one more round when a white flag appeared at the pillbox and 14 very dazed Germans walked out.

The 3.7's were also in action at the Rhine crossing. 1 Mountain Rgt provided close support for 1 Commando Bde's attack on Wesel.

[bram risseeuw]

There is a photo known of a 3.7" howitzer of the 452e bty at Breskens (1 Nov.1944). As there were no cranes available they had to be dismantled to lift the parts by hand from a wooden jetty into the LCA's. After that they were landed on a beach near Vlissingen (Flushing).
There is also a photo known, taken 2 Nov.1944, of two of the 3.7" howitzers in action after their landing in Flushing.

Cheers,
Bram

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Aha, the 3.7 inch Mountain Howitzer. I had that big AA gun in mind until I read about manhandling it about.

Interesting stuff, never knew they were used to liberate the Netherlands. You learn something every day. Thanks!

H.

[Ed Storey]

I have this document in my collection.

[Story]

Hi guys,
Greetings from the big Sandy.
I'm attempting a restoration project and am searching for digital or paper copies of any of the following manuals for the QF 3.7" Mk 1 Mountain Howitzer:

Gun Drill:
26/Manuals/1391 QF 3.7-inch Mk 1 Howitzer on Mks 1 - 3R Carriage, 1934.
26/Manuals/1664 QF 3.7-inch Mk 1 Howitzer on Mk 4 Carriage (Provisional), 1936.
26/GS Pubs/432 QF 3.7-inch Mk 1 Howitzer on Mks 1 - 3R Carriage, 1941.
26/GS Pubs/432 QF 3.7-inch Mk 1 Howitzer on Mk 4P Carriage, 1941.
Handbook:
26/Manuals/469 QF 3.7-inch Howitzer Mk 1 on Mks 1, 2 & 3 Carriage, 1930.
26/Manuals/1738 QF 3.7-inch Howitzer Mk 1 on Carriage 3.7-inch Howitzer Mks 1, 2, 3 & 4P, 1939.
Maintenance Manual:
WO Code 1450 3.7-inch Howitzer, Ordnance QF Mks 1, 1/1, 1/2 and 3 on Carriage Mks 1/1, 2/1, 2P, 3/1 and Mks 2, 2/1 Indian, 1946.

Yes, the breechblock appears to be intact.
Thanks in advance for any pointers, all.
And thanks for greasing the skids on my approval, Geoff!

[Story]

Just floating this issue to the top, for anyone that missed it. The manuals would support a restoration project I'm working on, in-theater.

For that matter, can anyone recommend reference material on fixing spoked oak wheels?