Drag Ropes: How are they used??

[motto (RIP)]

The photos that Lionel posted on #16 are a good illustration of the reason for the development of the short 25 pdr. The ability to quickly get a gun to where it is needed in difficult terrain would be greatly enhanced by such a variant.
Plenty of rope used on that job.

David

[rob love]

The official answer is in the Gun Drill Manual. I have copied the relevant para below:
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394. Dragropes.--These may be used for a direct pull attached to the drag washers, or a double leverage may be obtained by the use of a wheel purchase.
In attaching dragropes to the drag washers, the back of the hook should be downward, for ease of attaching and because the hook cannot then catch in obstacles such as undergrowth or wire.
In making a wheel purchase, the rings at the ends of the dragrope chains are attached to the hooks on either side of the wheel, as low down as possible on the side away from the direction of the required pull. The dragrope is then laid upon the circumference of the tyre, and the pull must be in line with the wheel. In moving the gun uphill or across heavy ground by wheel purchase, it is often best to move one wheel at a time.
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Note that in the Queen's English, purchase means: noun: a hold or position on something for applying power advantageously, or the advantage gained by such application.
verb: haul in (a rope or cable) or haul up (an anchor) by means of a pulley, lever, etc.

As a sidenote, I ordered in a pair of the dragropes from Tim at Empire trading, and they were here within a week. Mint condition, although there is a variation in the size of the hook from the Canadian dragrope.

[Rob Beale]

Would someone please provide details of the length and rope diameter of the various drag ropes? Specifically the 25pdr, 6 pdr and 18 pdr. Also 15pdr.

I purchased a 25 pdr rope from Tim while at Corowa last month, so would like to compare with this one. We have a 6pdr in our local club and friends have a replica 18 pdr they pull with their horse team.

Has anyone got a copy of "Early British QF Artillery" to check please?
We have yet to get the 15pdr on wheels, but will need to equip it with drag ropes too.

regards
Rob

[rnixartillery]

I have an original spanner for and marked 15 pdr ,I also have some 12 pdr drag ropes which I believe were exactly the same drag rope used with the 15 pdr , all for sale !
Pm me your email address and I will send some pics.

Rob............rnixartillery

[rob love]

There are some dimensions on this other drag rope thread, but mostly for the 6 pdr and the 25 pdr: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=27265

Notable is the model number for one of the two available 25pr ropes as being no1mk1 model. This could indicate that the ropes were used on other pieces and may date back to earlier guns. The other rope model is no5mk1. The 6pr rope model is given as no2mk1.

[Mike Cecil]

Rob Beale,

Trewin's Early British QF Artillery page 386 states:

'Drag Ropes. There were two classes: heavy and light. Both classes had similar terminal fittings; at one end was a black painted iron hook, the other end was a leather lined eye-splice.These were of two classes, heavy and light. The heavy drag rope hook had a slot to take a tie attached to the shank. The drag rope was 3 inch white rope, thirty feet in length. It was issued to all siege guns and howitzers.

The light drag rope was a two inch white rope, fifteen feet in length. It was issued to BL 12 pdr and BL 15 pdr guns and BL 5 inch howitzers.'

The 1952 Australian 25pdr QF user handbook simply states 'Ropes, Drag, No.1 or No.5' in the tool/stores list, and on para 297 states 'these are 30 feet of white rope with two thimbles hook and chain'.

Regards

Mike

[Rob Beale]

25 pdr has the heavy drag ropes of 3" rope (=1" dia) x 30' long
6 pdr has the light drag ropes of 2" rope (5/8" dia) x 15' 6"long

Both ropes have steel thimbles in the spliced loops at both ends
with a drag link with a leather strap at one end for the drag washer on the axle,
and a ring with a pair of chains at other end for the wheel lugs on the pneumatic tyres.


18 pdr and 15 pdr and 12 pdr each have the light drag ropes 2" rope x 15 foot long.
These ropes have a leather lined loop at one end and a plain drag link at the other end. (Not sure if this end has a thimble or leather lining).


From other reading it seems early drag ropes often had wooden poles or rope nooses along the length to give the troops better purchase.
The longer ropes are thicker as they will carry a greater load with more people pulling on them.


Many thanks to Rob L, Rob N and Mike for your excellent prompt help.
I am not a gunner but an ex infanteer who is fascinated by the extent of the gear used to move the guns and to equip them. Serendipity rules!

Rob B