4.5" howitzer questions

[George Moore]

The enclosed drawing is from the book on British Quick Firing artillery by Len Trawin. It has some excellent illustrations and cut away for the 4.5.
Also included is a section on the types of wheels.
The 18pdr and 4.5 used the same wheels, as did the limbers.
The official designation was 2nd class 'C' No 45.

You can see the spokes are offset to the next one around.

Yes, both the 18 pdr and 4.5 were quite important, the 4.5 fired over 25 million shells....the 18 pdr 99.3 million.

George.

cc403262018.jpg

[Barry J. Cox]

George: Thanks for the pictures. While the easy way would be with existing hubs, it is clear one could make them. We'll see.

Looked at the units again yesterday and the 4.5 has the conversion marked "18 pdr" as shown in your earlier picture. Interesting.

Also noted that the limbers especially have a number to leather pouches still attached, which might be of interest to some, assuming most would not have survived.

Will get pictures posted asap.

Thanks again.

Barry

[George Moore]

Interesting find, especially the leather parts. I have stowage lists and drawings of what was carried.

The info I have states 3 types of limber.
Two were identical except the items carried:
1A Limber with gun, ammunition and tools
1B Limber no gun, all ammunition

A third was longer, basically twice the capacity of the standard limber, again, all ammunition. It has a different "towing pole" that is shorter and not used hitched to horses, but connects to the towing hook on the rear of the limber.

All types were seen again in WW2, all fitted with rubber tyred wheels.

I do have fairly detailed drawings with dimensions and layout for them all, if interested.

George.