Ordnance QF 3 inch howitzer
Encyclopedia
Ordnance QF 3 inch howitzer was a howitzer
fitted to British
tank
s of the Second World War so they could fire a HE shell in "close support" of infantry.
It was used to equip the British Infantry tank
s: Matilda II, Churchill tank
Mk I, and the cruiser tank
Crusader
(65 rounds).
Later in the war a larger 95 mm
howitzer was employed for the same purpose.
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
fitted to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s of the Second World War so they could fire a HE shell in "close support" of infantry.
It was used to equip the British Infantry tank
Infantry tank
The infantry tank was a concept developed by the British and French in the years leading up to World War II. Infantry tanks were tanks designed to support the infantry in the attack. To achieve this they were generally heavily armoured compared to the cruiser tanks, to allow them to operate in...
s: Matilda II, Churchill tank
Churchill tank
The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV was a heavy British infantry tank used in the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour, large longitudinal chassis with all-around tracks with multiple bogies, and its use as the basis of many specialist vehicles. It was one of the heaviest Allied tanks of the war...
Mk I, and the cruiser tank
Cruiser tank
The cruiser tank was a British tank concept of the inter-war period. This concept was the driving force behind several tank designs which saw action during the Second World War....
Crusader
Crusader tank
The Tank, Cruiser, Mk VI or A15 Crusader was one of the primary British cruiser tanks of the early part Second World War and perhaps the most important British tank of the North African Campaign...
(65 rounds).
Later in the war a larger 95 mm
Ordnance QF 95 mm Howitzer
The Ordnance QF 95-mm Howitzer was a British Howitzer built in two versions during the Second World War. The Tank Howitzer version was accepted for service use, but an Infantry Howitzer version was not accepted for service use.-Design and development:...
howitzer was employed for the same purpose.
Specification
- Calibre: 3 inch (76.2 mm)
- Length of barrel: 75 inches (25 calibres)
- Overall length: 78.2 inches
- Weight: 256 lb
- Muzzle velocity: 600-700 f/s
- Ammunition
- Cartridge: 76.2x134R
- Smoke: 13.4 lb
- HE: 13.9 lb
- Range 2,000-2,500 yards
External links
- http://www.wwiitanks.co.uk/tankdata/1940-Britain-Matilda-InfTankMkIIMatildaIIICS.html