Ordnance BLC 15 pounder
Encyclopedia
The Ordnance BLC 15 pounder gun (BLC stood for BL Converted) was a modernised version of the obsolete BL 15 pounder 7 cwt gun
, incorporating a recoil and recuperator mechanism above the barrel and modified quicker-opening breech. It was developed to provide Territorial Force
artillery brigades with a reasonably modern field gun without incurring the expense of equipping them with the modern 18 pounder
. It is the gun which writers usually mean by "15 pounder gun" in World War I
, but can be confused with the earlier Ordnance QF 15 pounder
which fired the same shell.
and recuperator above the barrel similar to the modern 13 pounder
design. Previously the barrels had been mounted directly on the carriage by trunnion
s. Now the barrel was suspended from a forged-steel inverted U-shaped cradle which had trunnions to attach it to the carriage. The trunnions, sight brackets and elevating gear attachment lugs were removed from the barrel. The radial T-vent hole on top was plugged, holes in the jacket passing through the trunnion centres were sealed with screwed steel plugs, and the holes in the hood for fitting tangent sights were plugged with white metal alloy.
The 3-motion breech was replaced by a single-motion interrupted screw
breech which had an axial T vent running through it into the chamber, designed to take a T friction tube.
The new firing mechanism involved a new "push" type T friction tube which was inserted into the axial breech vent
. The crosspiece of the T was positioned pointing upwards. A long layer's guard was added to the left side of the cradle projecting behind the breech. A spring-loaded firing handle was built into the layer's guard. When cocked by pulling back and then released, it sprang forward and struck a firing lever on the breech, which translated the forward motion to a downward motion and propelled a firing plunger into the T of the friction tube which in turn ignited the cordite
propellant charge.
The weapon was used by British Territorial Force
and New Army
, and Canadian, infantry divisions in all theatres of World War I
until replaced by the 18 pounder from 1916 onwards.
10th Battery of the Royal Canadian Field Artillery (RCFA), equipped with 4 guns, fought a notable action in the evening of 22 April 1915 north of St Julien to hold the left of the British line where the German infantry was breaking through following their gas attack on the first day of the Second Battle of Ypres
. Hence when skillfully utilised in the role it was intended for - against troops in the open - the gun was still effective despite being obsolete. Where infantry avoided being caught in the open the guns were of limited use due to their light shell.
After they became redundant, from late 1916 some were retained in fixed positions on the Western Front
as anti-tank guns, freeing up modern guns for their usual duties.
Number 1 15 Pounder Camel Battery RGA
(today's 21 (Air Assault) Battery) served with 6 guns with the Indian Expeditionary Force in the Aden
hinterland from 1915–1918 during the South Arabia campaign
, to defend the important port at Aden against any Turkish advance. In July 1915 actions were fought in initially losing and then regaining the British advanced post at Sheik Othman controlling the water supply to Aden. Sgt Curtis was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
for saving his gun in these actions (presumably the first, in which 2 guns were lost). The Camel Battery was present when the British captured Hatum in January 1918.
Ordnance BL 15 pounder
The Ordnance BL 15 pounder, otherwise known as the 15 pounder 7 cwt, was the British Army's field gun in the Second Boer War and some remained in limited use in minor theatres of World War I.-History:...
, incorporating a recoil and recuperator mechanism above the barrel and modified quicker-opening breech. It was developed to provide Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
artillery brigades with a reasonably modern field gun without incurring the expense of equipping them with the modern 18 pounder
Ordnance QF 18 pounder
The Ordnance QF 18 pounder, or simply 18-pounder Gun, was the standard British Army field gun of the World War I era. It formed the backbone of the Royal Field Artillery during the war, and was produced in large numbers. It was also used by British and Commonwealth Forces in all the main theatres,...
. It is the gun which writers usually mean by "15 pounder gun" in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, but can be confused with the earlier Ordnance QF 15 pounder
Ordnance QF 15 pounder
The Ordnance QF 15 pounder gun, commonly referred to as the Ehrhardt, was a modern German field gun purchased by Britain in 1900 as a stopgap measure to upgrade its field artillery to modern QF standards, while it developed its own alternative...
which fired the same shell.
History
Many modifications were made to the old 15 pounder barrels to adapt them to a new carriage with a recoil bufferRecoil buffer
A recoil buffer is a factory-installed or aftermarket component of firearms which serves to reduce the velocity and/or cushion the impact of recoilling parts of a firearm.-Design:...
and recuperator above the barrel similar to the modern 13 pounder
Ordnance QF 13 pounder
The Ordnance QF 13-pounder quick-firing field gun was the standard equipment of the British Royal Horse Artillery at the outbreak of World War I.-History:...
design. Previously the barrels had been mounted directly on the carriage by trunnion
Trunnion
A trunnion is a cylindrical protrusion used as a mounting and/or pivoting point. In a cannon, the trunnions are two projections cast just forward of the centre of mass of the cannon and fixed to a two-wheeled movable gun carriage...
s. Now the barrel was suspended from a forged-steel inverted U-shaped cradle which had trunnions to attach it to the carriage. The trunnions, sight brackets and elevating gear attachment lugs were removed from the barrel. The radial T-vent hole on top was plugged, holes in the jacket passing through the trunnion centres were sealed with screwed steel plugs, and the holes in the hood for fitting tangent sights were plugged with white metal alloy.
The 3-motion breech was replaced by a single-motion interrupted screw
Interrupted screw
An interrupted screw or interrupted thread is a mechanical device typically used in the breech of artillery guns. It was invented circa 1845....
breech which had an axial T vent running through it into the chamber, designed to take a T friction tube.
The new firing mechanism involved a new "push" type T friction tube which was inserted into the axial breech vent
Tubes and primers for ammunition
Tubes and primers are used to ignite the propellant in projectile weapons.In ancient times various devices were adopted to ignite the charge. Small guns were fired by priming powder poured down the touch hole and ignited by glowing embers or a red-hot iron rod. Later the priming powder was...
. The crosspiece of the T was positioned pointing upwards. A long layer's guard was added to the left side of the cradle projecting behind the breech. A spring-loaded firing handle was built into the layer's guard. When cocked by pulling back and then released, it sprang forward and struck a firing lever on the breech, which translated the forward motion to a downward motion and propelled a firing plunger into the T of the friction tube which in turn ignited the cordite
Cordite
Cordite is a family of smokeless propellants developed and produced in the United Kingdom from 1889 to replace gunpowder as a military propellant. Like gunpowder, cordite is classified as a low explosive because of its slow burning rates and consequently low brisance...
propellant charge.
Combat service
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
and New Army
Kitchener's Army
The New Army, often referred to as Kitchener's Army or, disparagingly, Kitchener's Mob, was an all-volunteer army formed in the United Kingdom following the outbreak of hostilities in the First World War...
, and Canadian, infantry divisions in all theatres of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
until replaced by the 18 pounder from 1916 onwards.
10th Battery of the Royal Canadian Field Artillery (RCFA), equipped with 4 guns, fought a notable action in the evening of 22 April 1915 north of St Julien to hold the left of the British line where the German infantry was breaking through following their gas attack on the first day of the Second Battle of Ypres
Second Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front in the First World War and the first time a former colonial force pushed back a major European power on European soil, which occurred in the battle of St...
. Hence when skillfully utilised in the role it was intended for - against troops in the open - the gun was still effective despite being obsolete. Where infantry avoided being caught in the open the guns were of limited use due to their light shell.
After they became redundant, from late 1916 some were retained in fixed positions on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
as anti-tank guns, freeing up modern guns for their usual duties.
Number 1 15 Pounder Camel Battery RGA
Royal Garrison Artillery
The Royal Garrison Artillery was an arm of the Royal Artillery that was originally tasked with manning the guns of the British Empire's forts and fortresses, including coastal artillery batteries, the heavy gun batteries attached to each infantry division, and the guns of the siege...
(today's 21 (Air Assault) Battery) served with 6 guns with the Indian Expeditionary Force in the Aden
Aden Protectorate
The Aden Protectorate was a British protectorate in southern Arabia which evolved in the hinterland of Aden following the acquisition of that port by Britain in 1839 as an anti-piracy station, and it continued until the 1960s. For administrative purposes it was divided into the Western...
hinterland from 1915–1918 during the South Arabia campaign
South Arabia during World War I
The campaign in South Arabia during World War I was a minor struggle for control of the port city of Aden, an important way station for ships on their way from Asia to the Suez Canal. The British Empire declared war on the Ottoman Empire on 5 November 1914, and the Ottomans responded with their own...
, to defend the important port at Aden against any Turkish advance. In July 1915 actions were fought in initially losing and then regaining the British advanced post at Sheik Othman controlling the water supply to Aden. Sgt Curtis was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal
The Distinguished Conduct Medal was an extremely high level award for bravery. It was a second level military decoration awarded to other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to non-commissioned personnel of other Commonwealth countries.The medal was instituted in 1854, during the Crimean...
for saving his gun in these actions (presumably the first, in which 2 guns were lost). The Camel Battery was present when the British captured Hatum in January 1918.
Ammunition
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Cordite Cordite is a family of smokeless propellants developed and produced in the United Kingdom from 1889 to replace gunpowder as a military propellant. Like gunpowder, cordite is classified as a low explosive because of its slow burning rates and consequently low brisance... cartridge 15¾ oz, 1907 |
See also
- 7.7 cm FK 96 n.A.7.7 cm FK 96 n.A.The 7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 neuer Art was a field gun used by Germany in World War I.-Description:The gun combined a barrel of the earlier 7.7 cm FK 96 with a recoil system, a new breech and a new carriage. Existing FK 96s were upgraded over time. The FK 96 n.A...
: German equivalent - 3-inch M1902 field gun : US equivalent
- List of field guns