5.5-inch gun data sheet

BRITISH ARTILLERY IN WORLD WAR 2

Updated 14 June 2014

Conversion factors to metric measurement

B.L. 5.5-inch Gun Mk 3 on Carriage 5.5-inch Mks 1 - 2

The 5.5-inch Gun was one of the two British medium guns of World War 2, which both used the same carriage (the other was the 4.5-inch Gun). It first entered service in 1942 replacing 6-inch Howitzers in medium regiments. It had limited service in Indian regiments and equipped a South African and three Canadian regiments in Europe. It was popular and recognised as an effective gun, however, there was a problem with bore prematures, particularly in Burma and in late 1944 some 5.5-inch were temporarily replaced by old 6-inch howitzers in that theatre. Initially it had a 100 lb shell but later in the war an 80 lb shell was introduced and this eventually replaced the 100 lb. It left British service in the mid-1970s, UK last used them operationally in Borneo and Radfan in the mid-1960s and the last round was fired in UK was in 1995. Its last operational use seems to have been with the South African Defence Force in Angola in the 1980s. In European countries it was referred to as the 140-mm (or 14-cm) gun.

Calibre	5.5 inches	Ordnance length Bore length	171.6 inches 29.8 calibres	Rifling	36 grooves, 1 in 20 uniform twist	Chamber capacity	650 cubic inches
Barrel	Autofrettaged loose liner	Breech	Welin screw & Asbury mech	Recuperator	Hydro-pneumatic	Sights	Calibrating & reciprocating
Carriage configuration	Split trail	Max elevation	- 5� to 45� & 70� Note 1	Top traverse	30� Left & Right	Loading Angle
Basic Weight	5.3 tons	Length (muzzle to towing eye)	24.7 feet	Trunnion height	4.4 feet	Width at wheel hubs	8.3 feet

Standard HE Shell (Mk 1D)

Length (less fuze)

25.9 inches

Calibre radius head

6/12

Body Diameter

5.485 inches

Driving Band Diameter

5.75 inches

Weight (incl fuze)

100 lbs

Explosive Weight

10.5 lbs

Charge	New Gun MV	RT MV	RT Max Range	Time of Flight @ Max Range	Probable Error @ Max Range	Approx Propellant Weight
1	901 f/s	875 f/s	6,800 yds	33 secs	45 yds	2.8 lbs	Cartridge 1
2	1175 f/s	1150 f/s	10,700 yds	46 secs	45 yds	4.3 lbs	Cartridge 1
3	1425 f/s	1375 f/s	12,900 yds	49 secs	70 yds	7 lbs	Cartridge 2
4	1721 f/s	1675 f/s	16,200 yds	56 secs	80 yds	9.8 lbs	Cartridge 2
80 lb HE Shell (Mk 3D)

Length

inches

Calibre radius head

8/16

Body Diameter

5.485 inches

Driving Band Diameter

5.75 inches

Weight (incl fuze)

82 lbs

Explosive Weight

12 lbs

1	974 f/s	950 f/s	7,600 yds	35 secs	55 yds	2.8 lbs	Cartridge 1
2	1283 f/s	1250 f/s	11,100 yds	43 secs	30 yds	4.3 lbs	Cartridge 1
3	1549 f/s	1525 f/s	13,800 yds	53 secs	50 yds	7 lbs	Cartridge 2
4	1887 f/s	1825 f/s	16,800 yds	59 secs	55 yds	9.8 lbs	Cartridge 2
Super	2030 f/s	1950 f/s	18,100 yds	61 secs	85 yds	12 lbs

Rates of fire	Gunfire	Intense	Rapid	Normal	Slow	Very slow
Rounds/Minute	2 to 3	2	1�	1	²/3	¹/3

Normal Detachment

10 men

Gun Tractor

Medium Artillery Tractor 4 � 4 (Matador)

Artillery trailer

None

1st Line Ammo (per gun)

100 HE

VARIANTS

There were no significant variants, different marks of ordnance were minor internal modifications. The carriage marks reflected increasing using of welded instead of riveted assemblies. During the course of the war PL Locks and AC Slide Boxes were replaced by PK Locks and Y Slide Boxes, this modification normally occurred at the same time as modifying the axial vent for a 0.303-inch tube instead of a 0.5-inch one. Later production ordnance were fitted with these new components.

No SP versions ever entered service although an SP was the highest priority equipment at the end on WW2. After WW2 there was an open SP built on the Crusader gun tractor, some design work on FV 305, a 5.5-inch SP using the proposed FV 300 series carriage, it was cancelled in 1948. However, in 1950 a new SP design started, FV 3805, based on a Centurion tank chassis. A prototype was built, it had a fully enclosed fighting compartment and a barbette mounted gun. It was cancelled in about 1958.

Notes:
1. A dial sight adaptor and digging either a trail pit or wheel mounds enabled upper register fire to a maximum elevation of about 70�.

Picture List

5.5-inch Gun Mk 3 on Carriage 5.5-inch Mk 2 - a studio picture, has PK lock

Gun Detachment duties in action:

No 1	Detachment Commander	No 2	Operate breech, load lock, fire gun
No 3	Layer	No 4	Load and ram
No 5	Load and ram	No 6	Prepare cartridges
No 7	Prepare shells	No 8	Prepare shells
No 9	Prepare shells	No 10	Coverer, supervise ammunition

Equipment Publications:
Range Tables Part 1:
26/Manuals/2625    HE, Mk 1D, 100 lbs 6/12 CRH,1940.
26/Manuals/3125    Chemical, BE, Mk 1D to 4B (5 projectiles wts 90 - 98 lbs), 1943.
(WO Code 1440)
26/Manuals/3271    HE, Mk 1D, 100 lbs 6/12 CRH, 1943.
(WO Code 1439)
26/Manuals/3342    HE, "80-lb", Mk 1D, Charge Super, 1944.
26/Manuals/3446    HE, "80-lb", Mk 1D, 1944.
26/Manuals/3498    Coloured Smoke, Coloured Flare, "100-lb", 1945.
(WO Code 1441)
26/Manuals/3521    HE, "80-lb", Mk 2D & 3D, Upper Register, 1945.
(WO Code 1443)
26/Manuals/3684    HE, "80-lb", Mks 1D & 2D, 1948.
(WO Code 5275)
WO Code 14544    HE, 1966.

Gun Drill:
26/Manuals/1373   BL 4.5-inch Mk 2 Gun, 5.5-inch Mk 3 Gun on Carriage 5.5-inch & 4.5-inch Mks 1 & 2, 1945
(WO Code 7348)
WO Code 8902      BL 4.5-inch Mk 2 Gun, 5.5-inch Mks 3 & 4 Gun on Carriage 5.5-inch & 4.5-inch Mks 1 & 2, 1955
WO Code 9090      BL 4.5-inch Mk 2 Gun, 5.5-inch Mks 3 & 4 Gun on Carriage 5.5-inch & 4.5-inch Mks 1 & 2,
WO Code 71098    Gun Equipment 5.5-inch Gun, 1976

Handbook:
                            Ordnance, BL, 5.5-inch, Mk 3 on Carriage, 5.5-in Mk 1, (Provisional), 1941.
WO Code 897       Ordnance, BL, 5.5-in Mks 3 on Carriage 5.5-inch & 4.5-inch Mks 1 & 2, 1944
WO Code 11077   Ordnance, BL, 5.5-in Mks 3 & 4 on Carriage 5.5-inch & 4.5-inch Mks 1/1 & 2/1, 1956.

Maintenance Manuals:
26/Manuals/3230 Ordnance BL 5.5-inch Mk 3 Gun on Carriage 5.5-inch & 4.5-inch Mks 1 & 2, 1943

Identification List:
26/Manuals/2961     Ordnance BL 5.5-inch Mk 3 & 4.5-inch Mk 2 on Carriage 5.5-inch & 4.5-inch Mk 1, 1944
                             Ordnance BL 5.5-inch Mk 3 & 4.5-inch Mk 2 on Carriage 5.5-inch & 4.5-inch Mk 2, 1945
26/Pubs/9582         Comprehensive list of component parts (illustrated) for Ordnance 5.5-inch Mks 3 or 4 on Carriage 5.5-inch or (WO Code 13351)    4.5-inch Gun Mk 1/1 & 2/1 and Accessories, 1961

Directory

Top