| Ordnance QF 13-pounder | |
|---|---|
 Battery and detachments of theHonourable Artillery Company (HAC) nearBelah, Palestine, March 1918 | |
| Type | Light field gun |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1904–1940 (UK) |
| Used by | British Empire |
| Wars | World War I,Easter Rising,World War II |
| Production history | |
| No. built | 416[1] |
| Variants | Mk I, Mk II |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Barrel & breech 685 lb (311 kg); Total 2,236 lb (1,014 kg)[2] |
| Barrel length | Bore 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m); Total 6 ft (1.8 m)[2] |
| Crew | 9[2] |
| Shell | Fixed QF 76.2 x 313 mm R[3] |
| Shell weight | 12.5 lb (5.7 kg)Shrapnel, laterHE |
| Calibre | 3-inch (76.2 mm) L/23 |
| Recoil | Hydro-spring, constant, 41 in (1.0 m)[2] |
| Carriage | Wheeled,pole trail |
| Elevation | -5°to +16°[2] |
| Traverse | 4° L & R[2] |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,675 ft/s (511 m/s)[2] |
| Maximum firing range | 5,900 yd (5,400 m)[1] |
The OrdnanceQF 13-pounder[a] (quick-firing) field gun was the standard equipment of the British and CanadianRoyal Horse Artillery at the outbreak ofWorld War I.
The QF 13-pounder was developed as a response to combat experience gained in theBoer War and entered service in 1904, replacing the EhrhardQF 15-pounder andBL 12-pounder 6 cwt. It was intended as a rapid-firing and highly-mobile, yet reasonably powerful, field gun forRoyal Horse Artillery (RHA) batteries supporting Cavalry brigades, and was expected to be engaged in mobile open warfare. It was developed in parallel with theQF 18-pounder used byRoyal Field Artillery.
The original Mk I barrel waswire wound.[2] Later Mk II barrels had a tapered inner A tube[1] which was pressed into the outer tube. Ahydro-spring recoil system was mounted above the barrel. The carriage was a pole trail type with two seats for the gunners and a protective shield.[4]
The first British artillery round on the Western Front in World War I was fired by No. 4 gun ofE Battery Royal Horse Artillery on 22 August 1914, northeast ofHarmignies in Belgium.[5]
It saw action at theBattle of Le Cateau in August 1914 as theBritish Expeditionary Force retreated fromMons.
It was used by"L" Bty, Royal Horse Artillery in thedefensive action at Néry, France, on 1 September 1914, for which threeVictoria Crosses were awarded. The medals,[6] and No. 6 gun and limber involved in this action,[7][8] are held in the collection of theImperial War Museum.
From late 1914, when theWestern Front settled intotrench warfare, the 13-pounder was found to be too light to be truly effective against prepared defensive positions. As a result, a few RHA batteries that were not supporting cavalry formations converted to 18-pounder guns and4.5-inch howitzers. However, it was retained in the British and Canadian cavalry brigades on the Western Front.[9] and also used throughout the war in batteries (both RHA andTerritorial Force) supporting cavalry and mounted formations in Palestine andMesopotamia.[10]
Batteries normally carried 176 rounds per gun. The gun and its filled limber (24 rounds) weighed 3,368 lb (1,528 kg) and was towed by a six-horse team. All members of the gun detachments were mounted on their own horses.
As the war progressed the increasing air activity created a requirement for a medium anti-aircraft gun. Some 13-pounders were slightly modified to become "Ordnance QF 13 pdr Mk III" and mounted on high-angle mounts to produce what became known as the13-pounder 6 cwt anti-aircraft gun.
In 1940, some 13-pounders were brought out of store for use as emergency anti-tank guns, mounted inpill boxes,[11] for thehome defence of Britain against possible German invasion.
For combat purposes the gun is obsolete, but remains in service with theKing's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery for ceremonial purposes and as state saluting guns.[1]
This was a pedestal-mounted adaptation byVickers Limited of the Mark I horse artillery gun, intended to arm theRoyal Navy's newMotor Launches in World War I. 650 examples were constructed, including 250 made in the United States.[12] Because of the GermanU-boat campaign, many of the guns were used ondefensively equipped merchant ships, some being removed from motor launches for that purpose.[13]
 |  |  | .jpg) |
| Mk IIShrapnelround | No. 80T. & P. (Time and Percussion) Fuze | Shrapnel shell on display at theAustralian War Memorial, Canberra 234 balls, 41/lb (90/kg)[2] | Sectionedhigh explosive round, which contained 9oz 4dr (262 gm)Amatol explosive (white area). Cartridge held 1 lb 3.9 oz (536 gm)Cordite propellant (simulated with bundle of cut string).[2] Shell from theImperial War Museum collection.[14] |
A QF 13-pounder features in theBig Guns (Dad's Army), where it is supplied to the Walmington-on-Sea platoon for home defence.
