The 13 and 18 Pdr British Artillery Guns in WW1

Great War Field Artillery Pt 1. As a result of lessons learnt during the Boer War the British introduced three new guns to their artillery inventory. This programme is about two of those guns:
The 13 Pdr used by the RHA, and The 18 Pdr used the RFA.
Over 9500 of the guns were produced by the end of the war. In fact the 18 pdr was still in service in 1939 and the 13 Pdr is still in service with The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery as the ceremonial gun for the British Army. You can watch Pt 2 of this programme at; http://www.battlefieldhistory.tv

Category:

Education

Tags:

• 13 Pdr
• 18 Pdr
• WW1
• World War 1
• Royal Artillery
• RA
• RHA
• Royal Horse Artillery
• Royal Field Artillery
• RFA

[B29Bomber]

Very nice vid, WWI was a bloodbath.

[blacklegionairsoft1]

i love how we were just over 20 years until the second world war, and artillery carts still looked like the ones used in the American Civil War. a lot can happen in in 20 years!!!

[kcirdrab]

@dibw29 - 'You enjoyed the discussion, but you`re bored & my knowledge all comes from Google". Mmm, yeah ok bud.

There`s more to a gun than a firing mechanism, there`s weight of shot, i.e. "Firepower", & this old crate wasn`t up to assaulting the fieldworks put up by the Deutschers in '15-18. I said it visually "looked" like a Waterloo gun, not that it was a gun from that action.

I`ve made hit after hit on your position on this 1 but you`ve just stood there like Haig oblivious thruout - lol

[dibw29]

As an example look at the propellant systems and methods of achieving obturation and then do your own comparison - C19, WW1 and now. Anyway, I'm going to have to call it quits (which you'll no doubt interpret as "being owned" or taking "a way out" - your call, but I think you're better than that) as I have a job to do - in Field Artillery. I've quite enjoyed the discussion, even if we don't agree; at least the Great War isn't forgotten.

[dibw29]

Anyway, with ref to the 18 Pdr thing we're at another impasse; your reference back to Waterloo shows that we've got nowhere - you don't recognise the difference between WW1 breech loading guns with recoil systems and black-powder smooth bores, so what hope? An 18 Pdr (or 75 or FK96) has far more in common with modern field guns (which I have been working with for 15 years) than with C19 cannon. I think you're thrown by cosmetic issues like the "old" wheels without understanding the science.

[dibw29]

@kcirdrab The one thing we can agree on is that we don't agree. You can't say I'm "way off on the English thing" as I AM English (of Scottish descent, so Brit), and I know my own (and European) history a lot better than you do as you amply demonstrate. You're displaying some astonishing cultural arrogance to suggest otherwise - as well as a lack of knowledge beyond Google. "Parking it" is hardly my way out, but you've got to recognise a brick wall when you see one and I'm getting bored.

[kcirdrab]

@dibw29 - Bud you & I don`t check each other`s boxes at all do we.

Most of the Greeks weren`t in city states.

"England" - you`re way off on that 1 too but if "parking it" is your way out fair enough.

My point on the Boer issue is this gun came out of that experiences but wasn`t up to what England had coming at it thru Belgium & France in 1914

'Effective & robust' - yeah maybe at Waterloo not Loos - Somme - Arras.

Why`m I havin a go at the 18pdr? Because that`s what this film`s about : /

[dibw29]

ALL of the major combatants had a preponderance in Field Guns as they were cheaper and quicker to manufacture, and whilst the Germans had an initial advantage in "heavies" the BEF won the production War and overhauled them by 1918. Given that the 18 Pdr had a heavier shell than the French and German guns and was effective and robust (couple of mods to the basic design over 4 years of war), and that the Germans experienced similar tactical shortcomings to the Allies, why pick out the 18 PDR?!

[dibw29]

@kcirdrab This is going to take 2 replies. Greek City States are way off topic (although largely you're incorrect) so let's ignore. We will also have to park your misuse of "English" instead of British, Imperial (old) or Commonwealth (newer) as similarly O/T. The18 Pdr came into service in 1904 - 2 years after the end of the 2nd Boer War (but was designed out of that experience) so didn't chase any Boers, and remained the mainstay of the RFA throughout the Great War (in terms of numbers).

[kcirdrab]

@dibw29 - The Macedonians wern`t a city state, nor most of the Greeks. All those Anglo nations you mention (inc. USA) are extensions of English power, the foundation of their cultures.

The 18pdr might have been up to chasing Boers about the Veldt but due to its lack of weight it wasn`t up to what England`s divisions were tasked with in 1915-18 - assaulting Deutscher infantry division entrenched. Haig launched offensives heavily reliant on this gun, which looking at it clerely weren`t justified.

[dibw29]

@kcirdrab "Owned on it"?! Don't be so ignorant! Britain is made up of 4 different countries, not a conglomeration of City States - your Greek example is fallacious. The "rickety old thing" was only 10 years old in 1914 - the Light Gun I've used in Iraq and Afg is over 25; still does a pretty good job. And you haven't managed a "discussion" about 18 Pdrs yet, other than to say they look "spindly" and "rickety" - degree in ballistics for that one?! What IS your point?

[kcirdrab]

@dibw29 - England is the generic term for the Anglosphere in the same way the Athenians, Spartans, Macedonians, etc are called "Greeks". I`d drop that if I were you as you`ve been owned on it.

This gun`s a pretty rickety old thing as a tool for the positional warfare engagements of 1915/18 whichever way you try to cut it

4.5" H. & 60 pdrs guns better? yeah, so were 9.2"s, 12"s & 15", what`s that got to do with a discussion about 18 pdrs?

My Haig comment referred to the Somme in 1916.