| Is Artillery: | yes |
| Is Uk: | yes |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| BL 6 inch 26 cwt Howitzer | |
| Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Used By: | United Kingdom Canada Union of South Africa Australia New Zealand Italy Netherlands Belgium Greece Russian Empire Portugal Estonian Republic |
| Wars: | World War I World War II |
| Type: | Medium howitzer |
| Service: | 1916 to 1945 |
| Designer: | Vickers |
| Design Date: | 1915 |
| Manufacturer: | Vickers, Beardmore, Coventry Ordnance Works, Woolwich Ordnance Factory, Midvale Steel Company |
| Production Date: | 1915 - ? |
| Caliber: | 6inches |
| Part Length: | Bore: 6feet Total: 7feet L/13.3 |
| Carriage: | Box trail |
| Width: | 6feet |
| Breech: | Welin screw |
| Elevation: | 0° to +45° |
| Traverse: | 4° L & R |
| Sights: | Calibrating (1930s) & reciprocating |
| Rate: | Max: 2 rpm |
| Velocity: | Max: 1400ft/s |
| Cartridge: | Gas Incendiary High explosive |
| Cartridge Weight: | WWI: 100lb WWII: 86lb |
| Max Range: | WWI 100lb shell : 9500yd WWII 86lb shell : 11400yd[1] |
| Recoil: | Hydro-pneumatic, variable |
| Weight: | Barrel: 2856lb Total: 8142lb |
| Length: | 21inchesft7inchesin (ftin) |
| Crew: | 10 |
| Number: | 3,633 |
The Ordnance BL 6 inch 26cwt howitzer was a British howitzer used during World War I and World War II. The qualifier "26cwt" refers to the weight of the barrel and breech together which weighed 26long cwt.
It was developed to replace the obsolescent 6 inch 25 cwt and 6 inch 30 cwt howitzers which were outclassed by German artillery such as the 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 13. Design began in January 1915, the first proof-firing occurred on 30 July 1915 and it entered service in late 1915.[2] Its combination of firepower, range and mobility (for its day) made it one of the British Empire's most important weapons in World War I.
It was originally towed by horses but from 1916 onwards was commonly towed by the FWD 4 wheel drive 3 ton lorry as heavy field artillery. The wooden spoked wheels could be fitted with "girdles" for work in mud or sand to prevent them sinking. Towards the end of the war solid rubber tyres were fitted over the iron tyres on the wheel rims, giving the rims a heavier appearance. It fired 22.4 million rounds on the Western Front.[3]
During the interwar period the carriage had its wooden spoked wheels replaced with modern steel wheels and pneumatic tyres. During World War II, its use was restricted after 1942 when the replacement BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun came into use but it was reintroduced in Burma due to a number of premature detonations in 5.5inches guns. It was declared obsolete with the end of the war in 1945.
Captured examples received the designation FH-412(e) in German use.
These guns are being restored by the Gunner's Association of South Africa
Projectiles used in World War I weighed 100lb. A lighter 86lb long-range projectile was introduced in November 1918, too late to see service in the war [3]