TOPIC:

A request from MC Heunis in Bloemfontein: Can any ABW enthusiast in Rochester/Kent perhaps visit Upnor Castle and confirm the serial numbers of the 37mm QF guns there? The serial number shields on the carriage like the attached pics.
The gun is a lightweight 37mm Krupp single loading QF mountain gun.
The Transvaal imported its first 37mm single-loading QF gun from Hermann Gruson of Magdeburg-Bulckau in the early 1890's. In 1893 Gruson was bought out by Krupp, from whom the Transvaal in November 1895 ordered three more guns (numbered 1 to 3). As indicated this was a single loading mountain gun, which consisted of a 30 calibre long barrel equipped with a striking bolt vertical breechblock. The assembly was
mounted on a light carriage, sometimes equipped with a shield. Its lightweight enabled it to be towed by a single horse, or if necessary, hitched behind a wagon.
The Free State imported one gun of this calibre, but according to some sources it was a field gun version. Only one of the three Transvaal Krupp guns, found in Pretoria on 5 June 1900, was accounted for during the war, while the single Gruson gun was discovered at Piet Retief in February 1901. The Free State gun formed part of Gen. CR de Wet’s artillery and was captured at Bothaville on 6 Nov 1900.
Of the captured guns one was shipped to Tasmania, one to Canada and a third to Rochester in the UK. The
Canadian gun, numbered 41001, probably was the Gruson as surviving Gruson guns from WWI also have serial numbers in the 41000 range. None of the captured Boer guns could be traced abroad, but in South Africa one Transvaal Krupp (No. 3) remains.
The number shield is on the right of the carriage, its unclear to me where the serial number is to be found.
Thanks
Rob

Thanks Rob,

The gun number is found on the right-hand side and the carriage number on the left.

This example, gun No 2 / carriage No 12963, is now in storage in Tasmania.

SEE: 37 mm Krupp/Gruson QF guns




.Left side (carriage number)





.Right side (gun number)


..