This page contains information on:
- 15 pounder RFA gun
- 12 pounder RHA gun
- 5 inch howitzer
- 5 inch gun
- Summary of guns used
- Naval guns
15 pounder
The name comes from the shells which weighted nearly 15 pounds. This was the standard field artillery gun. Some 350 were used during the Boer War. The only shell used was shrapnel.
|
Calibre |
3 inches (7.6 cm) |
|
Weight of gun |
7 cwt (355.6 kg) |
|
Weight of gun carriage packed |
20 cwt 2 qtr 27 lb (1,050 kg) |
|
Weight behind gun team |
37 cwt 2 qtr 17 lb (1,909 kg) |
|
Ammunition |
Shrapnel |
|
Weight of shell |
14lb 1oz (6.4 kg) |
|
Range |
Time fuze 4,100 yards (3,750 m) |
|
|
Percussion 5,600 yards (5,120 m) |
12 pounder
The shells of this gun weighed around 12 pounds. The gun weighed 6 cwt. The gun was loaded from the breech. The only shell used was shrapnel.
|
Calibre |
3 inches (7.62 cm) |
|
Weight of gun |
6 cwt (304.8 kg) |
|
Weight of gun carriage packed |
17 cwt 3 qtr 20lb (911 kg) |
|
Weight behind gun team |
32 cwt 3 qtr 20 lb (1,673 kg) |
|
Ammunition |
Shrapnel |
|
Weight of shell |
12 lb 8 oz (5,67 kg) |
|
Range |
Time fuze 3,700 yards (3,380 m) |
|
|
Percussion 5,400 yards (4,940 m) |
5 inch howitzer
The howitzer fired a heavier shell than the 12 or 15 pounder but the steeper trajectory resulted in a shorter range. Batteries of howitzers were introduced in 1896 in an attempt to support the shrapnel fired by the 15 pounder. Common shell was used.
It was felt that the howitzer was an inadequate weapon during the Boer War. The gun was too heavy, the shell too light and range too short.
|
Calibre |
5 inches (12.7 cm) |
|
Weight of gun |
9 cwt (457 kg) |
|
Weight behind gun team |
48 cwt 1 qtr 26 lb (2,463 kg) |
|
Ammunition |
Common shell |
|
Weight of shell |
50 lb (22.7 kg) |
|
Range |
4,900 yards (4,480 m) |
5 inch gun
This gun was the answer to Boer Long Tom but, although it was not a direct competitor because the Long Tom shell weighted twice as much, it was a match for range. The gun could fire shrapnel and common shell.
|
Calibre |
5 inches (12.7 cm) |
|
Weight of gun |
40 cwt (2,030 kg) |
|
Weight of gun carriage packed |
74 cwt (3,760 kg) |
|
Ammunition |
Common and shrapnel shell |
|
Weight of shell |
50 lb (22.7 kg) |
|
Range |
Time fuze 5,400 yards (4,940 m) |
|
|
Percussion 10,500 yards (9,600 m) |
Summary of the guns used
|
Type of gun |
Number in |
Number sent |
Rounds |
|
|
|
|
|
|
37 mm Vickers-Maxim (Pom-pom) |
- |
50 |
193,837 |
|
3 pr Hotchkiss QF |
7 |
- |
Unknown |
|
2.5 inch RML (Screw guns) |
24 |
7 |
3 875 |
|
7 pr RML gun |
28 |
- |
Unknown |
|
9 pr RML gun |
10 |
- |
137 |
|
76 mm Hotchkiss |
- |
1 |
Unknown |
|
12 pr RBL |
3 |
- |
Unknown |
|
12 pr 6cwt BL |
- |
78 |
36,161 |
|
12 pr 12 cwt QF |
- |
18 |
6,143 |
|
121/2 pr QF |
- |
4 |
1,495 |
|
15 pr 7 cwt BL |
27 |
322 |
166,548 |
|
4.7 inch QF |
- |
24 |
3,035 |
|
5 inch BL gun |
- |
18 |
5,480 |
|
5 inch BL howitzer |
- |
39 |
9,790 |
|
6 inch 30 cwt BL howitzer |
- |
12 |
55 |
|
6.3 inch RML howitzer |
2 |
- |
765 |
|
The following were taken from Cape (fixed) Armaments for use in the field: |
|
||
|
3 pr QF |
7 |
|
Unknown |
|
4.7 inch QF |
2 |
|
Unknown |
|
5 inch BL |
2 |
|
Unknown |
|
6 inchQF |
4 |
|
317 |
|
9.2 inch BL |
1 |
|
Unknown |
|
|
|
|
|
Source: These figures are taken from appendices 28 and 29 of the Royal Commission on the War in South Africa.
Naval guns
The Navy supplied the following guns:
- 2 x 3 pounder Hotchkiss QF
- 1 x 6 pounder Hotchkiss QF
- 1 x 7 pounder RML
- 6 x 12 pounder, 8 cwt QF
- 33 x 12 pounder, 12 cwt QF (Long 12)
- 19 x 4.7 inch QF
