BL 7.2-inch howitzer
| BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mk I-IV | |
|---|---|
7.2-inch howitzer of 51st Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery. France, September 1944. | |
| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1940–1944 |
| Wars | Second World War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1940 |
| Produced | 1940–1944 |
| No. built | 78 |
| Variants | Mk I, Mk II, Mk III & Mk IV |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 10.22 long tons (10.38 t) |
| Length | 24 ft 4 in (7.42 m) |
| Barrel length | 14 ft 3 in (4.34 m) L/22.4 |
| Width | 9 ft (2.7 m) |
| Height | 4 ft 3 in (1.30 m) |
| Crew | 10 |
| Shell | HE |
| Shell weight | 202 pounds (92 kg) |
| Calibre | 7.2 inches (182.9 mm) |
| Breech | Welin screw & asbury mech |
| Carriage | Box trail |
| Elevation | 0° to 45° |
| Traverse | 4° left & right |
| Rate of fire | 3 rpm under optimal conditions |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,697 ft/s (517 m/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 16,900 yd (15,500 m) |
| References | Chris Bishop & Nigel Evans |
| BL 7.2-inch howitzer Mk 6 | |
|---|---|
7.2 in howitzer Mk 6, on the US M1 carriage. Rhine crossing, 1945. | |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1944–early 1960s |
| Wars | Second World War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1944 |
| Produced | 1944–1945 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Traveling 17.5 long tons (17.8 t) in action 13 long tons (13 t) |
| Length | 34 ft (10 m) |
| Barrel length | 20 ft 8 in (6.30 m) L/33.1 |
| Width | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Height | 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m) |
| Crew | 12 |
| Carriage | Split trail |
| Elevation | -1° to 63° |
| Traverse | 30° left & right |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,925 ft/s (587 m/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 19,667 yd (17,984 m) |
| References | Chris Bishop & Nigel Evans |
The BL 7.2-inch howitzer was a heavy artillery piece used by the British Army throughout the Second World War.