140mm BL 5.5-inch gun
Overview
BL 5.5-inch gun
BL 5.5-inch gun on public display in travel configuration as seen in 2008.
Source: Sven -
© CC BY 2.0
1941 - ?
BL 5.5-inch Medium Gun
South Africa
Description
Introduction
The BL 5.5-inch gun is a World War 2 era towed howitzer of UK origin. It was developed just prior to World War 2 and entered service in numbers halfway through World War 2. It was extensively used in combat and served well into the Cold War.
Design
The BL 5.5-inch gun uses the uncommon 140mm caliber for which a range of ammunition was developed. The gun uses an interrupted screw breechblock and has no muzzle brake. The two wheel split trail carriage rests on its wheels in the firing position. The gun is manned by a crew of 10. There is no gun shield.
Firepower
Upon introduction the BL 5.5-inch gun was issued with 100 pound shells with a maximum effective range of 14.8 km. In 1944 the 82 pound shell with super charge was introduced as an alternative with higher muzzle velocity and 16.6 km range. A proximity fuse for airburst was introduced in 1944 as well to compliment the impact fuse. Other shell types included several types of chemical, colored smoke and flare shells. Rate of fire is rather low at 2 rpm.
Mobility
The BL 5.5-inch gun was rather heavy. Heavier than its German, Soviet and American counterparts. Although it outranged them slightly. During World War 2 the AEC Matador 4x4 artillery tractor was used. After World War 2 this was replaced in UK service with the AEC Military 6x6 truck and later on the Leyland Martian 6x6 was used.
Users
The BL 5.5-inch gun was introduced in 1941 and first used in combat in North Africa in 1942. It was extensively used in the Italian theater in 1943 and in France, the Netherlands and Germany in 1944. After World War 2 these guns were widely used by the UK and various Commonwealth forces, until the 1980's. Known locally as the G2 the BL 5.5-inch gun was extensively used by South African forces during the Bush War, until supplemented by the much longer range towed G5 and self-propelled G6 155mm howitzers. Nowadays the BL 5.5-inch gun is obsolete. Some remain in reserve in a small number of nations.
Variants
BL 5.5-inch gun
Crew training in the UK on some of the first BL 5.5-inch guns being delivered in 1941.
Source: Imperial War Museums -
© IWM Non Commercial License
Variants of the BL 5.5-inch gun
The BL 5.5-inch Medium Gun was produced with two marks of gun and two marks of carriage. These only have minor differences and the performance of any combination is practically identical.
List of gun marks
List of carriage marks
Details
Media
BL 5.5-inch gun
Forward view of ex-Australian BL 5.5-inch gun on display at Puckapunyal Army Camp, Victoria, Australia.
Source: Bukvoed
Copyright: CC BY 2.5
BL 5.5-inch gun
BL 5.5-inch gun towed by AEC Matador 4x4 truck in France in 1944.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Copyright: IWM Non Commercial License
BL 5.5-inch gun
British army BL 5.5-inch gun being fired in Sicily in 1943.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Copyright: IWM Non Commercial License
BL 5.5-inch gun
British army BL 5.5-inch gun being loaded in the Netherlands in 1944.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Copyright: IWM Non Commercial License
BL 5.5-inch gun
British army BL 5.5-inch gun being loaded in France in 1944.
Source: Imperial War Museums
Copyright: IWM Non Commercial License
140mm G2
Namibian army 140mm G2 towed howitzers seen during a military parade in 2015.
Source: ViceAdmiral
Copyright: CC BY-SA 3.0
BL 5.5-inch gun
Former British army BL 5.5-inch gun on public display at the Shropshire Regiment Museum, Shrewsbury.
Source: Hugh Llewelyn
Copyright: CC BY-SA 2.0
Related articles
155mm FH-70
In UK military service the BL 5.5-inch gun was replaced by the 155mm FH-70 towed howitzer.
155mm M198
In Australian service the BL 5.5-inch gun was replaced by the American 155mm M198 towed howitzer.