Historic context :

dated 1895, this BL 5-in field howitzer MkI (or Mk II)', was one of the very first vertical fire artillery weapons with recoil recuperation system introduced in the British Army field artillery batteries. However, this system was far from being perfect and the howitzer had to be replaced in firing position manually after each shot.

It first saw action in Sudan in 1898, then participated to the Second Boer War in 1900, before being declared obsolete in 1908 when thye much more modern QF 4.5 in Howitzer appeared and replaced it gradually. In 1914, this old weapon was only equipping the territorial units of the British Army, and the ones engaged in East Africa and Middle East.

Great-Britain gave 57 of these howitzers to Russia in 1916, and 18 to Italy.

Technical data :

• Complete description : Ordnance Breech Loading 5 inches field howitzer Mark I / Mark II
• Design year : 1895
• Calibre : 127.00 mm (5 inches)
• Weight in firing position : 1212 kg (or 1169 kg)
• Weight for transportation :
• Tube length in calibres : 8.40 (9.8 calibres according to other sources)
• Grooves : 0
• Projectile weight : 22.7 kg (shrapnell et explosif) et 18.1 kg (explosif)
• Initial speed : 240 m/s
• Fire rate :
• Range : 4500 m (22.7 kg shells) - 5900 m (18.1 kg shell)
• Elevation range : -5 / +45 degrees
• Direction range : none

• British Artillery 1914-19, Field Army Artillery           Dale Clarke                   Osprey Publishing   2004  
• Wikipedia http://fr.wikipedia.org/