Historic context :

Only equipped with a handfull of 6 inches 30 cwt heavy howitzers in August 1914, the British Armies urged the development of a more modern equipment, and as a result the new 'BL 6 inches 26 cwt Howitzer' ('BL' = Breech Loading) was delivered to the front units as soon as May 1915.

This time, it was a modern howitzer, equipped with a hydro-mechanic recoil system and a polygonal tail carriage allowing high elevation angles, and able to fire directly from its wheeled carriage.

In 1918, a new shell, lighter, was introduced to improve the range, but was not used before the end of the war. 1246 such howitzers were in service in November 1918, and this howitzer was kept in active service in the British Army until 1945.

Technical data :

• Complete description : Ordnance Breech Loading 6 inches 26cwt siege howitzer
• Design year : 1915
• Calibre : 152.40 mm (6 in)
• Weight in firing position : 3692 / 4226 kg
• Weight for transportation :
• Tube length in calibres : 14.60
• Grooves : 0
• Projectile weight : 45.4 kg (old shell) - 39.0 kg (new shell)
• Initial speed : 376 m/s (old shell) - 429 m/s (new shell)
• Fire rate :
• Range : 8700 m (old shell) - 10400 m (new shell)
• Elevation range : -0 / +45 degrees
• Direction range : 8 degrees range

• Allied Artillery of World War One           Ian V. Hogg                   Crowood   1998  
• British Artillery 1914-19, Heavy Artillery       Dale Clarke                   Osprey Publishing   2005