Re: ANZAC 3.7in Mtn Gun
With respect to the Australian use of this gun:
These 2 references refer to the same 4 guns.
"(I am presuming that the O'Hare troop mentioned here are Australians)
Warren Force - Papua
Or at Buna:
Kokoda"
From: "Guns of the regiment", Major General S.N. Gower, 1981.
Ordnance QF 3.7 in Mountain Howitzer Mark 1 on Carriage Mountain Howitzer Mark 1
Date of Introduction 1942
Date of Withdrawal 1943
Australians only had 4 of these guns.
3 guns were abandoned at Salamaua due to lack of ammunition. The forth was lost in transport back to Port Moresby.
The Australian guns only had the spoked/wooden carriage wheels. New Zealand guns had pneumatic wheels.
1 st Australian Mountain Battery equipped with this gun. Formed in July 1942.
Maj M.P. O'Hare was the commander of the 1 st Australian Mountain Battery. This battery had only these 4 x 3.7 inch mountain howitzers
Max range of 6217 meters with normal max charge of a No 4 and No 5 bag, (super charge).
Special "O'Hare’s Charge" of 2 x No5 bag max range of 6580 meters.
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