I got drawings of the 6pr Mks I & II from Bovington long ago and they just sat in the stash.
However, when building the Interus tank, the gun looked so wrong against the Emhar one that I decided that I would have to replace them.
After turning one up this afternoon as per the afore-mentioned drawings, I put the two guns alongside my proposed master to compare accuracy.
Much to my surprise, the Interus gun is more dimensionally correct (apart from a horrible muzzle swell) that the Emhar one, whose barrel is far too long and and over thick, albeit looking great.
My question is: were other Marks of the 6pr used in the MkIV tank that would have been bigger and longer than the MKs I & II?
I would be interested in a copy of the MkII drawing if possible as Bovington told me they only have the Mk I available now. I was after info a while ago.
The only difference between the Mk I and the Mk II is the method of construction: Mk I was forged solid, whereas the Mk II was a built-up job, having the usual A, B, and C auto-frettage sleeves. In both cases the breech block was a separate item. Dimensions are identical.
I have also been looking for decent drawings of the 6 pdr, I did find the attached but would love to find a higher resolution image of it or the original source - does anyone have any idea where they came from?
I have been searching for documents that may contain drawings. In G.S. 943 Instructions for the training of the Tank Corps in France, on page 15, section XI it talks about the Gunnery School and on page 17, section XII it talks about the Six-Pounder School. Does anyone know if training documentation from these schools exist? The training involved detail instruction on operation, maintenance, disassembly etc, I am sure it must have included drawings.
The drawings you show look as if someone has followed the layout and arrangement of the Bovington drawings.
However, there are some differences:
a) the pedestal is different on the front face;
b) the gun elevation and depression are shown as being the same on your drawing, whereas the Bovington drawings show them as +20 and -15;
c) the elevation/depression guide is built differently, with the slotted guide at the top (gun) end, whereas on the Bov drawings the slot is at the bottom (mount) end.
It therefore looks as if there were at least two mounts with minor differences or yours might possibly be the 6 pr mount used on the 12 armoured trains in the UK during WWII?
Thanks Tony. It is the Mk II I am mainly interested in. Is there a reference number on the Bovington drawings I can use when I contact them to purchase?
regrads
Andrew
These excellent left and right side images of the 6 pounder Hotchkiss QF Mk II 6 cwt Male Tank Gun at the AWM may interest many https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C240439