Landships II

mkc2862 · Sergeant

Mephisto's gun.

CharlieC · Legend

I wrote a short article on Mephisto's gun mount a while ago - try http://www.ammsbrisbane.com/ajax/newsletter/Mar_2014.pdf.

Mephisto's gun barrel doesn't have a sight on it now or any sign that there may have been a ring around the barrel. The sights on the original

Nordenfelt fortress gun was a pointed foresight on the left recoil cylinder and an elevation adjustable rear sight on the breech ring.

I suspect the angle iron on the breech ring was the mount for the rear sight.

Regards,

Charlie

-- Edited by CharlieC on Monday 26th of September 2016 11:47:45 AM

mkc2862 · Sergeant

Hi,

At the top of page 6 or your article, I believe you can just make out a band about 2/3rds back from the muzzle. I saw a reference in an article to Mephisto having an iron sight recently but discounted it as an error. I had in mind a telescopic sight like the Sockel mounts, but down the centre line. However, the more I look, the more I see the simple sight.

It can be seen in this picture on the AWM site - www.awm.gov.au/collection/E02877/

I'm thinking the sight was a simple post fitted to the top of a steel band which was clamped in position by a bolt underneath. It probably was easier to remove the gun without it, and in later images it seems to be gone.

There are three holes on the top of the barrel over the breech. I wonder if these secured a simple rear sight.

Cheers,

Michael

CharlieC · Legend

The barrel is upside down in Mephisto - has been for years. I agree it looks like there's something around the barrel of Mephisto after it was recovered - it could be a strap with

a simple foresight.

I think there was a comment on this forum that A7V gunners preferred the simple sights of the bocklafette mount because it gave them a better field of view compared to the telescopic sight.

Regards,

Charlie