Name: Cartridge, QF, 25-pounder, HE
Availability: InStock

Type

Item Type

Item State

Action

Guidance

Weights projectile

Weights explosive

Weights propellant, normal

Weights propellant, Super Charge

Lengths projectile

Lengths cartridge case

Max muzzle velocity

Max range

Southern Asia

Pakistan

<h2>Armament</h2><p>25-pounder field guns.</p><h2>Development</h2><p>The first 25-pounder field gun-howitzer was the Mk 1, an updated 18-pounder field gun from the Great War period with an 87.6 mm loose barrel sleeve inserted into the jacket of the older barrel. This was the 18/25-pounder, dating from 1938, most of which were lost in France in 1940. The next model was the Mk 2, dating from 1940 onwards, which remains the standard version (there were several other service versions, such as the self-propelled Sexton which is no longer in service anywhere), although most have now either been withdrawn from front-line use with many armed forces or relegated to training, gate guardian and saluting duties. Ammunition production facilities now survive only in Pakistan , from where exports are understood to have been delivered to Myanmar . The Indian Ordnance Factories no longer produce 25-pounder ammunition, although manufacturing facilities no doubt still exist. South Africa (where the 25-pounder is known as the G1) no longer retains a manufacturing capability as the stockpile of remaining rounds is understood to be around 300,000 and the G1 is held only as a reserve weapon. However, some 25-pounder barrels may be used as subcalibre training inserts for 155 mm G5 and G6 howitzers to economically utilise the remaining stockpiles. A radio proximity fuze, the M85C88, was developed in South Africa by Fuchs Electronics specifically for 25-pounder/G1 ammunition. The M85C88 can replace the usual PD fuze directly and operates at a factory set reference height between  6 and 8 m. The fuze circuits employ frequency-agility techniques. Should the fuze fail there is an impact detonating back-up. The only types of 25-pounder ammunition still likely to be encountered are HE, Smoke and Blank. Over the years the numbers and variations of 25-pounder ammunition have been legion and included AP-T, Illuminating, Chemical, Leaflet, paper-filled for functional testing, and so on. A 1944 service manual lists no fewer than four marks of cartridge case, 15 types of cordite-based propellant and 24 types of projectile. As a result the descriptions provided here for HE, Smoke and Blank can only be taken as typical.</p><h2>Description</h2><p>All 25-pounder rounds (actual calibre 87.6 mm) are classed as separate loading ammunition as the projectile is loaded separately from the cartridge case. The 25-pounder HE projectile is forged steel and normally filled with (typically) 825 g of TNT, although other fillings have been used, including cold pressed 60:40 Amatol, with or without a topping of TNT. The projectile is streamlined and there is a slight boat tail taper to the rear of the projectile; the flat steel base is screwed into a recess formed in the base. A copper drive band is used. The nose-mounted fuze is the DA and Percussion No 119B Mk 18 although the No 117/117C and No 222 have been used. The cartridge case is drawn 70:30 brass and is fitted with a No 11 percussion primer in the base. The normal cartridge carries three charges sewn into linen or cambric bags, with the charges being removed by hand to suit the particular requirement. Charge 1, the `core' charge, is coloured red, Charge 2 is white and Charge 3 is blue. The charges are retained in place by a fibre cup. The propellant involved is triple-based and flashless, the usual propellants being NQ 018 and NQ 050 weighing 857 g. There was also a unitary Super Charge, originally developed for an AP-T projectile which is no longer in service, using triple-base, flashless NQ/S 134-040 weighing 1.253 kg. Ballistic data for the charge system is as follows: Charge 1 - MV 198 m/s - max range 3,566 m Charge 2 - MV 297 m/s - max range 7,132 m Charge 3 - MV 442 m/s - max range 10,790 m Super Charge - MV 518 m/s - max range 12,253 m. Inert drill projectiles and drill cartridge cases complete with inert propelling charges have been produced.</p><h2>Authorised fuzes</h2><p>PD and Percussion No 119B Mk 18 Prox Fuchs M85C88 Equivalent rounds PAKISTAN</p><p>PAKISTAN</p><h2>Manufacturer</h2><p>Pakistan Ordnance Factories</p><p>Type: Cartridge, QF, 25-pounder, HE</p><p>Description: Standard specifications. In production and offered for export sales</p>

The Cartridge, QF, 25-pounder, HE is an armament 25-pounder field guns. Development The first 25-pounder field gun-howitzer was the Mk 1, an updated 18-pounder field gun from the Great War period with an 87.6 mm loose barrel sleeve inserted into the jacket of the older barrel.

This was the 18/25-pounder, dating from 1938, most of which were lost in France in 1940. Technical references retained in this configuration include AP-T, 117/117C, NQ/S, 134-040, 155 mm, 825 g, 40 A, 857 g, 1.253 kg.

Cartridge, QF, 25-pounder, HE

Cartridge, QF, 25-pounder, HE

Region

Category