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Recondition 25 Pounders

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  • Recondition 25 Pounders

    Having recently heard the Royal British Ordnance 25 Pounder QF Field Gun is being withdrawn from service in the next few years i was thinking why not put it out to tender and have them re conditioned,, Anybody who has ever seen the 25 Pounder looks at it and says look at the state of it,,,newslfash its' *ucking paint!!!! For years the guns have been painted over paint peeling away,, granted i realise some parts of the weapons are showing stress point and the toe eye in particular are giving trouble but these weapons are top for gunnery training.

    I feel that its a waste to get rid of them. Ya there over 60 years old but only have 10% of the barrel life fired,, The PDF train on the weapon as much and more than the RDF even. Its a great gunnery training weapon. Ya the 105mm is modern and guchi but hey if it works and works well why not save the ld girls,,, you take 36 (ref: an cosantoir 06)we have away and were all fighting for the 105mm or the 120mms

    Anybody feel the same??? Is it even possible to have them reconditioned
    Attached Files

  • #2
    There's probably nothing on a 25-pdr that couldnt be reconditioned or made new, even by the DF itself but why spend money on very old stuff when you could buy more 105s or 105 bits or shells?
    regards
    gttC

    Comment


    • #3
      Here's a nice example of a 25 Pounder

      inside the Grounds of the Tower of London.

      Taken August 2008.

      Note the "Bling-Bling" muzzle Brake

      Connaught Stranger
      Attached Files

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      • #4
        'Mary's Guns'

        I think there are only 6 of these ceremonial 25lbers in the country. Last time I've seen them used was in the 'Cork Capital of Culture', 2005, where a mixed crew from 1 & 8 FAR fired a 21 gun salute.

        Effectively known as 'Marys Guns' !
        Click image for larger version

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        Certainly is an option for the guns, as the ceremonial drill is also different.

        Comment


        • #5
          25

          The bling 25's are kept for ceremony usually with the 2 FAR. Agreed we could but more 105mm and bits but surely the cost of reconditioning a 25 is cheaper than a 105mm,, send them off the poland or Czech Republic and they do it for **** all if we throw in a dog or two!!!!!!!!! Ah only messing!!! Seriously i think it's be ashame to let them go,,, The brits want them back for ceremonial duties instead of the 105!!!

          Comment


          • #6
            Why do we want them again?


            Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

            Comment


            • #7
              Its true that the barrels have lots of life left in them but there is a lack of spare parts out there so when a gun goes u/s these days, its gone for good.

              They go to the Glen on low-loaders in case a wheel bearing could go down.
              Clinometers used to be a problem but not anymore because of the spares available from the u/s guns.
              There can be a lot of play in some of the elevation worm screws but thats not too bad if you have a good layer who always finishes with a depression movement.
              Some of the sights are in poor nick, play in the adjustments, no rubbers on the eyepieces but again, there are spares out there from the u/s guns.

              You could live with most of those problems accepting that the guns are sixty years old. The biggie though is the packing pieces in the buffers and recuperation system. If the guns are not regularly exercised (cue pic of a 25pr on a leash), then the packing pieces dry out and must be replaced. All of the spares are gone. Ordnance say that they are no longer available though maybe they just don't want to look to hard. A few dedicated NCOs are pulling back the guns in the south religously every week to keep a full battery in action. They will be retired at the end of the summer next year. Who knows, maybe the British Army will want to buy them back?
              Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

              Comment


              • #8
                Without going into too much detail, I assume the chock on the 25pdr works in a similar manner to that of the AML 90. If so, surely metal fatigue will make these guns more and more difficult to keep operational as time goes on? If you don't pull the gun the packing pieces dry up. If you operate the chock too often, it will wear out.

                Do we really need to keep 60 year old light artillery pieces in a modern Defence force which operates on a light mechanised infantry model?


                Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.

                Comment


                • #9
                  I'm not sure what a chock is but the pulling-back apparatus for a 25pr is a fairly rugged piece of kit that is easily welded if it breaks.

                  Nobody is ever suggesting that 25prs be used operationally but they have proved a valuable training asset. When they are gone, there will be far less opportunity for rdf batteries to train with guns. It was very easy for a battery trained on 25prs to move across to 105s for a year. There is no point crying over it though. We are out of spares for the 25pr. After next year, it will be all 105 and 120. Look back fondly but embrace the new and move on.
                  Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

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                  • #10
                    Is there any plans to buy more 105's or are they going to make do with what they have?

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                    • #11
                      The British already use the 105 as a ceremonial gun.The 25pdrs in Edinburgh Castle were replaced with them....If the guns are so worn that their recoil systems, elevation systems and sights are only kept going by scavenging, then it's time to honourably retire them.
                      regards
                      GttC

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        melt a few of them down and make artillery plaques out of them for future competitions and move on from old weapons.. it is now 2008...

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          No way Jose!!!!!!!!!!

                          Originally posted by golden rivet View Post
                          melt a few of them down and make artillery plaques out of them for future competitions and move on from old weapons.. it is now 2008...
                          Would you melt down a 1940's ferrari because of a few defects,, no you'd find a specialies craftsman to tool new parts,,, Tender it and get a price if its too much buy 105mms

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                          • #14
                            all reserve units are being replaced with 120s, with 2 battrys of 25pdrs and 1 on 120s being fired next year. Anybody who wants the guns kept as far as I and other gunners are concerned should be shot. the cant travel, most cant fire and every sine one is a mongrel.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by golden rivet View Post
                              melt a few of them down and make artillery plaques out of them for future competitions and move on from old weapons.. it is now 2008...
                              They probably would have a better sale value to gun collectors or museums around the world.

                              Connaught Stranger

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