The 75 mm Gun was a French design from the First World War. Britain purchased a number of these from America in 1940 to fill the gap in their field gun arsenal. Although obsolescent they were still serviceable and in British service were designated Ordnance QF 75 mm. All were supplied on their standard American pattern field carriages but a number of Mark 1’s were modified. This consisted of removing the wheels, axle and traversing gear and cutting off most of the trail. What was left was then mounted on a pedestal to become the Mounting 75 mm Mark 1. This was used as a Beach Defence weapon. Three different patterns were purchased. These were the M1897, M1916 and M1917 (see below). The 75 mm Gun in all its forms were declared obsolete in March 1945 but the pedestal mount was not disposed of until May 1946.
Gun
Mark-1 – M1897
Gun
Carriage
Data Mark-1 – M1917-A4
Performance Mark-1
Firing standard 14.7 lb HE Shell
“S” Mark-2 – M1916
Gun
Carriage
Data “S” Mark-2*
Performance “S” Mark-2*
Firing standard 14.7 lb shell
Converted Mark-1
Gun
Carriage
Data Converted Mark-1*
Performance Converted Mark-1
Firing standard 14.7 lb shell
Ammunition
Fixed, cased charge
There was a wide variety of shells, standardised over the years since 1917. Most of the older ammunition designs were sent to Britain in 1940. This suited the older guns that had been purchased. The older shells were copied from the French designs. They had blunt heads, square bases & protuberant fuses. Fuses were the American PD M46 & M47 types.