140 mm Mark III gun history

In order to find a replacement for the aging 127 mm gun designed in 1904 by British engineers, a new model of 140 mm gun is proposed to the British Army. The final model was proposed in January 1939 to the military authorities which adopted the new gun. After some modifications, the production began in 1941 and the first guns were delivered in May 1942 in the British Army. Its first shells were fired during the North Africa campaigns.

This gun is good and appreciated among the Allied artillery regiments, although its characteristics, and in particular its range are not up to expectations. The British military engineers used the 140 mm gun with other shells during several experiments. Thus, they advised to fire lighter shells such as the 9 kg shells.

Used throughout the Second World War and especially during the Normandy campaign, the 140 mm gun was used after 1945 (under the name Mark IV) until having been replaced by the following model, the 155 mm gun.

140 mm Mark III gun sheet

Country creator/user: Commonwealth
Name: BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun Mk 3

Caliber: 140 mm
Maximum range: 14,000 m
Rate of fire: 3 rounds/min

Weigth: 6,190 kg
Lenght: 4,20 m
Crew: 9