IN THE 1930,s IT WAS DECIDED THAT A NEW MEDIUM GUN
WAS NEEDED TO REPLACE
THE 6inch HOWITZER. PLANS AND WERE DESIGNS WERE MADE BUT IT WAS NOT UNTILL
THE SECOND WAR STARTED THAT WORK WAS PUT IN HAND.
IT WAS COMPLETED VERY QUICKLY AND THE 5.5 inch GUN APPEARED ON THE SCENE.
SIDE BY SIDE WITH IT CAME THE 4.5 inch GUN, WHICH WAS VERY SIMILAR TO IT IN
ALL
RESPECTS APART FROM THE FACT THAT IT HAD A MUCH LONGER RANGE, OVER
200,000 YARDS AGAINST 16,000 YARDS.
IN 1942 WE WERE EQUIPPED WITH THE NEW GUNS
227 Bty WAS GIVEN 8 X 4.5 inch
AND
228 Bty 8 X 5.5 inch GUNS
EVENTUALLY IN ITALY IN 1944 228 SWAPPED ITS GUNS WITH ANOTHER REGIMENT
FOR THEIR 4.5 inch GUNS. SO WE BECAME THE ONLY ARTILLERY UNIT IN THE
8th ARMY WITH 16 X GUNS FIRING 20,000 YARDS.
HISTORY PAGE
