This page contains information on:

  1. 15 pounder RFA gun
  2. 12 pounder RHA gun
  3. 5 inch howitzer
  4. 5 inch gun
  5. Summary of guns used
  6. Naval guns

15 pounder

The name comes from the shells which weighted nearly 15 pounds.  This was the standard field artillery gun.  Some 350 were used during the Boer War.  The only shell used was shrapnel.

Calibre

3 inches (7.6 cm)

Weight of gun

7 cwt (355.6 kg)

Weight of gun carriage packed

20 cwt 2 qtr 27 lb (1,050 kg)

Weight behind gun team

37 cwt 2 qtr 17 lb (1,909 kg)

Ammunition

Shrapnel

Weight of shell

14lb 1oz (6.4 kg)

Range

Time fuze 4,100 yards (3,750 m)

 

Percussion 5,600 yards (5,120 m)

12 pounder

The shells of this gun weighed around 12 pounds.  The gun weighed 6 cwt.  The gun was loaded from the breech.  The only shell used was shrapnel.

Calibre

3 inches (7.62 cm)

Weight of gun

6 cwt (304.8 kg)

Weight of gun carriage packed

17 cwt 3 qtr 20lb (911 kg)

Weight behind gun team

32 cwt 3 qtr 20 lb (1,673 kg)

Ammunition

Shrapnel

Weight of shell

12 lb 8 oz (5,67 kg)

Range

Time fuze 3,700 yards (3,380 m)

 

Percussion 5,400 yards (4,940 m)

5 inch howitzer

The howitzer fired a heavier shell than the 12 or 15 pounder but the steeper trajectory resulted in a shorter range.  Batteries of howitzers were introduced in 1896 in an attempt to support the shrapnel fired by the 15 pounder.  Common shell was used. 

It was felt that the howitzer was an inadequate weapon during the Boer War.  The gun was too heavy, the shell too light and range too short.

Calibre

5 inches (12.7 cm)

Weight of gun

9 cwt (457 kg)

Weight behind gun team

48 cwt 1 qtr 26 lb (2,463 kg)

Ammunition

Common shell

Weight of shell

50 lb (22.7 kg)

Range

4,900 yards (4,480 m)

5 inch gun

This gun was the answer to Boer Long Tom but, although it was not a direct competitor because the Long Tom shell weighted twice as much, it was a match for range.  The gun could fire shrapnel and common shell.

Calibre

5 inches (12.7 cm)

Weight of gun

40 cwt (2,030 kg)

Weight of gun carriage packed

74 cwt (3,760 kg)

Ammunition

Common and shrapnel shell

Weight of shell

50 lb (22.7 kg)

Range

Time fuze 5,400 yards (4,940 m)

 

Percussion 10,500 yards (9,600 m)

Summary of the guns used

Type of gun

Number in
South Africa
1 Jun 99

Number sent
to South Africa
1 Jun 99 - 1 Jun 02

Rounds
fired

 

 

 

 

37 mm Vickers-Maxim (Pom-pom)

-

50

193,837

3 pr Hotchkiss QF

7

-

Unknown

2.5 inch RML (Screw guns)

24

7

3 875

7 pr RML gun

28

-

Unknown

9 pr RML gun

10

-

137

76 mm Hotchkiss

-

1

Unknown

12 pr RBL

3

-

Unknown

12 pr 6cwt BL

-

78

36,161

12 pr 12 cwt QF

-

18

6,143

121/2 pr QF

-

4

1,495

15 pr 7 cwt BL

27

322

166,548

4.7 inch QF

-

24

3,035

5 inch BL gun

-

18

5,480

5 inch BL howitzer

-

39

9,790

6 inch 30 cwt BL howitzer

-

12

55

6.3 inch RML howitzer

2

-

765

The following were taken from Cape (fixed) Armaments for use in the field:

 

3 pr QF

7

 

Unknown

4.7 inch QF

2

 

Unknown

5 inch BL

2

 

Unknown

6 inchQF

4

 

317

9.2 inch BL

1

 

Unknown

 

 

 

 

Source: These figures are taken from appendices 28 and 29 of the Royal Commission on the War in South Africa.

Naval guns

The Navy supplied the following guns:

  1. 2 x 3 pounder Hotchkiss QF
  2. 1 x 6 pounder Hotchkiss QF
  3. 1 x 7 pounder RML
  4. 6 x 12 pounder, 8 cwt QF
  5. 33 x 12 pounder, 12 cwt QF (Long 12)
  6. 19 x 4.7 inch QF

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