Has anyone got a good photograph of a full side elevation of the above.
Also on some there was rope wrapped around the barrel.Was this to keep the recuperator cool.I have read somewhere that water was poured on the rope to keep the barrel cool.
The reasons for these questions is that I am at long last doing the instructions for the kit.
The receiver on the 18 Pounder Mk.I had the hydraulic recoil absorber and recuperator inside the cylindrical assembly. The Mk. I used a spring recuperator - it was found that the springs could weaken and break during extended firing. The recoil absorber also had problems with the oil thinning when it was heated reducing the effectiveness of recoil absorption. The asbestos rope was an attempt to partially insulate the receiver.
The ultimate solution was to change the recuperator to a gas type similar to that on the French Mle 1897 and increase the volume of oil in the absorber by adding a small oil tank to the front of the receiver. Many Mark Is were progressively upgraded to the new design during the war.
I don't know if the Mark II guns used the asbestos rope insulation.
Here are some pictures taken of the 18 pdr at the Canadian War Museum lasy year. I have others showing many details of the gun. Can someone let me know what is the way that these can be uploaded to be added to article on the 18 pdr under the artillery section?
The 18 pounder Mk II at the IWM (I'm guessing the difference is the recoil buffer is a lot longer compared to the Mk I? Has the rope http://www.flickr.com/photos/67307569@N00/5468879912/
