Landships II

Hi

Bethlehem Steel Comp de 76,2mm L24 (3”) USA.- 1911

Factory Bethlehem Steel Comp. It was one of the most important suppliers of the Argentine Navy in the early twentieth century. He had equipped the Rivadavia and Moreno battleships with guns of 12 ", 6" and 4 ", besides to equip with guns of 4 " to many minor ships of the fleet

But the only model used with the infantry was the Cañón Bethlehem Steel Comp de 76,2mm L24 (3”) USA.- 1911 (mod-1905)

It was used as landing cannon in Battleships "Rivadavia" and "Moreno" and then was assigned to the Marine Corps.

It was based on the Bethlehem 3 inch gun - American Model 1902/1905 (these two were very similar to each other) although the used by Argentina was very different from the models used by the Americans.

Is repeated the case that Argentine guns are not equal to those marketed in other countries

Bethlehem  used in USA

M1902 field gun at the First Division Museum tank park at Cantigny Park.

Its design is unusual, but it has everything what it should have, a gangly dual  recoil brake (the two cylinders were as long as the barrel), instead of a simple brake of the American gun, regulatory mechanisms in elevation and direction, a breech block with a easy handling, elaborated system  support to aim, etc.

The fact that has two storage bins in the same carriage, shown the interest in making as compact as possible (important for a landing cannon).

Its size it is greater to the other cannons used for the same job

Used a breech block similar to the Maxim Nordentfelt but with four threaded sectors and four smooth, instead of two and two.

His carriage it was the same as the 1902 model, but the model used in the Argentina Navy had a rear wheel to facilitate their movements.

Museo Naval de la Nación – Tigre – Buenos Aires.-

The design is very particular and I know no other country that has used, if anyone has information of another user I would like to know.

Otherwise it will be just another rare model

Foto MWAA (de ZM).-

Regards

Eduardo