Ordnance QF 3 inch howitzer was a

howitzer The howitzer () is an artillery weapon that falls between a cannon (or field gun) and a mortar. It is capable of both low angle fire like a field gun and high angle fire like a mortar, given the distinction between low and high angle fire break ...

fitted to British

cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several operational roles from search-and-destroy to ocean escort to sea ...

and

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

type tanks of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

so they could fire a smoke shell in "close support" of other tanks or infantry. HE shells were also available. Earlier British tanks were fitted with a 3.7 in howitzer, based on the QF 3.7-inch mountain howitzer.

Use

The doctrine covering the CS tanks was to "smoke parts of the enemy force" and so isolate them from the battle so the gun tanks could deal with the remainder with a local, if temporary, numerical advantage While on most tanks the howitzer replaced the turret armament, on the early marks of the Churchill tank, the howitzer was fitted in the front of the hull which, although it allowed the tank to retain its main gun, limited the range and

arc of fire The field of fire or zone of fire (ZF) of a weapon, or group of weapons, is the area around it that can easily and effectively be reached by projectiles from a given position. Field of fire The term originally came from the ''field of fire'' in f ...

Usage

Matilda II The Infantry Tank Mark II, better known as the Matilda, is a British infantry tank of the Second World War.Jentz, p. 11. The design began as the A12 specification in 1936, as a gun-armed counterpart to the first British infantry tank, the mac ...

Mark III CS, equipped at the HQ level, & by the Australians in the South Pacific *

Churchill tank The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) Churchill was a British infantry tank used in the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour, large longitudinal chassis with all-around tracks with multiple Bogie#Tracked vehicles, bogies, its ability to ...

Mk I - mounted low in the front hull - with associated narrowed arc of fire - as supplement to its turret mounted 2-pdr gun. A few Churchill Mk II CS were produced with the howitzer in the turret and the 2pdr in hull. *

Valentine tank The Tank, Infantry, Mk III, Valentine was an infantry tank produced in the United Kingdom during World War II. More than 8,000 Valentines were produced in eleven marks, plus specialised variants, accounting for about a quarter of wartime Britis ...

Mk III CS - a few produced in New Zealand by taking the howitzer from Matilda II Mk IVCS tanks *

Covenanter tank The Cruiser tank Mk V or A13 Mk III Covenanter was a British cruiser tank of the Second World War. The Covenanter was the first cruiser tank design to be given a name. Designed by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway as a better-armoured rep ...

s - a few of various marks were fitted with the howitzer. * Crusader Mk I CS and Mk II CS versions were equipped< (65 rounds) *

Staghound The Staghound, sometimes referred to as the English Staghound, is an extinct breed of scent hound from England. A pack hound, the breed was used to hunt red deer and became extinct in the 19th century when the last pack was sold. History The S ...

Mk II armoured cars, converted from the 37mm-equipped Mk I model and issued to Armoured Car Regiment HQ sections * A few Close Support versions of the Tetrarch light tank, as well as the Daimler armoured car Mk I (which shared its general turret design with the Tetrarch) A field artillery version seems to have been developed or under development in 1941 Later in the war a larger QF 95 mm howitzer was employed for the same purpose.

Specification

* Calibre: * Length of barrel ("tube"): (25 calibres) * Overall length: * Weight: * Muzzle velocity: * Ammunition ** Cartridge: 76.2x134R ** Smoke: shot weight ** HE: shot weight * Range

Notes

References

* * .

External links

* https://web.archive.org/web/20081013131302/http://www.wwiitanks.co.uk/tankdata/1940-Britain-Matilda-InfTankMkIIMatildaIIICS.html {{DEFAULTSORT:QF 03 inch howitzer World War II artillery of the United Kingdom World War II tank guns 76 mm artillery Tank guns of the United Kingdom