O Ordnance QF 18 pounder, ou simplesmente 18-pounder Gun, era a peça de artilharia terrestre padrão do Império Britânico durante a Primeira Guerra Mundial. Era o suporte principal da Royal Field Artillery (RFA) durante a guerra, e foi produzida em massa. Foi utilizada pelas forças britânicas nos principais teatros de operação, e pelas tropas britânicas na Rússia em 1919. O seu calibre (84 mm) e peso do projéctil era maior do que os equivalentes dos franceses (75 mm) e alemães (77 mm). Era transportado com recurso a cavalos até à sua mecanização nos anos 1930.
As primeira versões foram introduzidas em 1904. Versões posteriores mantiveram-se ao serviço das forças britânicas até inícios de 1942. Durante o período entre-guerras, o 18-pounder constituiu a base de versões do igualmente famoso Ordnance QF 25 pounder que, por seu lado, foi a base das forças de artilharia britânicas durante e após a Segunda Guerra Mundial.
Bibliografia
Handbook of the 18-PR. Q.F. GUN - Land Service 1913 "History of the Ministry of Munitions", 1922. Volume X : The Supply of Munitions. Facsimile reprint by Imperial War Museum and Naval & Military Press, 2008. Dale Clarke, "British Artillery 1914-1919. Field Army Artillery.", Osprey Publishing, 2004, General Sir Martin Farndale, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Western Front 1914-18. London: Royal Artillery Institution, 1986. General Sir Martin Farndale, The History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery - The Years of Defeat 1939-41, 1996. General Sir Martin Farndale, "The History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery - The Far East Theatre 1941-45", 2002. Major-General Sir John Headlam, "The History of the Royal Artillery - from the Indian Mutiny to the Great War", Volume II (1899–1914), Royal Artillery Institution (Woolwich), 1937. Facsimile reprint by Naval & Military Press, 2005. Ian Hogg & L.F. Thurston, "British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914 - 1918", Ian Allan, 1972 Ian Hogg, "Allied Artillery of World War One", 1998, Major General B.P. Hughes, "The History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery - Between the Wars 1919-39", 1992, Brigadier N.W. Routledge, "History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Anti-Aircraft Artillery, 1914-55", Brassey's, 1994,
Leitura adicional
V Plüskow, "Instructions - Artillery Fighting on the Somme - Part II". Captured German document by Staff of the 11th A.C., H.Q., Sept 16, 1916. Reprinted in US War Department Notes on Recent Operations, July 1917. Provided online by Combined Arms Research Library "Additional Points Brought Out in Open Fighting up to April 7, 1917" General Headquarters, 10 April 1917. Reprinted in US War Department Notes on Recent Operations, July 1917. Provided online by Combined Arms Research Library GHQ Artillery circular No. 5, 26 March 1917. Technical notes on 18 pounder Barrages. Reprinted in "Field Artillery Notes No. 7". US Army War College, August 1917. Provided online by Combined Arms Research Library "Counter-Battery Work" Artillery Notes No. 3 February 1918. Redistributed by US Army War College April 1918. Provided online by Combined Arms Research Library "Artillery in Offensive Operations" GHQ Artillery Notes No. 4 January/February 1917. Redistributed by US Army War College August 1917. Provided online by Combined Arms Research Library Nigel F Evans, British Artillery in World War 2. 18-Pdr Gun General Sir Martin Farndale, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery : Forgotten Fronts and the Home Base 1914-18. London: The Royal Artillery Institution, 1988. Terry Gander, "The British 18-pounder QF Field Gun", Airfix, August 1980 Hall, Major D, "Field Artillery of the British Army 1860-1960 Part II, 1900-1914" in The South African Military History Society. Military History Journal - Vol 2 No 5, June 1973 Hall, Major D, "Field Artillery of the British Army 1860-1960 Part III, 1914-1960" in The South African Military History Society. Military History Journal - Vol 2 No 6, December 1973 Lieutenant-Colonel C N F Broad DSO, R.A., THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTILLERY TACTICS 1914 - 1918 PART I Reprint from The Journal of the Royal Artillery, May, 1922 Lieutenant-Colonel C N F Broad DSO, R.A., THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTILLERY TACTICS 1914 - 1918 PART II Reprint from The Journal of the Royal Artillery, June, 1922 Douglas T Hamilton, "Shrapnel Shell Manufacture. A Comprehensive Treatise". New York: Industrial Press, 1915. Ch. 10-12 : Specifications and manufacturing method for British 18-pounder Shrapnel shell, Fuzes, Cartridge, Primer. Douglas T Hamilton, "High-explosive shell manufacture; a comprehensive treatise". New York: Industrial Press, 1916. Ch. 4, 9 : Specifications and manufacturing method for British 18-pounder High-explosive shell, Fuzes, Cartridge, Primer.
Categoria:Canhões da Primeira Guerra Mundial
Categoria:Artilharia do Reino Unido na Primeira Guerra Mundial
Categoria:Artilharia do Reino Unido na Segunda Guerra Mundial Categoria:Artilharia de campo da Segunda Guerra Mundial Categoria:Artilharia de 85 mm