British standard ordnance weights and measurements

The British standard ordnance weights and measurements for the artillery were established by the Master General of Ordnance in 1764, and these were not altered until 1919, [citation needed] when the metric system was additionally introduced.

This system has largely been replaced by defining the weapon in terms of the measurement of the calibre, which is the standard today for most weapon systems in use by the world's armed forces.

The 18th century standards were based on a projectile's weight, which dates back to use of muzzle loaded cannons that fired solid cannonballs. The bore designations are only an approximate relationship to the actual weight of the projectile when it was applied to modern artillery.

The table below lists the metric and Imperial calibres of various British weapons, which utilised the standard after 1919:

Name Type Calibre
Metric Imperial
Ordnance QF 1-pounder "pom pom" Infantry gun/AA gun 37 mm 1.457 inch
Ordnance QF 2-pounder Anti-tank gun 40 mm 1.575 inch
Ordnance QF 2-pounder "pom pom" Anti-aircraft gun 40 mm 1.575
Ordnance QF 3-pounder Vickers Naval gun 47 mm 1.85 inch
Ordnance QF 6-pounder Anti-tank gun 57 mm 2.244 inch
Ordnance BL 10-pounder Mountain gun Mountain gun 69.8 mm 2.75 inch
12-pounder (multiple types) Light field gun 76.2 mm 3 inch
Ordnance QF 13-pounder Light field gun 76.2 mm 3 inch
15- pounder (multiple types) Field gun 76.2 mm 3 inch
Ordnance QF 17- pounder Anti-tank gun 76.2 mm 3 inch
Ordnance QF 18- pounder Field gun 83.8 mm 3.3 inch
Ordnance QF 20-pounder Tank gun 83.8 mm 3.3 inch
Ordnance QF 25-pounder Gun-howitzer 87.6 mm 3.45 inch
Ordnance QF 32-pounder Tank gun 94 mm 3.7 inch
Ordnance QF 60-pounder Heavy field gun 127 mm 5 inch

Terminology

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When used with British standard nomenclature:

  • BL is short for "Breech Loading", but generally means not QF, i.e. separate cordite bags rather than a cartridge case.
  • ML is short for "Muzzle Loading".
  • PR is short for "Pounder", e.g. 20 Pounder can be shortened to "20-PR". pdr is also a common shortening of "pounder", e.g. 17pdr.
  • QF is short for "Quick Firing", indicating the weapon is breech-loaded with the propellant in a cartridge case which also made the breech seal, allowing faster loading and firing.

See also

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References

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  • Rottman, Gordon L.: Elite 124 - World War II Infantry Anti-Tank Tactics, Osprey publishing, ISBN 1-84176-842-1 p. 16
  • Collins, A.R. "British Cannonball Sizes" https://www.arc.id.au/Cannonballs.html