Artillery Question: Breech Block Open or Closed

Glamdring - Well, just so happens I am doing the same. See my current WIP

/forums/1/1179749/ShowPost.aspx#1179749

My latest post you will see the gun assembly with the breech cracked. In the winter, you would leave it cracked or open to prevent freezing or jamming. Also when in position and inbetween missions it is one less thing to do before loading.

In the cracked position you can see the detail of the block but not the lack of detail inside the barrel/breech area

I am modeling a B Battery gun from the 937 FA which is pictured in the photo on page one of the WIP. The snow of 1952 saw the battery in support of the withdrawal from the north.

Any questions, feel free to pull my lanyard

Rounds Complete!!

INDY wrote:

Looks like you came to the right place &you got a response from just the right guy, Redleg - not me ----so there was danger of not being able to eject the shell in those freezing temps if the gun was left loaded? Danger of not being able to open the breech even after warming it up by fring the round?  ~See..I'm just here to ask more questions....

OK....the 155mm Gun uses separate loading ammunition....no shell!! Load a projectile, powder bags behind it close the breech. Load the primer and PSGGB. Also you NEVER leave a howitzer of gun loaded....its not a tank. There are numerous shell, fuze and powder combinations depending on the target. And even tanks don't load until they are getting near a fight....except the crazy Russians who would leave a round on the tube!!

In the deep cold a couple of rounds would warm the gun up..but...lubricants do funny things in low temps. Also the breech is kept open to show the bore is clear and ready for a mission or the next round. So to answer your question, even in warm weather the breech would be open...ready to load!!

Rounds Complete!!

I guess great minds think alike. 

Thanks for the info Redleg, I'll have to keep checking on your build now for progress updates.  I'm going to shamelessly copy your casting and weld mark techniques.  Double thanks for that. 

That's what we are here for....learn, teach, and have fun!!

What are you going to do for the tracks??? The kit tracks are not really correct for Korea which used the T80 Steel tracks or T84 tracks!!!

Rounds Complete!!

That is a most excellent question about the tracks.  I knew they were incorrect, so I've been batting about ordering the replacement AFV T-80 tracks.  I really don't  care for indy tracks though, and it kind of annoys me having to buy something from the same company that should have provided such to begin with.

I do like the Cyberhobby DS tracks they put out a while back, but I'm having a heck of a time finding them in stock anywhere.

I know your feeling...The T80/84 indy tracks from AFV are a lot of work. Good for in front of the TV....which is what I am doing right now!!

As far as them including them....they would need a much bigger box!!

Rounds Complete!! 

~No rike rindy racks ??    ZOIKS Scube !!   Why not? what was that Mike , 800 parts? 1200?  {YIKES} for the Indy tracks for your gun ?

You mean theres another way? An easier way?

~Ok , at least I think I'm funny. Thanks for all the good info on this piece. I had just a passing interest due to you guys both building it.  NO Shell-      -Got it!

 Unloaded when no current fire mission !       Got it !

 Useful stuff for Dio-builder(like myself) Got it!      Thanks again !

~Indy  

 ('cause One-piece would be a terrible name)

                                      (Link 'n' Legnth   aint so bad tho......   )

INDY wrote:

I'm shuddering at that pic. 

Hummm.....79 links per track....end pins on either side and a center guidehorn for each. Just finished cleaning up the parts for the first 100 links.......Its mind numbing!!!

Rounds Complete!!

redleg12 wrote:

Glamdring - Well, just so happens I am doing the same. See my current WIP /forums/1/1179749/ShowPost.aspx#1179749 My latest post you will see the gun assembly with the breech cracked. In the winter, you would leave it cracked or open to prevent freezing or jamming. Also when in position and inbetween missions it is one less thing to do before loading. In the cracked position you can see the detail of the block but not the lack of detail inside the barrel/breech area I am modeling a B Battery gun from the 937 FA which is pictured in the photo on page one of the WIP. The snow of 1952 saw the battery in support of the withdrawal from the north. Any questions, feel free to pull my lanyard Rounds Complete!!

If you are going with the 155 gun you should leave the firing lock hole open till the breech is close and locked. The firing lock is usually left in the primer can as a saftey precaution. I have no real idea when they went to the chromed breech internals, but suspect that the WWII stuff was just bare steel. So keep this in mind. If your doing the piece in the middle of a fire mission and the breech is open; then make the mushrum head kinda black and dirty with the bare metal showing thru. The threads will still be pretty clean. The hole for the firing lock is about two inches in diameter if it matters

gary

redleg12 wrote:

INDY wrote: Looks like you came to the right place &you got a response from just the right guy, Redleg - not me ----so there was danger of not being able to eject the shell in those freezing temps if the gun was left loaded? Danger of not being able to open the breech even after warming it up by fring the round?  ~See..I'm just here to ask more questions.... OK....the 155mm Gun uses separate loading ammunition....no shell!! Load a projectile, powder bags behind it close the breech. Load the primer and PSGGB. Also you NEVER leave a howitzer of gun loaded....its not a tank. There are numerous shell, fuze and powder combinations depending on the target. And even tanks don't load until they are getting near a fight....except the crazy Russians who would leave a round on the tube!! In the deep cold a couple of rounds would warm the gun up..but...lubricants do funny things in low temps. Also the breech is kept open to show the bore is clear and ready for a mission or the next round. So to answer your question, even in warm weather the breech would be open...ready to load!! Rounds Complete!!

remember that if your going to show the gun being loaded, then you must have the gunner in place on the left side of the barrel. The round cannot be seated into the lands till the quadrant is called out. The powder bags will have a red dot about four inches in diameter on the end closest to the primer/firing lock.We shot ammo made as early as 1944, and it's still painted just like the late sixties stuff.

gary

redleg12 wrote:

Hummm.....79 links per track....end pins on either side and a center guidehorn for each. Just finished cleaning up the parts for the first 100 links.......Its mind numbing!!! Rounds Complete!!

you really didn't have to tell me about those tracks as I've got to do a set myself, and maybe even one more set for a Sherman tank I ran accross awhile back

gary

squeakie wrote:

redleg12 wrote: Hummm.....79 links per track....end pins on either side and a center guidehorn for each. Just finished cleaning up the parts for the first 100 links.......Its mind numbing!!! Rounds Complete!! you really didn't have to tell me about those tracks as I've got to do a set myself, and maybe even one more set for a Sherman tank I ran accross awhile back gary

My good buddy, as far as the tracks go 

The firing lock on the M40 is a separate part....the problem is there is no good way to mount it other than closed ...

Rounds Complete!!

redleg12 wrote:

squeakie wrote:  redleg12 wrote: Hummm.....79 links per track....end pins on either side and a center guidehorn for each. Just finished cleaning up the parts for the first 100 links.......Its mind numbing!!! Rounds Complete!! you really didn't have to tell me about those tracks as I've got to do a set myself, and maybe even one more set for a Sherman tank I ran accross awhile back gary My good buddy, as far as the tracks go  The firing lock on the M40 is a separate part....the problem is there is no good way to mount it other than closed ... Rounds Complete!!

kind of an SOP thing about the firing lock. The gun won't fire with out it, and if by chance it were in the breech door when slamming it shut, very bad things would happen.

gary