Crewing and firing a WWI-era gun - research help please

HareBrain

HareBrain

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Hi, I've been trying to find some information on crewing and firing a gun, but the internet isn't giving up its goodies. Specifically this is a quick-firing 3-inch gun as used on destroyers of the early 20thC, but I guess the same principles must apply to field-guns. I've found a photo of a similar gun with a crew of six, but what do they all do? What would be the minimum personnel needed if all six weren't available? If anyone has any knowledge of these things, or knows from experience the best place to get it (or even a particular novel where this is described) I'd be very grateful.
 
Thanks Nik! That looks a great resource, I'll post the question up there later. I notice some interesting references from yourself on gatling guns and "spawn of Cthulhu" ...?
 
I can guess. The normal crew should consist loader, gun sighter, firer to operate the gun and rest three should act as ammunition handlers. In case of counter-artillery operation, whole crew should be moving the gun away.
 
One for the charge, one for the shot and a second team to keep up the rate of fire would be my guess.

They'd keep the ammo coming by operating as a human chain and, as already stated, would speed up repositioning.
 
Do you have any idea how much the ammunition and powder weights? You don't want one man carrying 12 kilo loads whole day long, because after first fifteen rounds fired, he's going to be knackered. Theoretical firing speed with that gun is probably 5 rounds per minute, when 3 rounds per minute is closer to the truth.

So the aimer, aims the gun, the loader loads the ammunition, and closes the breach. Firer pulls the cord. One carries charge, another rounds, and one prepares the primers (impact, proximity triggers).

Whole battery has a lieutenant as a battery commander. He receives fire commands from the HQ or from forward observers. So he's going to need a radio operator and probably two runners. Most probably they also have a field medic in the crew as well.

The question is, what that gun is doing in your work?
 
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Thanks all of you, but just to clarify, this is the gun in question (or what I'm basing it on)

QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval gun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Would these still have a separate propellant cartridge plus a shell, or are they all-in-one? I can't quite tell from the drawings at the bottom of the page, but they seem to suggest separate - in which case yes, I can see the need for so many people.

I realise now I'm actually a bit sketchy about how a gun works at all :eek:

ctg said:
The question is, what that gun is doing in your work?
Click to expand...

What else are they going to use to destroy the monster at the end? It's not going to fall down from a few arrows.:D
 
That's why the load would be split into charge and shot, to make it possible for a man to carry the individual elements.

A fit artilleryman could easily handle a 12lb (5Kg) shell or a brass propellant case of similar size.

In the photo, the man in black at extreme left is holding the charge ready as the shot is loaded.
 
HareBrain said:
What else are they going to use to destroy the monster at the end? It's not going to fall down from a few arrows.:D
Click to expand...

You know that gun isn't going to be the fastest thing to turn in first place. A clever monster could most probably dodge the shot.

Sorry about the mix-up with the words.
 
Um, I'm sure those things could fire grape-shot, too.

Gotta *sting*, especially if bored and filled with 'Red Mercury' or some such agonist...

;-))
 
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