Guest GriffinCheng Posted February 3, 2000 Share Posted February 3, 2000 I remember somebody told me that loooong time ago at Tanker's web site but I am asking again. British tank guns calibur are measured by "pounds". What do they mean? How are they converted to metric measurement? Griffin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Tom Posted February 3, 2000 Share Posted February 3, 2000 I think that it means the weight of the shell. I could be very wrong though. 2 Pounder = 40mm 6 Pounder = 57mm 17 Pounder = ??mm 25 Pounder = 87mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Babra Posted February 3, 2000 Share Posted February 3, 2000 17 pounder is about 76mm give or take a decimal place or two. The designation comes from the weight of shot. The shell is heavier. ------------------ Floreat Jerboa ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s bakker Posted February 3, 2000 Share Posted February 3, 2000 Right, a pound is one quarter of a kilogram, 250 gram. Thus the 17-pounder shell would weigh 4,25 kg. Trust the brits to have an offbeat reference system. Tom is right about the calibers ..... but i always thought the 25 pounder was 88 mm. grtz. S Bakker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattias Posted February 3, 2000 Share Posted February 3, 2000 This inflation thing is horrible! The last time I went to the UK a pound was 454 grammes. Where will it all end? M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham Posted February 3, 2000 Share Posted February 3, 2000 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by s bakker: Right, a pound is one quarter of a kilogram, 250 gram. Thus the 17-pounder shell would weigh 4,25 kg. Trust the brits to have an offbeat reference system. Tom is right about the calibers ..... but i always thought the 25 pounder was 88 mm. grtz. S Bakker <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I know. I know. Nothing easy like your feet and inches and miles. eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s bakker Posted February 3, 2000 Share Posted February 3, 2000 Actually, i'm dutch. Thus we use this strange measurement system called the metric system. You should try it too . Whoops, just assumed dutch 'pond' and english pound would be identical . I still under-estimate the brits as logical. I do think mattias scored a point. grtz s bakker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick614 Posted February 3, 2000 Share Posted February 3, 2000 I believe the last I heard that Burma, some little island nation in the Pacific, and the United States were the only countries not using that "offbeat" system of measurements. ------------------ Rick614 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucero1148 Posted February 4, 2000 Share Posted February 4, 2000 From pounds to Burma being a Pacific isle? Burma is in SE Asia and borders the Indian and South China Sea. It's a beautiful country stuck in time about 50 years ago with an idiotic military tyranny in goverment. A 25 pounder is a field gun that was also used as a direct fire weapon in a AT role against the Africa Korp, and I think it was an 86mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JonS Posted February 4, 2000 Share Posted February 4, 2000 lucero1148, Rick614 was listing three places that still use it, not identifying Burma (Myanmar) as an island. The 25lber was used as an AT platform, but only in emergencies. It was never positioned explicitly as an AT screen. Too valuable for that ... Regards Jon ------------------ Ubique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mike Posted February 4, 2000 Share Posted February 4, 2000 Here goes again Other poundage Calibres: 17 pdr = 3", 76.2mm 25 pdr = 3.45", 87.6mm 32 pdr = 3.7", 95mm Pre WW2 13 lb = 3", 76.2mm 18lb = 3.3", 83.8mm And even further back, 18th century howitzers were measured by teh weight of a stone ball which would fit the bore - eg 20lb (calibre??!!) Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Tom Posted February 4, 2000 Share Posted February 4, 2000 Over here we get 2 Hog's heads to the Rod, and that's the way we like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ol' Blood & Guts Posted February 4, 2000 Share Posted February 4, 2000 I think the way to solve this unit of measurement inconsistency among different nations is to allow each country to use their own system when talking about measurements that their own people understand, BUT when talking about measurements that the majority of other countries use is to use the common unit associated with that particular measurement. Such as this main gun caliber measurement. Most of the world knows main guns in millimeters, now these days. Only the Brits use this "pdr" measurement. Actually the "pdr" measurement is outdated going back to cannon sizes in the Age of Exploration circa 1400s to 1800s. Small arms are measured in calibre (fractions of an inch) or millimeters, both of which are universally understood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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