The issue with that is that just assuming they tested it on the Sexton. As the 25 mentioned should be a the Ordnance QF 25-pounder Field gun, as I can find a few places that state the Field gun can fire HESH.
The rounds I can find in the “Design Record Canadian-Developed Military Vehicles World War II Volume III Tanks and Tank Type Vehicles. Issued by: Army Engineering Design Branch Department Of Munitions And Supply Ottawa (Dec 31st 1945)” (this is older then when you said they test that so the information could possibly be different)
I mentions number of cartridges - 112 (number of total rounds changes a lot from document to document so that doesn’t really matter)
H.E. or Smoke Projectiles - 87
A.P. Projectiles - 18
I’m trying to look into it but I’m not having any luck.
I’m not saying that they never did test it or put the HESH round in service on the sexton, but I am just unsure if they did or did not.
The issue with the source is it predates the Hesh round being issued, so of course it would not corrispond with the post war ammo carried by Sextons in british service. The ammunition load issued would be the same, just as it was for 2 pounder and 6 pounder field guns to tank guns. The fact the 25 pounder was being readily issued hesh during the time of the Sextons service is more than enough evidence to say it was issued with it, as it would be serving in the same Royal arty regiments, so the logistical train would be the same, as it was supperceded the HE rounds then in service, as it was more versitile for hardpoints and potential armour then the normal he rounds.
THe british had a bit of a dead zone in their artillery development in the direct post war period, so the sexton soldiered on until 1956, when it was finally replaced by the Abbott and the m109.
Aye, the bigger issue with those is the he pen and lack of gun elevation the sexton only has 40 degrees up, so i am not sure how it will preform, just wont be quick scoping planes ;)
In the latest update there is a French boat (made by Britain I believe) equipped with 25-Pdr guns. These guns have access to APC shells, so it’s likely we will see the same for ground vehicles with this gun too.
I found it in the Australian archives, item no. 3254827. Preliminary info as it was still under test/development, so it is possible that that fill weight includes a small amount of inert cushioning material in the nose.
I tried searching for it on their site but couldn’t find it. They probably haven’t digitized it yet. Did you perchance happen to make a copy or take a photo of the document? Physical proof could really help out to put the shell in to the game. :)
Some of the data I could get from it if anyone’s interested:
Spoiler
Date of testing: 1951/52 (Australia)
Filler Type: RDX/PWX 86/14 (TNTe = x1.28)
Filler Weight: 1.915 kg
Propellant Charge: Super charge. “Super charge plus” was considered but dropped later on.
Fuse: Similar to the LS Mk.1 fuze as used in the 120mm B.A.T. gun.
Penetration: Projected to defeat 4 inches (101.6mm) @30º-64º.
Was it adopted? Still not sure but one piece of text stood out suggesting it very likely was:
Cool but quite a few stats for that shell seems to be wrong, they got the initial weight right, as it fires a 20 pound AP shell so 9.07 kg, but the shell type is wrong as it should be an APCBC shell or standard AP as they didnt do an APC shell. In addition they are firing it with only the HE charge, the AP and APBC shell for the 25 pounder was fired with a juicy Super and Super plus charge, which was done to ensure that the shell would strike enemy armour flat, that has the following statistic and would give a muzzle velocity of 609.6 meters a second. Its odd this is the case though, as the HE shell in game seems to have the right statistics, they have just borked the ap.
the fact the he shell is using the super charge means they have decided to model a mark 2 or later 25 pounder, as the earlier guns couldent handle the oomff
not really, as the real bug report would be to have it removed from the ship, as they loaded only HE, as it was for shore bombardment, like the rest of the landing ship gun variants.
No problem. I would be a little bit careful with it as that is just information supplied by the UK to Australia before the design was finalised and so it is subject to change. I have a vague recollection of the L8 fuze not being 100%, and so it ended up with the L19 fuze (I think).
I had wondered if the AP round on that French boat was using the strongest charge but hadn’t bothered to look in to it yet. Thanks for posting, suggests there’s a bit more pen to come from the 25pdr in tanks like the Sexton, A.C.III and Yeramba.
There is an APC round for the 25 pounder, APC MkVIIT although it seems to have been quite rare. I’d have more doubts about an APCBC as the only evidence I can recall ever seeing for it is one bad photo that appears to show a miss-labelled HE drill round instead.
