I understand that the brakes on the No.27 Artillery Trailer, used as a limber for 25 pdr and 17 pdr guns, operated automatically on the slowing of the tractor. Does anyone know how these brakes were actuated? I assume they were hydraulic surge brakes, but would like confirmation if possible. Thanks in advance....
The magic of the big G Found this, it might help. The towbar on the trailer looks to be a hydraulic ram which probably operates the brakes as the towing vehicle accelerates or slows down. This is an old link, 2011 but the guys might be contactable. It depends which part of the universe you live in. A Brace of No 27 Ammunition Limbers. Someone on the forum was doing one up not that long ago but I can't find it.
Regarding the ammunition carried in the No.27 Artillery Trailer, I had always believed that this could only carry 25 pounder ammunition and not 17 pounder. The thread linked to above by Uncle Target includes this picture: This demonstrates that the 17 pounder rounds are bigger than the ammunition trays, but not that much bigger. There is an interesting comment made by the 86th Anti-Tank Regiment below from November 1944, when their 128th Battery were given a new design of 17 pounder limber to test: This states that the limbers needed modification to carry ammunition before they could replace the No.27 trailer, which in turn suggests that the No.27 trailers were already carrying (17 pounder) ammunition. So does anyone know for sure whether or not the No.27 Artillery Trailer was indeed adapted for 17 pdr ammo?
Another quick question - am I correct to believe that the perch hook at the rear of the trailer was mounted on the rear of the bar that mounted the towing eye at the front i.e. this bar passed through the main body of the trailer.