Hi all, These following pictures are some of the 200 photos I've come across belonging to an officer in the A.I.F. I would like to hear from anyone who can tell me what makes of guns and vehicles they are, or maybe some kind of website, reference book I can look at to help me. I hope you all enjoy, I think you'll agree they're very interesting. regards Kieron 1 & 2/ Armoured cars one of which has come a cropper.
picture 3/ This following piece of kit looks awesome mounted on the back of a truck. picture 4/ This looks to me like a lewis gun, but I could be wrong. Look what its mounted on...a truck on a railway track!!!
picture 5/ Armoured personnel carrier towing an artillery piece with two ambulances in the background. picture 6/ Truck full of A.I.F. men with a mortar mounted in the back.
These three pictures are forms of artillery pieces and a machine gun, if I could find out what nationality they are it could be a key to some of my research. One of the pieces looks like a naval gun of sorts. I hope you've all enjoyed. regards Kieron
Hi Keiron, I can help you with the first two. They are Rolls-Royce Armoured cars introduced in 1915. Particularly interesting, they were developed by the Admiralty for the Royal Navy Air Service, and were based on the Silver Ghost. The Admirality's success with their design led to it being put in charge of creating the "Landships." Gerry
Cheers Gerry, I wish my wife would of used one of these to go to church in 1915...and still being used in WW2...fasinating! Cheers Gerry regards Kieron
Rolls Royce armoured cars of WWI design were extensively used in the Western Desert for reconnaisance to excellent effect in the 1940/41 campaign against the Italians and carried the first British forces to go "through the wire" at the frontier. They were obviously no good in all out battles, but were excellent for patrolling. Some of the other weapons do not look British to me and I wonder if they were using captures Italian equipment. Picture 3 - naval pom-pom? Picture 4 definitely Lewis
Originally posted by kieron hill 1915...and still being used in WW2...fasinating! Hello again Kieron, A tribute to the Rolls-Royce! Minor improvements were made in 1920 and in 1924, the last year they were built. They saw service in India and the Middle East and, at the outbreak of war, seventy-five were still going strong. Except for some minor additions to cater for operating in the desert, they were effectively used by the Royal Hussars (among others) in the Western Desert, and also when in action against the Axis inspired revolt led by Rashid Ali in Iraq. Looking back, one wonders if the crews ever used the Boys for the purpose it was designed. Gerry
Originally posted by kieron hill@Apr 16 2005, 01:41 PM These three pictures are forms of artillery pieces and a machine gun, if I could find out what nationality they are it could be a key to some of my research. One of the pieces looks like a naval gun of sorts. I hope you've all enjoyed. regards Kieron [post=33209]Quoted post[/post] Middle one is a 88mm flak the end one is a browning m1919 on a anti-aircraft mounting. first is Breda 20mm cannon View attachment 655 View attachment 654
Rolls Royce Armoured car of No 2 Armoured car squadron RAF. I once met someone who had served with II sqn, he was a marine craft MBC and he did it as a "ground" tour! View attachment 653
Thanks everyone again for all your help...where would I be without the help of you trusty lot. Cheers everyone Regards Kieron
I saw a photograph of one such armored car (obviously captured in Greece or France) sitting amid other wrecked German vehicles in Berlin, after the Soviets conquered the city. I know the Germans used a lot of captured weaponry in the defense of Berlin, but that particular armored car must have been the very last such vehicle to fire a shot in anger.
Originally posted by morse1001+Apr 16 2005, 07:51 PM-->(morse1001 @ Apr 16 2005, 07:51 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-kieron hill@Apr 16 2005, 01:41 PM These three pictures are forms of artillery pieces and a machine gun, if I could find out what nationality they are it could be a key to some of my research. One of the pieces looks like a naval gun of sorts. I hope you've all enjoyed. regards Kieron [post=33209]Quoted post[/post] Middle one is a 88mm flak the end one is a browning m1919 on a anti-aircraft mounting. first is Breda 20mm cannon View attachment 655 View attachment 654 [post=33233]Quoted post[/post] [/b] hi there,.. seems to me it is not an 88 flak,.. am not to sure on what is the type gun either,.. perhap a 3inch AA battery? just my 2 cents worth of thought pls ref to http://home1.gte.net/vze2699s/id21.html
Originally posted by kieron hill@Apr 16 2005, 07:41 AM These three pictures are forms of artillery pieces and a machine gun, if I could find out what nationality they are it could be a key to some of my research. One of the pieces looks like a naval gun of sorts. I hope you've all enjoyed. regards Kieron [post=33209]Quoted post[/post] middle picture gun looks a little small for an 88. the guy in the middle uniform looks navel and his hat looks british or are german seamans hats the same and the left corner looks a little darker is that water. THATS CAMOUFLAGE THEY ARE PULLING OFF THE GUN!
