Thanks for sharing those, Andy. The note in the 11 Bde A/Tk Coy file begs the question: how were the trucks modified? IIRC later portees (I'm thinking of the 6 pdr on the Bedford 3 tonner as per the old Airfix kit) were strengthened so the gun could be fired whilst on board. I don't think this is the case with the 25mm/15cwt combination, though.
I'm sure that they weren't intended to be fired portee. The modifications seem to have been loading ramps and fittings for tackle. Post #8 on this thread showed some detail. Wasn't it mentioned that the weak wheels on the guns were the major reason for them needing to hitch a ride ?
JGB asked "Is there any reference anywhere as to how the Hotchkiss 25mm AT guns performed in action? I have read that the Boys did actualy damage/disable the lighter German armoured vehicles. Obviously a serious problem if you're facing heavy armoured vehicles !" The following is taken from Jentz's Panzer Truppen Vol 1 page 132. It is part of a report by Oberst Kuehn commander of the 3 Panzer Brigade of the 3 Panzer Division. Panzer versus Anti-Tank Guns A. Effectiveness of Enemy Anti-Tank Guns against our Panzers. Accuracy of the anti-tank guns: the French 4.7cm is good, the French 2.5cm is very good, and the British 4cm is excellent. Penetrating ability of the enemy anti-tank guns at favourable angles against all German Panzers: the French 4.7cm is very good up to a range of 600 metres, the French 2.5cm is very good up to a range of 400 metres (the frontal armor of the Pz III was cleanly penetrated by the 2.5cm. Experimental tests against captured tanks demonstrated that the 2.5cm anti-tank gun was superior to the German 3.7cm PAK), the British 4cm is excellent (better and more effective than the French 4.7cm anti-tank gun) at ranges up to 800 metres. The British anti-tank rifle can possibly penetrate only the Pz I or Pz II at close ranges (little experience). I have read in books covering the BEF descritions of the 25mm as better than nothing/a pop gun really. Well going by this report the Germans respected the gun and in France 1940 it appears to have been an effective weapon against the Panzers. The Pz IV is not mentioned but at this time it had no better armour than the Panzer III. John
Very interesting JGB ,all accounts of the Boys AT rifle are very dismissive but I suppose it was better than nothing at all.
I have to agree with JGP. Having read a few books on Dunkirk et all I have read mix reports on the Boyes and AT Gun. I would say they are evenly matched with positive and negative comments and I came to the conclusion that the comments depended on what they were firing at. In my opinion tanks were still a relatively new thing in 1940 from Joe Squaddie's point of viwe and I suspect many had never seen one until after the 10th May. I've read of soldiers refering to Pzr I's as 'great big heavy tanks'. Just as well the Germans never had any Tigers in 1940 as I suspect most would have been frozen in shock at the sight of one of those motoring towards them.
SMART WORK! - British Pathé Anti Tank 1940 The layer did a 'layer' a tackety boots problem! Search Results - British Pathé anti tank
