British, WW1, 13 Pounder 9 CWT, Dated 1917, Reused, Made by RL - Royal Laboratory, Woolwich, England

*British, WW1, 13 Pounder 9 CWT, Dated 1917, Reused, Made by RL - Royal Laboratory, Woolwich, England*

This is a British 13 pounder 9 Cwt shell case. The cartridge case is headstamped 13Pr 9Cwt I CF (Cordite Full Charge) RL (Royal Laboratories) 1917 (1917 date) 9 and a crowfoot.

Approximate Measurements: 29.4cm tall, 4"/10.2cm base diameter

Marked:
13 Pr 9CWT, I
RL. C
307, War Arrow
1917, W 54
RL (Royal Laboratory, Woolwich, England)
CF - Cordite Full Charge

The 13-pounder 9 cwt anti-aircraft gun became the standard mobile anti-aircraft weapon for the British forces during World War I, particularly in overseas theatres. Earlier attempts to modify existing 13-pounder and 18-pounder field guns for anti-aircraft use had proved unsatisfactory due to their relatively low muzzle velocities. On February 18, 1915, Sir John French, commander of the British Expeditionary Force in France, requested a more effective anti-aircraft weapon capable of firing at a muzzle velocity of 2,000 feet per second (610 m/s). In response, on August 19, 1915, the Army Council proposed modifying 18-pounder guns to fire 13-pounder shells. It was found that by re-lining the 18 pounder gun barrel to 3 inches using 13 pounder projectiles, the velocity was much improved with the smaller projectile, improving the weapon's performance against high-flying aircraft. The gun proved highly successful in the anti-aircraft role throughout the First World War. These guns were usually mounted on the back of lorries, the Thornycroft Type J being common. The gun was also fitted to a 2 wheeled high angled carriage and a thus could also be used also as a field gun or howitzer.

*Condition*
Good used condition. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.

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