The Australians were the first to realize the need for light weight howitzer for the heavy jungle and mountains of New Guinea. The heaviest weapon used in this situation was the 81 mm mortar. A small amount of 3.7′ (94 mm) mountain howitzers and 75 mm mountain howitzers given by the Americans did not improve the situation.

At the same time, the Japanese army was using mountain guns that could be disassembled and transported by pack animals or even human carriers.The main weapon of Australian field artillery was the 25-pounder Mk.II, produced from May of 1941 to the end of 1943 at the state factory in Melbourne (1527 units made).

The Australian Director of Artillery, Brigadier John O’Brien, proposed the creation of a maximally lightened 25-pounder gun that could be disassembled for transport by air. The Charles Ruwolt Pty Ltd company was tasked with this project.

The designers completed their task quickly. Design started in September of 1942, and proving grounds trials of the prototype were underway on December 10th. In early next year, the prototype was tested in combat conditions in New Guinea (with the 2nd battery of the 1st Field Artillery Regiment). In 1943 the gun was accepted into service under the name Ordnance QF 25-pdr Short (Aust) Mk.I on Carriage Light (Aust) Mk.I.

The figure gun and crew are from Warlord Games, the horse and limber are Minifigs Napoleonics figures, and the Native figures are from Eureka Miniatures.

The impressions from using the shortened 25-pounder were mixed. On one hand, the mobility of the lighter gun in the jungle surpassed that of the standard gun-howitzer.

On the other hand, the gunners cursed the poor stability of the guns while firing. A consequence of the poor stability was the low rate of fire (3-4 RPM), since firing knocked off the aim. The crewmen sometimes stood on the trail to prevent the gun from shifting after firing, but this could injure them due to the powerful recoil.

The introduction of the 25-pounders in August of 1943 was connected with the change in infantry divisions to «jungle» formations. According to the new TO&E, the division was equipped with one 3-battery artillery regiment, in which two batteries were armed with regular 25-pounders and one with the short versions.

Later, a part of the “jungle divisions” two more artillery regiments were added. The organization of short gun batteries differed from regular ones significantly.

A battery consisted of the HQ platoon (4 Jeeps and one light trailer) and two fire platoons: four guns, seven Jeeps, and one D6 tractor with a 1 ton trailer apiece. 24 rounds were carried in each Jeep and 88 more in the trailer.

The Australian’s in Bolt Action are able to use horse drawn limbers to tow their guns in bolt action games. Despite this I can find no actual evidence of this occurring in any theatre during WW2. Like the British, the Australians mainly used vehicular transport for their 25psr guns. As they were initially supplied by the British and later produced in Melbourne, this is understandable. The vehicle most often used was the standard US jeep, but also Quad Tractors, Universal Carriers and the Morris 6X4 CDSW tractor was used.

More often than not, in New Guinea, the gun was manhandled by porters and diggers, especially on the Kokoda track were vehicular movement was almost impossible.

Basically I think this is because where a jeep could not traverse, neither could a horse limber.

There are many reports of guns being dismantled and being transported by horse or ass. The picture above clearly shows this.

In game terms limbers are not often used to transport artillery around the table, especially howitzers, but they do provide a cheap order dice and are used regularly by players for this reason. I will provide my short 25pdr and later my 75mm mountain gun with the jeep, pack horse/ass, and horse limber options.

The Jeep kit is from Rubicon and the Mule team is from Empress Miniatures.

Tomorrow I hope to have more of my Commandos finished.