BL 8-inch howitzer Mk I–V

• Name — BL 8-inch howitzer Mk V • Origin — United Kingdom • Type — heavy howitzer • Is Artillery — yes • Is Uk — yes • Service — 1915−1918 • Wars — World War I • Designer — Major M L Wilkinson, RGA • Number — 91 • Weight — Gun & Breech: 5 Long tons Total: 13.5 Long tons • Part Length — Bore: 9 ft 10 in to 10 ft 5 in (3.00−3.18 m) Total: 10 ft 8 in to 11 ft 4 in (3.25−3.45 m) • Cartridge — HE: 200 lb, bagged charge • Caliber — 8 in • Velocity — Maximum: 1,301 ft/s • Max Range — 10,500 yd • Recoil — Hydro-spring constant. 18-, 13- or 13.25-inch • Elevation — -5°−45° • Traverse — nill

The weapon entered service in February 1915. The Mark I–V had many relatively minor differences in the carriages and trails and Mk IV, Mk VI and QF Mk II 6-inch naval gun barrels were used. However, the ballistic characteristics, propellant charges and shells used were similar for all Mks I–V. They are easily identified by their short thick barrel and twin recoil buffers above the barrel. Mks I–IV were no longer repaired from summer 1917 onwards.

• Illustration — At almost full recoil after firing They were operated by siege batteries of the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA). Holt 75 tractors were used to tow them into position. Mks I–V were limited by a short range and high weight, being 4–5 tons heavier than the succeeding Mk VI which was designed as a howitzer and hence had a much lighter barrel. The improvised nature of the design led to failures such as premature explosion and unreliability in action, and difficulties of maintenance in workshops. There were also early quality-control problems with British mass production of ammunition in 1915 and early 1916: "the 8-inch fuses failed so often that the battlefield was littered with unexploded 8-inch shells". Despite their shortcomings they were generally considered a success: "They were monstrous things and extremely heavy, but the machinery of the guns was very simple and that's why they did so extremely well and didn't give nearly as much trouble as some of the more complicated guns that came to appear later on. One was the very first to be made and it was marked, 'Eight-inch Howitzer No. 1 Mark I' so we called that gun, 'The Original'. It was marvellously accurate". Second Lieutenant Montague Cleeve, 36th Siege Artillery Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. They remained in use on the Western Front throughout the First World War as Britain's need for heavy artillery increased and was never fully met by production of modern equipment.

• Illustration — Changing a barrel, which occurred frequently. Battle of Polygon Wood, September 26, 1917 • Illustration — Being towed by a Holt 75 artillery tractor, Somme 1916 • Illustration — Three 8-inch howitzers in action

• 21 cm Mörser 10 Approximate German equivalent