We need some Gunner Zen.

A friend of mine in Australia owns this (and several others, as well) 5.5 inch gun. And numerous other guns, too.

5.5 inch howitzer

Wouldn't that just look spiffy out by the flagpoles of Argghhh!!!?

Oh, yeah.

It would.

3 Comments

Yep. It would.
 
I dunno; those two funny-looking equilibrators, or whatever they are, sticking up there kind of ruin the visual experience for me. I think a bronze 12-pounder would be much purtier, and if you wanted something more modern, a French 75 would do. And then there's my favorite, the US 75mm Pack Howitzer, breakable-down into individual mule loads. That's what I want in *my* back yard, though it cost me a $200 Destructive Device tax every time I shoot it.
 
Can you identify the arsenal shop that made these big cannons? See http://www.practicalmachinist.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/11/4505.html for a great photo of the cannon lathes. So far, it doesn't seem to be Bethlehem No. 2 machine shop, Watervliet, the main Navy shop in D.C. or Watertown, based on the steel building construction seen in various photographs. - Thanks