BL 15-pounder gun
| Ordnance BL 15-pounder | |
|---|---|
15-pounder in South Africa during the Second Boer War | |
| Type | Field gun |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1892–1918 |
| Used by | British Empire |
| Wars | Second Boer War World War I |
| Specifications | |
| Barrel length | 84 in (2.134 m) (28 calibres) |
| Shell | Separate loading BL, 14 lb (6.4 kg) shrapnel |
| Calibre | 3-inch (76.2 mm) |
| Elevation | -5° - 16° |
| Rate of fire | 7-8 rds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 1590 ft/s |
| Maximum firing range | 6000 yds |
The Ordnance BL 15-pounder, otherwise known as the 15-pounder 7 cwt, was the British Army's field gun in the Second Boer War and some remained in limited use in minor theatres of World War I. It fired a shell of 3-inch (76 mm) diameter with a maximum weight of 15 pounds (6.8 kg), hence its name which differentiated it from its predecessor '12-pounder' 3-inch (76 mm) gun which fired shells weighing only 12.5 pounds (5.7 kg).