BL 8-INCH HOWITZER MK.VI

The BL 8-inch howitzer Mk VI - VIII was a British 203.2 mm heavy howitzer from the First World War, the Interwar Period and World War II. The first prototypes were made in 1915, and the weapon entered the line for the first time in 1916. It is estimated that around 700 guns of this type of version VI, VII and VIII were produced during World War I. The initial velocity of the high-impact shell in the VI version was 400 m / s, and in the later models - 460 m / s. The maximum range ranged from 9,800 to 11,200 meters. The BL 8-inch howitzer Mk VI - VIII were designed at Vickers, but were manufactured primarily at Armstrong facilities. Despite a very similar name, these howitzers are not a simple extension of the BL 8-inch howitzer Mk IV guns, but are in fact a completely new weapon, designed to a large extent from scratch. The first mass-produced version was called Mark VI and was definitely lighter than Mark IV howitzers, and thus much more mobile with slightly better ballistic parameters. Another version of the BL 8-inch howitzer was the Mark VII, which went into production in the summer of 1916 - it was characterized by increased range and a longer barrel. The next and last version is the Mark VIII, which was mainly characterized by a reinforced barrel structure. After 1918, the BL 8-inch howitzer Mk VI - VIII remained in service with the British Army and were still used during the French campaign in 1940. However, after its completion, they were definitely withdrawn from the line and were used only for training purposes. Other users of these howitzers were primarily the United States, but also Finland and Canada.