Birch Gun

Revision as of 03:21, 15 August 2013

{{TankData For all intents and purposes, the Birch Gun functions identically to the SU-26. Equipping a Camo Net would be very useful, since it will not have to turn its chassis when acquiring new targets (unless you want to snap to a target quickly, as the gun traverse is slow). Having a low profile not only helps in camouflaging, it also comes in handy when going into TD mode to fight off tanks that come too close.

While the 25-pounder gun is marginally more powerful than the stock 18-pounder, it can load AP rounds, which comes in useful for staying hidden. Its anemic damage and low splash means that, for the most part, you will be doing double digit damage to anything with a reasonable amount of armour. However, it makes up for it with a good rate of fire like its predecessor the Sexton II, along with decent accuracy and a high gun arc to fire over obstacles.

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|InTheGame_pros=

• Can rotate its gun 360 degrees, like the SU-26
• High gun arc, comparable to Soviet artillery
• Massive ammo capacity
• Accuracy is better than it's predecessors
• Good reload speed
• Low profile (although the gun shield may stick out of the smaller bushes)
• Can easily take on a TD role when threatened

|InTheGame_cons=

• Weak armor
• Low alpha damage
• Poor splash radius
• Open top, which means it's vulnerable to crew and module damage
• Weak engine
• Slow turret traverse

|InTheGame_performance=

|InTheGame_research=

• If you haven't already on the Sexton II, get the 25-pounder gun, you'll need it to progress to the next tier anyway, and the suspension can take it.
• Upgrading the radio is useful. The suspension and engine are purely optional; there is barely any visible difference in performance. In fact, you can equip all the modules without needing to upgrade the suspension at all!
• Go from there.

|InTheGame_equipment=Medium-Caliber Artillery Shell Rammer,GLD

|History=

Photo of the British medium tank Mk.II with 18pdr AA gunm 1925

The Birch Gun was the world's first practical self-propelled artillery gun, built at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich in 1925. The gun was never highly regarded by the British High Command, purely for prejudicial beliefs and political pressure rather than any real lack of ability.[1] Named after General Sir Noel Birch, who was Master General of Ordnance at the time, the Birch gun had real potential. It was built upon a Vickers Medium Mark II tank chassis and mated originally with the QF 18 pdr (83.8 mm) gun then with a 75 mm field gun. The project was abandoned in 1928 after political pressure killed off any plans to complete the third version of this weapon.

Development history

The initial prototype, the Mark I, made its first appearance in January 1925 and spent the next year undergoing trials and taking part in manoeuvres, mainly with 28 Battery, 9th Field Brigade, Royal Artillery. The lone Mark I was transferred to 20 Battery, 9th Field Brigade RA, who then took delivery of three Mark II Birch Guns in July 1926, followed by a fourth gun in September. This brought the battery strength to five guns, which participated in various field exercises as part of the Experimental Mechanised Force and it successor, the Experimental Armoured Force which was dispersed in February 1929. All five guns were finally withdrawn in June/July 1931, effectively ending the British Army's experiments with tracked self-propelled guns until the advent of various hurriedly improvised vehicles during the Second World War, such as the Bishop, and the Deacon. Two Mark III Birch Guns were produced, but never issued to serving units. These had the guns mounted in revolving barbette-style turrets that increased crew protection but reduced the guns' elevation, so capping their effective range. The armament for the original Birch Gun consisted of an Ordnance QF 18 pounder field gun (3.3 inch, 84 mm). This was changed to the 75 mm gun on the Birch gun Mk II and from then on was able to be fired either at ground targets or in the air-defence role, being given a much higher rate of elevation to be fired at enemy aircraft. The Armstrong Siddeley engine was modestly powerful. Being only 8 cylinders it could manage 90 hp for a mild 45 km/h top-speed. However, for its time (late 1920s) it was quite fast. The Birch gun was tested as part of the Experimental Mechanised Force in the 1920s. The Force undertook various experiments in mechanized warfare combining tanks and infantry with their own transport. The project was finally abandoned in 1928 after major political pressure cancelled all plans to complete the third version of this weapon.

|HistoricalGallery= image:Photo_of_the_British_medium_tank_Mk.II_with_18pdr_AA_gunm_1925.jpg| Photo of the British medium tank Mk.II with 18pdr AA gunm 1925 image:Birch_gun_mk1f_variant.jpg|Birch gun mk1f variant image:Birch_gun_mk1e_with_fully_enclosed_turret.jpg|Birch gun mk1e with fully enclosed turret image:Birch_gun_mk1c_during_testing.jpg|Birch gun mk1c during testing image:Birch_gun_mk1_variant.jpg|Birch gun mk1 variant

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