1939 Hotchkiss? Cannon, British Embassy, Baghdad

[scottfromgeorgia]

Folks, I can't let Mike dominate with his travel pics of artillery. Here are some pics of an interesting cannon parked in front of the British Embassy in Baghdad. It seems to be a 1939 breechloading field piece (see mark of George VI RI) - my guess is that it is a Hotchkiss.  Perhaps it was brought to the region as part of the British invasion of April and May 1941, in which the Iraqi army was defeated in a few weeks. Note the interesting sighting mechanism.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97483618@N00/sets/72157630357913632/

[emike123]

Neat.  I think this may be it (& in notes it comments on a surviving piece in Iraq):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_3.7_inch_Mountain_Howitzer

[scottfromgeorgia]

That seems to be it, Mike. Good work in finding that Wikipedia article. How did you find it? Best, Scott

[emike123]

I Googled 3 terms: "1939," "Hotchkiss" and "Howitzer" and this is what came up.  I did not see any reference to Hotchkiss in my brief read of the Wikipedia article, but I figured it was a howitzer being so short and stubby.

Stay safe if you are still over there.  If not, welcome home.

[swest47]

Wow, that an ugly gun! 

[scottfromgeorgia]

I think you are mixing up the gun and the guy.

[scottfromgeorgia]

The British Embassy confirmed that the gun they have is the same as the one cited in the Wikepedia article. So there seems to be only one of them known in Iraq. If I could ever shake my security guys, I could move around a little and see what else is there.