QF 2.95 inch Mountain Gun

QF 2.95 inch Mountain Gun
British QF 2.95 inch mountain gun, Cameroons and Togoland campaign, WWI
Type	Mountain gun
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1897 - World War II
Used by	British Empire United States Philippine Commonwealth
Wars	World War I, World War II
Production history
Manufacturer	Vickers
Specifications
Weight	236 lb (107 kg) gun 830 lb (380 kg) total
Barrel length	31.6 in (0.80 m) bore; 35.85 in (0.911 m) total
Width	32 in (81 cm)
Height	26 in (66 cm), barrel axis 36 inches, wheel
Shell	QF fixed round. 12.5 lb Common shell; 18 lb Double common shell; 12.5 lb Shrapnel
Calibre	75-millimetre (2.953 in)
Recoil	14 in (360 mm); short recoil hydro-spring
Carriage	Wheeled, box trail, assembly
Elevation	-10° - 27°
Traverse	0°
Rate of fire	14 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	920 ft/s (280 m/s)
Maximum firing range	4,825 yd (4,412 m)

The QF 2.95 inch mountain gun was the designation given by the British to a Vickers 75mm calibre gun. It was originally produced for the Egyptian Army. It was taken into British service in the late 19th Century to provide the 'movable armament' at some coaling stations. Also known as 'The Millimetre Gun', it was used by the West African Frontier Force in several theatres in Africa during World War I. It was also used by USA and Philippines.

The weapon could be broken down and carried by 4 horses or mules, or in British use in Africa by men.

The weapon was not adopted by the British Army or the Indian Army, which used the BL 10 pounder Mountain Gun and later the BL 2.75 inch Mountain Gun, but it was used from 1901 by the defence forces of some British African colonies as part of the Royal West African Frontier Force (WAFF). The officers and most NCOs were British, and the gunners, gun carriers and some NCOs were African. As part of the British Empire these units became part of the British war effort in World War I.

Thirty guns were originally supplied to West Africa (Sierra Leone, Gold Coast and Nigeria). Guns involved in the West Africa campaign were Sierra Leone Company RGA (6 guns), Gold Coast Battery WAFF (6 guns), 1st and 2nd Nigerian Battery WAFF (6 guns each).

Guns of the Gold Coast Battery fired the first British Empire artillery rounds of World War I, in the attack on Khra in Togoland on 22 August 1914.