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155 mm Creusot Long Tom

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155 mm Creusot Long Tom
Long Tom being loaded during the siege of Mafeking
Typesiege gun
Place of originFrance
Production history
ManufacturerSchneider et Cie, Le Creusot, France
Specifications
Mass6,500 kilograms (14,300 lb)
Length7.5 metres (25 ft)
Barrel length4.2 metres (14 ft)

Shell94 pounds (43 kg)
Caliber155 millimetres (15.5 cm)
Maximum firing range9,000 metres (30,000 ft)

The 155 mm Creusot Long Tom was a French siege gun (artillery piece) manufactured by Schneider et Cie in Le Creusot, France and used by the Boers in the Second Boer War as field guns. [1]

Four guns, along with 4,000 common shells, 4,000 shrapnel shells and 800 case shot were purchased by the South African Republic (informally known as the Transvaal) in 1897. The guns were emplaced in four forts around the country's capital, Pretoria.[2]

Second Boer War

Profile view of the 155 mm Creusot Long Tom replica in the Long Tom Pass, Mpumalanga.

During the Second Boer War the guns were deployed as field guns and siege guns at Vaal Krantz,[3] Ladysmith, Mafeking, Kimberley and Bergendal. During the early stages of the war these guns gave the Boers an advantage as they had longer range than any British guns that were deployed in South Africa at the time.[4] After all their ammunition had been expended, the guns were destroyed one by one, to prevent them from falling into British hands.

Long Tom shells are incorporated in the Honoured Dead Memorial in Kimberley, commemorating those who fell in the town's defence, where they surround the gun called Long Cecil (built in Kimberley during the siege by George Labram, and a catalyst in the Boers bringing Long Tom to the siege).

Long Tom replica at Fort Klapperkop

Replicas of the original cannons can be seen at various places in South Africa, including Fort Klapperkop near Pretoria, in the Long Tom Pass in Mpumalanga, The Anglo-Boer War Museum in Bloemfontein (formerly the War Museum of the Boer Republics) and next to the town hall in Ladysmith.

Location of Long Tom emplacements

Pretoria Forts

After the abortive Jameson Raid the government decided to build four forts around the capital, Pretoria. These were called Fort Schanskop, Fort Klapperkop, Fort Daspoortrand and Fort Wonderboompoort. A Long Tom was placed in each fort.

Fort name WGS84 Google Earth search Coords
Schanskop 25°46'39"S, 28°11'06"E Fort Schanskop 25°46′39″S 28°11′06″E / 25.77750°S 28.18500°E / -25.77750; 28.18500
Klapperkop 25°46'49"S, 28°12'36"E Fort Klapperkop Heritage Site 25°46′49″S 28°12′36″E / 25.78028°S 28.21000°E / -25.78028; 28.21000
Daspoortrand 25°43'59"S, 28°04'36"E Fort Daspoortrand 25°43′59″S 28°04′36″E / 25.73306°S 28.07667°E / -25.73306; 28.07667
Wonderboompoort 25°41'32"S, 28°11'39"E Fort Wonderboompoort 25°41′32″S 28°11′39″E / 25.69222°S 28.19417°E / -25.69222; 28.19417

After war broke out, three Long Toms were sent to the Natal front and the remaining one sent to Mafeking.

Mafeking

Long Tom at Jackal Tree near Mafeking
Long Tom at Mafeking
Long Tom's epaulments at Mafeking

The Long Tom arrived at Mafeking on 23 October 1899. It was hurriedly emplaced on a height called Jackal Tree, about 3,500 yards south of Mafeking on the Geysdorp road. The next day it hurled its first shell into town.[5]: p. 150. On 6 November the Long Tom was moved to a new position, about 3,000 yards east of Cannon Kopje.[5]: p. 155. On 14 February 1900 the Long Tom was moved to the western side of town, but did not remain there for long.[5]: p. 168.  On 11 April the Long Tom was sent back to Pretoria, having thrown nearly 1,500 shells into Mafeking.[5]: p. 173. 

Ladysmith

Sketch map of the positions in November 1899

Initially the Boers had two Long Toms. The bombardment commenced on 2 November 1899, with one of the Long Toms firing from Pepworthy Hill.[6]: p. 156.  The second Long Tom was emplaced on Bulwana Hill and started firing on 8 November.[6]: p. 158. [7]

On 27th November the Boers brought a third Long Tom and emplaced it on Middle Hill. Two old howitzers were brought up and one had a lucky shot, killing or injuring nine Boer gunners and damaging the Long Tom itself.[6]: p. 163.  .[8] The Boers moved the Long Tom on Pepworth Hill to Gun Hill (Lombardskop) on or about 7 December. A couple of nights later the Brits launched a commando attack again this gun, damaged its muzzle with a charge of gun cotton and removed its breach block.[6]: p. 168. 

Emplacement ±Location (WGS84) Coords
Pepworth Hill 28°30'S, 29°49'E 28°30′S 29°49′E / 28.500°S 29.817°E / -28.500; 29.817
Bulwana 28°35'S, 29°51'E 28°35′S 29°51′E / 28.583°S 29.850°E / -28.583; 29.850
Gun Hill 28°33'S, 29°51'E 28°33′S 29°51′E / 28.550°S 29.850°E / -28.550; 29.850
Middle Hill 28°37'S, 29°45'E 28°37′S 29°45′E / 28.617°S 29.750°E / -28.617; 29.750

Vaalkrans

One of the Long Toms at Ladysmith was taken forward for use during the Battle of Vaal Krantz. Prior to 5 February 1900 an emplacement had been prepared for it on a hill called "Doringkop"(Thorn Hill). The gun arrived at Vaal Krantz on 5 February, but could not be placed on the hill because one of its wheels had broken and the hill was too steep anyway. The Boers managed to get it to the top that night. It started firing at 05:15 the next morning. British return fire only managed to destroy one of it ammunition wagon, but the setback was temporary. [9]

Emplacement Location (WGS84) Coords
Doringkop 28°40'42"S, 29°40'11"E 28°40′42″S 29°40′11″E / 28.67833°S 29.66972°E / -28.67833; 29.66972

Kimberley

"The Jew" being transported to the Siege of Kimberley

The Long Tom damaged by the British commandos on 7 December 1899 was taken back to Pretoria for repairs. There the front end of the muzzle was cut off and henceforth the gun was known as the Jew. The breechblock was replaced and it was ready for action. It was then sent to Kimberley, where it was emplaced on a mine dump next to the Kamfers Dam on 6 February 1900.[10]

Emplacement Location (WGS84) Coord
Kamfers Dam 28°41'07"S, 24°46'23"E 28°41′07″S 24°46′23″E / 28.68528°S 24.77306°E / -28.68528; 24.77306


Diamond Hill

The battle of Diamond Hill took place east of Pretoria in June 1900.There was one Long Tom mounted on a railway truck parked at the Vandermerwe Station[11] It is not known whether it fired a shot.

Place name Location (WGS84) Coords
Vandermerwe Station 25°43'28"S, 28°29'43"E 25°43′28″S 28°29′43″E / 25.72444°S 28.49528°E / -25.72444; 28.49528

Bergendal

The Battle of Bergendal was the last set piece battle of the war and took place near Belfast, Mpumalanga, in August 1900. It was the only occasion on which all four Long Toms were used in the same battle.

Gun A. Before the battle started this gun was at Dullstroom. It was then moved to a hill south of the farm De Zuikerboschkop,north-west of Belfast.[12] The emplacement has not been found, but should be in the vicinity of 25°37'15"S, 29°56'52"E(WGS84). The cavalry drove it away on 26 August. After the battle it probably escaped to Lydenburg and then into the nearby bushveld.

Gun B. This gun was placed on the farm Waterval on a ridge called Witrant.[13] The location of the emplacement is 25°37' 55"S, 30°09'02"[WGS84]. On 27 August it was moved forward. After the battle it escaped past Helvetia to Lydenburg and from there over the pass to Spitskop, Ohrigstad and eventually to Haenertsburg.[14]

Gun C. Initially this gun was mounted on a railway truck. Around 7 August it was moved to the Elandskop vicinity.[13] This emplacement, marked "C1", is situated at 25°46'13"S, 30°12'50"E (WGS84). Before 23 August the gun was moved to a place south-west of Dalmanutha station ("C2")situated at 25°46'14"S, 30°09'05"E [WGS84].[15] Thereafter it was moved to hill 1881 behind the ZARPs (C3) at 25°44'10"S, 30°07'00"E (WGS84) .[13] After the battle it fled past Helvetia to Lydenburg and from there over the pass to Spitskop, Ohrigstad and eventually to Haenertsburg.[16]

Gun D. This gun remained on the farm Driekop throughout the battle.[17] The emplacement was found at 25°48'11"S, 30°10'22"E [WGS84]. After the battle it was taken to Komatipoort via Barberton.

Long Tom emplacements during Battle of Bergendal
Gun Location
A 25°37′15″S 29°56′52″E / 25.62083°S 29.94778°E / -25.62083; 29.94778
B 25°37′55″S 30°09′02″E / 25.63194°S 30.15056°E / -25.63194; 30.15056
C1 25°46′13″S 30°12′50″E / 25.77028°S 30.21389°E / -25.77028; 30.21389
C2 25°46′14″S 30°09′05″E / 25.77056°S 30.15139°E / -25.77056; 30.15139
C3 25°44′10″S 30°07′00″E / 25.73611°S 30.11667°E / -25.73611; 30.11667
D 25°48′11″S 30°10′22″E / 25.80306°S 30.17278°E / -25.80306; 30.17278

Long Tom Pass

General Buller pursued the Boers and the two Long Toms retreating towards Lydenburg. The town was captured on 6 September 1900. No sooner had it been occupied, than the Boer Long Toms on the mountain pass to Spitskop opened fire on the town.[6]: p. 463 On 8 September Buller with 12,000 men and 48 guns started ascending the pass in pursuit of Botha and the Long Toms.[6]: pp.465-6. By 9 September the Long Toms had crossed the crescent of the mountain and stopped just beyond the part of the pass known as the Devil's Knuckles. From there they fired their parting shots at the enemy and disappeared into the mist.[6]: p.468.  Today one finds a replica of the Long Tom at this spot and the pass has been named "Long Tom Pass".

See also

Further reading

  • Joubert, H, The Long Tom gun emplacements during the battle of Bergendal, Military History Journal, volume 15, No 4

References

  1. ^ Louis Changuion (2001). Silence of the guns: the history of the Long Toms of the Anglo-Boer War. Protea Book House. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-919825-50-2.
  2. ^ Hall, D.D. (1978-06-03). "THE NAVAL GUNS IN NATAL 1899-1902". Military History Journal. 4 (3). The South African Military History Society. ISSN 0026-4016. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  3. ^ Atkins, John Black (1900). "XIII. We attack Vaal Krantz and fail again". The relief of Ladysmith. London: Methuen. p. 263. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  4. ^ Hall, D.D. (1971-12-02). "Guns in South Africa 1899-1902 Part III and IV". Military History Journal. 2 (2). The South African Military History Society. ISSN 0026-4016. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  5. ^ a b c d Maurice, F & Grant, M.H., History of the War in South Africa 1899 – 1902, London, Hurst & Blackett Ltd, 1908, volume III.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Amery, L.S. (editor), The Times History of the War in South Africa, Part 3, Chapter 7. Cite error: The named reference "Amery" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ Breytenbach, J.H., Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899-1902, Government Printer, Pretoria, 1969, Part 1, chapter 16.
  8. ^ Changuion, supra, p. 49-50
  9. ^ Breytenbach, J.H., Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899-1902, Government Printer, Pretoria, 1969, Part 3, chapter 8.
  10. ^ Peddle, D.E.: Long Cecil, the gun made in Kimberley during the Siege, Military History Journal, The South African Military History Society, Johannesburg, volume 4, No. 1, June 1977
  11. ^ Nel, H.F., Die Slag van Donkerhoek, 11-12 Junie 1900, Scientia Militaria, volume 15, no. 1, p.52 at p. 56.
  12. ^ Breytenbach, J.H., Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, Pretoria, Government Printer,1996, volume VI., p. 318
  13. ^ a b c Reichmann, C & Slocum, S.L’H., Boer War Operations in South Africa 1899 – 1901,Washington,1901 & Scripta Africana, 1987, p. 231.
  14. ^ Changuion, supra, pp.119-128.
  15. ^ Preller, G.S., Die Vier “Long Toms” Die Huisgenoot, 28 May 1937, pages 14 – 15 and 21.
  16. ^ Changuion, supra, pp. 119-128.
  17. ^ Van Rensburg, T. (editor), Vir Vaderland, Vryheid en Eer. Oorlogsherinneringe van Wilhelm Mangold, 1899 – 1902, Pretoria, Raad vir Geesteswetenskaplike Navorsing, 1988, p. 238.