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| Changing a barrel, which occurred frequently. Battle of Polygon Wood, September 26, 1917 |
The BL 8-inch howitzer Mark I through to Mark V (1 to 5) were a British improvisation developed early in the war to provide heavy artillery. It used shortened and bored-out barrels from various redundant naval 6-inch guns.
It bore no relation to the later 8-inch howitzer of the First World War, the Vickers 8-inch Mark VI to VIII howitzers which succeeded it.
The weapon entered service in February 1915.
The Mark I–V had many relatively minor differences in the carriages and trails and Mk IV, Mk VI and QF Mk II 6-inch naval gun barrels were used. However, the ballistic characteristics, propellant charges and shells used were similar for all Mks I–V. They are easily identified by their short thick barrel and twin recoil buffers above the barrel.
Mks I–IV were no longer repaired from summer 1917 onwards.
It bore no relation to the later 8-inch howitzer of the First World War, the Vickers 8-inch Mark VI to VIII howitzers which succeeded it.
The weapon entered service in February 1915.
The Mark I–V had many relatively minor differences in the carriages and trails and Mk IV, Mk VI and QF Mk II 6-inch naval gun barrels were used. However, the ballistic characteristics, propellant charges and shells used were similar for all Mks I–V. They are easily identified by their short thick barrel and twin recoil buffers above the barrel.
Mks I–IV were no longer repaired from summer 1917 onwards.
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| 8 inches (204 mm) heavy guns in battery on the Somme in 1916 |
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| At almost full recoil after firing |
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| 8 inch howitzer in action September 1916 LAC 3194238 |
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8 inch howitzer  |
