Introduced in 1904 as one of the spate of new specifications issued following the experience of the Boer War, by 1914 it was the mainstay of the heavy weaponry of the BEF (at this time under Divisional command). The shell fired by this gun was 5-inch calibre (127mm); the shell weighed 60-lb (27.3kg). It had a maximum range of 10,300 yards (9.4km), with this distance being covered in a little under 15 seconds. Weighing 9,856-lb (4.4 tonnes), the gun was hauled by horses, until modifications made to facilitate faster manufacture added another ton. This was beyond horse capacity, so different wheels were added and the 60-pounder otherwise modified to be pulled by a Holt's caterpillar steam tractor. Late in 1915, another modification was made to the way the gun was stowed for a journey, a design which proved better and the Mk III gun carriage replaced the Mk II on all units. Other modifications extended range to 12,300 yards (11.2km).
