# Talk:HMS Swiftsure (1903)

Apologies to Johann Wolfgang and others for requisitioning their contributions.
John Moore 309 00:20, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Are there any experts on early British ironclads who could create some text the HMS Swiftsure (1870) article? John Moore 309 00:20, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

Any comments on this photo, and its description at Commons? Andy Dingley (talk) 21:14, 19 July 2011 (UTC)

I originally identified this through discussion with others on the 1914-1918 WWI forum : http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=96947&st=0&p=908234&hl=+7.5%20+inch%20+gun%20+swiftsure&fromsearch=1&#entry908234 . Reasons : the tractor and special trailer were used by Reginald Bacon to transport heavy coastal guns in France & Belgium; the possibilities for the gun based on what Bacon had are 12, 9.2 or 7.5 inch, and it appears closer to 7.5 than 9 inch and only requires a single tractor to tow it; 7.5 inch would make it one of Swiftsure's guns. Rod. Rcbutcher (talk) 05:29, 20 July 2011 (UTC)
I was thinking more of its suitability for an addition to the article. There's a lot of interesting history to the re-use of naval guns around the Great War (the monitors, even the Boer War guns).  There could be a section added to this for what happened to them afterwards (did they have a significant combat history?), we might even get a whole article out of re-use in general. Andy Dingley (talk) 07:45, 20 July 2011 (UTC)
Certainly British recycling of naval guns for land use was an important part of its strategy : as soon as the Navy said it didn't need a gun it was offered to the Army, but it's been sadly under-represented in the literature. I understand that the authoritative text on naval guns ashore in Flanders in WWI is Bacon's own book, but I don't have access to a copy. I understand that the artillery duel with large German guns along the coast was important for the Allies, to keep the northern ports open. There is a one-line entry on the topic in the page for the 7.5 inch Mk III gun, but I think access to Bacon's book is essential to upgrade the topic in Wiki articles. regards, Rod. Rcbutcher (talk) 08:31, 20 July 2011 (UTC)