"Cracker Battery"
	Three and later four 25pdrs donated to Oman by the Jordanians were situated in the camp and used for defence. Their main use was to quickly retaliate in the hope of catching the adoo when they fired their Chinese 75mm RCLs into the camp. The threat to the camp from the very accurate 82mm Chinese mortars had largely been contained by establishing the hedgehog line which effectively put them out of range. They could however bring in a baseplate one night, camouflage it and the tube, fire off a few rounds the next night, camouflage it again and recover it later. There were a number of UK Officers, Warrant officers and sergeants and a large number of Omani gunners who were under training. The Ordnance QF 25 pounder, or more simply, 25-pounder or 25-pdr, was introduced into service just before World War II, during which it served as the major British Field Gun/howitzer. It was considered by many to be the best field artillery piece of the war, combining high rates of fire with a reasonably lethal shell in a highly mobile piece. It was the British Army's primary artillery field piece well into the 1960s, with smaller numbers served in training units until the 1980s. Many Commonwealth of Nations countries used theirs in active or reserve service until about the 1970s and ammunition for the weapon is currently being produced by Pakistan Ordnance Factories. It had a range of up to 12.25kms with supercharge. Details above are from Wikipedia
	The artillery ammunition that was used in Oman was said to have come from Pakistan. The base of the cartridge case with its primer that is shown below was used by Cracker Battery. It does appear that the primer has been refurbished and perhaps someone can tell me whether or not the lettering on the case suggests that it was UK manufactured and then re-used ? Webmaster
	Cartridge Case   Primer   There are many examples of 25pdr guns around the country apart from the Mirbat Gun at the Firepower! museum. Those interested in seeing other examples can do no better than to visit the Imperial War Museum at Duxford and go to the Land Warfare Hall at the far end of the airfield. It is well worth the walk.
	An account of "Cracker Battery" given to the RA Historical Society by Colonel H.E.P. Colley OBE in 2006 can be found on the internet by clicking on the photograph below: