Introduced in 1941 to replace the elderly 6-inch 26cwt howitzer, the 5.5-inch became the standard gun of British medium artillery regiments, fighting from North Africa through Italy and North-West Europe. It fired a heavy 100lb shell out to about 16,200 yards, or a lighter 82lb shell introduced in 1944 to reach 18,100 yards, and it remained in British and Commonwealth service for decades after the war.
A 5.5 Inch Gun Crew on the Italian Front, 10 January 1944 The crew of the 5.5 inch gun await the order to commence firing, near Sessa Aurunca, Garigliano River Valley, Italy.War Office official photographer, Gade (Lt) · Public domain · sourceA 5.5 Inch Gun Crew on the Italian Front, 10 January 1944 Gunner Kelford, of Buckley, Chester, the gun layer, at the 5.5 inch gun, near Sessa Aurunca, Garigliano River Valley, Italy.War Office official photographer, Gade (Lt) · Public domain · sourceLAC caption : Unidentified signaller receiving the order to fire a 5.5-inch gun of a Medium Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery (R.C.A.) south of Vaucelles, France. Comment : The photograph also shows a stack of sheBell, Ken · Public domain · sourceItalian Army - BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun in the base of the former 5th Mountain Artillery RegimentNoclador · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
