Ordnance QF 6-pounder

Ordnance QF 6-pounder
Name	Ordnance QF 6-pounder
Caption	A 6-pounder Mk II on its Mk I carriage.
Origin	United Kingdom
Type	Anti-tank gun
Service	1942–1960s
Used by	British Army, United States Army, Soviet Union, others
Wars	Second World War, Korean War
Designer	Woolwich Arsenal
Design date	1940
Manufacturer	Various
Production date	1941–1945
Number	~15,000
Weight	2,520 lb (1,143 kg)
Length	16 ft 4 in (4.98 m)
Part length	43 calibres
Width	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Height	4 ft 1 in (1.24 m)
Cartridge	Fixed QF 57×441mmR
Calibre	2.244 in (57 mm)
Action	Quick-firing
Rate of fire	15 rpm
Muzzle velocity	2,700–2,950 ft/s (823–899 m/s)
Effective firing range	1,650 yd (1,509 m)
Max range	5,000 yd (4,572 m)
Sights	No. 22C telescopic

Ordnance QF 6-pounder. The Ordnance Quick-Firing 6-pounder was a British 57 mm anti-tank gun developed during the Second World War. It became the primary anti-tank weapon of British and Commonwealth forces from mid-1942, replacing the underpowered Ordnance QF 2-pounder. Renowned for its reliability and good penetration, it saw extensive service in all theatres of the war and was widely used by Allied nations, including the United States Army and the Soviet Union.

Development and design

The need for a more powerful anti-tank gun than the Ordnance QF 2-pounder was recognized before the outbreak of the Second World War. Design work began at the Woolwich Arsenal in 1938, but production was delayed to prioritize the manufacture of the 2-pounder during the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain. The gun finally entered production in late 1941. Its design featured a long barrel, a modern split-trail carriage, and a semi-automatic vertical sliding breech block that enabled a high rate of fire. The weapon was robust, relatively lightweight for its power, and could be manhandled by its crew over short distances, making it highly effective in defensive and mobile operations from the Western Desert Campaign to the Battle of Normandy.

Service history

The 6-pounder first saw combat in May 1942 during the Battle of Gazala in North Africa, where it proved capable of defeating all contemporary German tanks, including the Panzer III and Panzer IV, at typical combat ranges. It formed the backbone of British anti-tank units through the Italian Campaign and the Northwest Europe campaign. The United States Army adopted it as the 57 mm Gun M1, using it extensively from the invasion of Sicily onwards. The Soviet Union also received significant numbers via Lend-Lease. While increasingly outmatched by heavier German armour like the Tiger I and Panther later in the war, it remained effective against most targets and saw post-war service in conflicts such as the Korean War.

Variants

The main production variants were the Mk II, Mk IV, and the most common, the Mk V, which had a longer barrel for improved velocity. A version for airborne forces, the 6-pounder Mk III, featured a lightweight barrel and a cut-down shield. The gun was also adapted for vehicle use, becoming the primary armament for several important armoured fighting vehicles. These included the Crusader III tank, the Valentine Mk IX and X, the Churchill Mk III and IV, and the purpose-built tank destroyer M10 Achilles. The AEC Armoured Car also mounted the weapon in its later marks.

Ammunition

The gun fired a fixed round of 57×441mmR calibre. Its primary armour-piercing round was the AP Shot, Mk 9T, a tungsten-cored APCR (Armour-Piercing, Composite Rigid) round introduced to counter heavier German armour. The more common APCBC (Armour-Piercing, Capped, Ballistic Capped) shot, such as the APCBC Shot, Mk 10T, offered good all-round performance. Later in the war, the highly effective APDS (Armour-Piercing, Discarding Sabot) round was developed, dramatically increasing penetration. The gun could also fire a useful High-Explosive (HE) shell for use against infantry and unarmoured vehicles.

Operators

The primary operator was the British Army, and it was standard issue across the British Empire, including forces from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India. Major Allied operators included the United States Army (as the 57 mm M1) and the Soviet Union. It was also supplied to or used by various other Allied and post-war nations, such as France, Poland, Yugoslavia, and South Africa. Many former operators continued to use it into the 1950s and 1960s, with some seeing action in regional conflicts following decolonization.

Surviving examples

Numerous 6-pounders survive in museums, memorials, and private collections worldwide. Notable examples are displayed at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, the Bovington Tank Museum, and the South African National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg. In the United States, examples can be seen at the United States Army Ordnance Museum and the National Museum of the United States Army. Many also remain as static memorials in Commonwealth countries, such as at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra and in town squares across the United Kingdom.

Category:Anti-tank guns of the United Kingdom Category:World War II anti-tank guns Category:57 mm artillery