The Ordnance QF 25 pounder (or just 25-pounder or 25-pdr) was the major British field gun/howitzer that was introduced into service just before World War II to replace the 18 pounder Gun and 4.5 inch Howitzer. It was the British Army's primary artillery field piece into the 1960s. Smaller numbers served in training in the United Kingdom until the 1980s, while many Commonwealth of Nations countries used theirs until about the 1970s. 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. Since leaving UK service the 25 pounder has been used in combat during the Battle of Mirbat in 1972 in Oman. One of the last uses of the 25-pounder in combat was by the Cypriot National Guard during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and by Kurds in N Iraq 2003. Ammunition for the weapon is currently produced by Pakistan Ordnance Factories. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1925x1545, 218 KB)A British QF 25 pounder anti-tank gun at the Imperial War Museum. ... The Imperial War Museum is a museum in London featuring military vehicles, weapons, war memorabilia, a library, a photographic archive, and an art collection of 20th century and later conflicts, especially those involving Britain, and the British Empire. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage includes large solid projectiles previously termed shot (AP, APCR, APCNR, APDS, APFSDS and Proof shot). ... The word calibre (British English) or caliber (American English) designates the interior diameter of a tube or the exterior diameter of a wire or rod. ... Look up breech in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... An early naval cannon design, allowing the gun to roll backwards a small distance when firing The recoil when firing a gun is the backward momentum of a gun, which is equal to the forward momentum of the bullet or shell, due to conservation of momentum. ... In ballistics, the elevation is the angle between the horizontal plane and the direction of the barrel of a gun, mortar or heavy artillery. ... (for paintball markers also)Rate of fire is the frequency at which a specific weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. ... A guns muzzle velocity is the speed at which the projectile leaves the muzzle of the gun. ... A field gun is an artillery piece. ... 19th century 12 pounder (5 kg) mountain howitzer displayed by the National Park Service at Fort Laramie in Wyoming, USA A howitzer is a type of artillery piece that is characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small explosive charges to propel projectiles at trajectories with... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Artillery with Gabion fortification Cannons on display at Fort Point Continental Artillery crew from the American Revolution Firing of an 18-pound gun, Louis-Philippe Crepin, (1772 – 1851) A forge-welded Iron Cannon in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Battle of Mirbat took place during the 1970s attempted coup in Oman. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cypriot National Guard (Greek Εθνική Φρουρά) is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus. ... Combatants  Turkey  Cyprus Greek military junta The Turkish invasion of Cyprus, referred as the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation by Turkey was a military action against the island nation of Cyprus by Turkey that resulted in the partition of the Republic of Cyprus. ... We dont have an article called Pakistan Ordnance Factories Start this article Search for Pakistan Ordnance Factories in. ...

Design

The design was the result of extended studies looking to replace both the 18 pounder (84 mm) field gun and the 4.5 inch (114 mm) howitzer, which had been important weapons during the First World War. The basic idea was to build a single weapon with the direct-fire capability of the 18 pounder with the high-angle fire of the howitzer, firing a shell about half way between the two in size, around 3.5 to 4 in (90 to 100 mm) of about 30 pounds (14 kg). QF 18 pounder (Mark IV) Type field gun Nationality UK Era WW 1 Target History Date of design 1916 Production period Number built Service duration 1918 - 1942 Operators British Empire War service WW1 Specifications Carriage wheeled, fixed trail Calibre 3. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

Development during the inter-war period was severely hampered by a lack of money, and it was eventually decided to build a "new" design from existing 18 pounders by converting barrels, but designing a new barrel and carriage for production when funds were available. The result was a 3.45 in (87.6 mm) weapon firing a 25 pound (11 kg) HE shell. It was mounted on late model 18 pounder carriages. One of these used a firing platform and this configuration was adopted for the new build guns. The firing platform was lowered and the gun pulled onto it, providing a flat surface that allowed the gunners to quickly turn the weapon in any direction.

A 25-pdr field gun and limber being towed by a Morris-Commercial Quad, crossing a pontoon bridge at Slaght Bridge in Antrim, Northern Ireland, 26 June 1942.

Unlike 18 pounder, 25 pounder used howitzer type variable charge ammunition. For the Mk 1 Ordnance and 18 pounder cartridge this was limited to three different "charges", Charge 1, 2 and 3. The 'proper' 25-pdr, Mk 2 Ordnance on Mk 1 Carriage, also had charge super in a separate cartridge. An increment for charge super was introduced in 1942 to provide higher velocity for anti-tank shot. Subsequently these increments were added to charges 2 and 3 to give an additional three combinations charges to cover for use with upper register (high angle) fire. The introduction of the increment to charge super necessitated the addition of the muzzle-brake. 25-pdr was separate loading, the shell was loaded and rammed then the cartridge in its brass case was loaded and the beech closed. In British terminology 25 pounder was called "QF" because the cartridge case provided obturation (it provided the gas seal in the breech). Image File history File linksMetadata IWM-H-20971-Morris-C8-Slaght-Bridge-19420626. ... Image File history File linksMetadata IWM-H-20971-Morris-C8-Slaght-Bridge-19420626. ... General characteristics Role Gun tractor Crew 1 + 5 passengers armour none Capacity - Length 4. ... Statistics Province: Ulster County Town: Antrim Area: 2,844 km² Population (est. ... Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... This article explains certain terms used for British ordnance during World War II. BL Bl stood for Breech loading. The shell was loaded and then the propellant after in cloth bags. ...

In common with all British guns of the period the indirect fire sight was 'calibrating'. This meant that the range, not elevation angle, was set on the sight. The sight compensated for the difference in the gun's muzzle velocities from standard. The gun was also fitted with a telescopic sight for use with armour piercing shot. It was also 'one man laying' in accordance with normal British practice.

An important part of the gun was the ammunition limber (trailer). The gun was hitched to it and the trailer hitched to the tractor when on tow. However, the gun did not need a limber and could be hooked directly to a tractor. The trailer carried the ammunition (thirty-two rounds). Ammunition was also carried in the gun tractor along with the detachment and various gun stores. Some stores, such as sights, were carried cased on the gun. Each section (two guns) had a third tractor that towed two ammunition trailers. In military context, caisson is a carrier of artillery ammunition. ...

The gun detachment comprised the following: No 1 - detachment commander (a sergeant), No 2 - operated the breech and rammed the shell, No 3 - layer, No 4 - loader, No 5 - ammunition, No 6 - ammunition, normally the 'coverer' - second in command and responsible for ammunition preparation.

The official 'reduced detachment' was 4 men.

Ammunition

The 25 pounder's main ammunition was the High Explosive (HE) shell, but it could fire smoke shells, star shells, chemical shells, and special projectiles containing propaganda leaflets. In the direct fire role, the 25 pdr was also supplied with a limited amount of 20 pound (9 kg) solid armour piercing (AP) rounds, later replaced with a more potent version with a ballistic cap. A shaped charge version was under development in Canada, but the introduction of the 17 Pounder dedicated anti-tank gun ended its development. A shell is a payload-carrying projectile, which, as opposed to a bullet, contains an explosive or other filling, though modern usage includes large solid projectiles previously termed shot (AP, APCR, APCNR, APDS, APFSDS and Proof shot). ... Sectioned HEAT round with the inner shaped charge visible A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosives energy. ... (Redirected from 17 pounder) The 17-pounder (17-pdr) was a 77 mm anti-tank gun developed by the United Kingdom during World War II. It was the best Allied anti-tank gun of the war, able to defeat all German armor and the equal of all their guns up...

Service

An Australian 25 Pounder at El Alamein in July 1942 (AWM 024515).

The 25 pounder was the main field artillery gun used by British Commonwealth infantry and armoured divisions of all types during the Second World War. Throughout the war each British-pattern infantry division was authorised seventy two 25 pounders, with each of the division's three field Regiments being issued with 24 guns organised into three 8 gun batteries. Armoured divisions had two regiemtns, from 1944 one of these was equipped with the self-propelled 25-pdr nicknamed Sexton. Image File history File linksMetadata 2-8_Field_Regt_(AWM_024515). ... Image File history File linksMetadata 2-8_Field_Regt_(AWM_024515). ... El Alamein is a town in northern Egypt on the Mediterranean Sea coast. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

After seeing the utility of the M7 Priest, the British introduced the similar Canadian-built Sexton, mounting the 25 pdr on a Ram tank chassis (based on the M3 Lee). The British also developed the Bishop, a similar conversion using the Valentine tank chassis. Normally the gun was towed, with its limber, usually behind a Morris C8 4x4 Field Artillery Tractor called a "Quad". The early 18/25 pdrs had been towed in the field by the Dragon a tracked vehicle. The Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 was an American self-propelled artillery vehicle produced during World War II. It was given the official nickname Priest in British service, due to the pulpit like machine gun ring and following on from the Bishop self propelled gun. ... General characteristics Length 20 ft 1 in/ 6. ... The Ram was a Cruiser tank designed and built by Canada in the Second World War, based on the U.S. M3 Medium tank. ... The Medium Tank M3 was an American tank used during World War II. In Britain the tank was called General Lee named after General Robert E. Lee, and its modified version built to British specification, with a new turret, was called General Grant named after General Ulysses S. Grant. ... The Bishop was a British self-propelled artillery vehicle based on the Valentine II chassis. ... The most numerous British manufactured tank of World War II, the Infantry Tank III Valentine was known mainly for its inexpensive cost and high reliability. ... General characteristics Role Gun tractor Crew 1 + 5 passengers armour none Capacity - Length 4. ...

Even by WWII standards, the 25 pdr was at the smaller-end of the scale. Most forces had entered the war with even smaller 75 mm designs, but had quickly moved to 105 mm and larger weapons. However the 25 pdr was nevertheless considered by all to be one of the best artillery pieces in use. The devastation caused by the gun (and the speed at which the British artillery command system could respond) in Normandy and the rest of North-West Europe made many German soldiers believe that the British had secretly deployed an automatic 25 pounder.

A 25 Pounder of the Bermuda Regiment's ceremonial Gun Troop.

The introduction of NATO standardization led to the replacement of the gun with the 105 mm Image File history File linksMetadata Bermuda_Regiment_25_Pounder_Field_Gun. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Bermuda_Regiment_25_Pounder_Field_Gun. ... The Bermuda Regiment Band A Command Centre during IS training. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague. ...

The gun known as the G1 was extensively used in the early stages of the South African Border War by the South African Defence Force, including Operation Savannah. The G1 is still used in the ceremonial role. The Rhodesian Army used the weapon during the Bush War, but by this stage the round couldn't pentrate enemy bunkers. The last British military unit to fire the gun in its field role (as opposed to in a ceremonial role) was the Gun Troop of the Honourable Artillery Company on Salisbury Plain in 1992. Combatants Republic of Angola, Republic of Cuba, SWAPO, USSR, GDR, Republic of Zambia Republic of South Africa, UNITA Scope of operations Operational Area: The South African Border War The South African Border War refers to the conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in South-West Africa (now Namibia... The South African Defence Force (SADF) were the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. ... Operation Savannah was the name given to the South African Defence Forces 1975 - 1976 invasion of Angola during the South African Border War. ... Armorial bearings of the HAC, granted in 1821 The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior[2] in the Territorial Army [3] . // The HAC can trace its history as far back as 1296, but it received a Royal Charter... This article is about the plateau in southern England; Salisbury Plain is also an area on South Georgia Island. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

The gun was extensively used by the Sri Lankan Army during the early years of the Sri Lankan civil war. It still remains in service although only in a ceremonial role. Sri Lankan Army Flag The Sri Lankan Army is a branch of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces with the responsbility of overseeing land-based operations. ... Combatants Military of Sri Lanka Indian Peace Keeping Force Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Commanders Junius Richard Jayawardene (1983-89) Ranasinghe Premadasa (1989-93) Dingiri Banda Wijetunge (1993-94) Chandrika Kumaratunga (1994-2005) Mahinda Rajapaksa (2005-present) Velupillai Prabhakaran (1983-present) Strength 111,000[1] 11,000[1] The Sri...

The MkIII is still in service in the Irish Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) and a significant number are held in active reserve by the Cypriot National Guard. The Irish Army also maintain a 6 gun ceremonial 25pdr battery for use in state occasions. The 25pdr is the longest serving weapon in the Irish Army, having been introduced in 1949, and continuing to be popular with gun crews today. The Cypriot National Guard (Greek Εθνική Φρουρά) is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus. ...

Variants

Mark I

Known officially as the Ordnance, Quick Firing 25 pounder Mark I on Carriage 18-pr Mark IV, or Ordnance, Quick Firing 25 pounder Mark I on Carriage 18-pr Mark V and commonly called the 18/25-pr. The Mark IV carriage was a box trail, Mark V was a split trail. These conversions of the 18 pdr first entered British service in the late 1930s. A few were lost in the Norwegian Campaign and 704 in France, leaving about the same number in UK's global stocks. They served in North Africa (until about late 1941) and Malaya. This mark of 25 pdr was limited to charge 3 due to its 18 pdr carriage. German battle cruisers in a Norwegian port in June 1940 The Norwegian Campaign, lasting from 9 April to 10 June 1940, led to the first direct land confrontation between the military forces of the Allies — United Kingdom and France — against Nazi Germany in World War II. The primary reason for...

Those captured by the Germans, who liked them so much they built up entire artillery units based on them. These units were deployed in Normandy prior to D-Day, leading to somewhat ironic duels between 25 pdr units on either side. The Battle of Normandy was fought in 1944 between the German forces occupying Western Europe and the invading Allies. ...

Mark II

25-pounder with a muzzle brake.

The Mark II, fitted to the Mark 1 carriage was the standard gun during World War 2. They were built in Australia and Canada but mostly in UK. Deliveries (from UK production) started at the beginning of 1940 and first entered service with a Canadian regiment stationed in UK during May 1940. No Ordnance 25-pr Mk 2 on Carriage 25-pr Mark 1 were lost in France. This gun fired all charges, 1 - 3 and Super. A later addition were charge increments. These were added to Charge Super for direct fire anti-tank and necessitated the adoption of a muzzle brake to reduce recoil. Guns with this modification were known as the Mark 2/1. The distinctive brake is a well-known feature of the gun that makes it easily recognized. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1295x779, 260 KB) Summary Description: British Ordnance QF 25 pounder field cannon in Beyt ha-Totchan, Zichron Yaakov, Israel. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1295x779, 260 KB) Summary Description: British Ordnance QF 25 pounder field cannon in Beyt ha-Totchan, Zichron Yaakov, Israel. ... The muzzle brake of the 105 mm gun on an AMX 10 RC fighting vehicle. ... The muzzle brake of the 105 mm gun on an AMX 10 RC fighting vehicle. ...

Mark III

The Mark III ordnance was a Mk.II with a modified receiver to prevent the rounds from slipping back out when loading at high angles. With the muzzle brake they became the Mark III/1, while the Mark IV were identical new-build versions which all featured the brake.

In Burma a local modification produced a narrower wheelbase (by about 20-inches) called the Jury Axle. This was suitable for towing by Jeep and could be loaded into a Dakota aircraft. It was subsequently adopted officially with other minor modifications and a new platform for the narrow wheelbase as the Carriage 25 pdr Mark 2. The Mark 3 Carriage, also narrow, included a hinge to make it easier to fire the gun in the upper register (high angle). High angle fire had been introduced in Italy and used the increments originally introduced for anti-tank fire, adding them to charges 2 and 3 to give 25-pdr 7 charges.

Short, Mark I

A Short 25 Pounder in New Guinea in 1944 (AWM 075609).

The 25 pounder Short Mark I, or Baby 25 pr, was an Australian pack gun version of the 25 pounder, first produced in 1943. This was a shortened version of the standard 25 pounder, mounted on the Carriage 25 pr Light, Mark 1. The Baby was intended for jungle combat and was used in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, during World War II. The gun could be towed by a light vehicle or broken down into 13 sections. During the campaign in New Guinea the gun could be manhandled up steep jungle tracks where trucks could not operate. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (758x800, 114 KB) From en Wiki Australian War Memorial (AWM) catalog number 075609 Sourced from: http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (758x800, 114 KB) From en Wiki Australian War Memorial (AWM) catalog number 075609 Sourced from: http://www. ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Mountain guns are artillery pieces designed for use during mountain combat. ... Year 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about Jungle, the terrain. ... “Fights” redirects here. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Combatants China (from 1937) United States (1941) U.K. (1941) Australia (from 1941) Free France (1941) Netherlands (1941) New Zealand (1941) Canada (1941) Soviet Union (1945) Japan (from 1937)  Germany (1941) Thailand (from 1942) Manchukuo Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Franklin D. Roosevelt Winston Churchill John Curtin Fumimaro Konoe Hideki Tojo... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

QF 25 pounder

• LemaireSoft
• Armor penetration table
• Pakistan Ordnance Factories - current producer of 25 pounder ammunition