NationMaster - Encyclopedia: QF 25 pounder

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 and was the British Army's primary artillery system into the 1950s. Smaller numbers served until 1967 in the training role in England, while many British Commonwealth countries used theirs until about the same time. It was considered by most involved to be the best field artillery piece of the war, combining high rates of fire with a particularly lethal shell in a highly mobile system. While of smaller calibre than contemporary post-war designs, it was only replaced due to NATO standardization, and its users were not particularly enthusiastic about its replacement. The last use of the 25 pdr in anger by British troops was 1972 in Oman 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. ... Imperial War Museum, Lambeth, London The original location of the Imperial War Museum was the Crystal Palace, located at the top of Sydenham Hill. ... Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the most populous city in the European Union, with an estimated population on 1 January 2005 of 7. ... The word caliber (American English) or calibre (British English) comes from the Italian calibro, itself from the Arabic quâlib, meaning mould. ... Ordnance is a general term for a quantity of military equipment, usually specifying the ammunition for artillery, bombs, or other large weapons. ... 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. ... A field gun is an artillery piece. ... Loading a WW1 British 15 in (381 mm) howitzer A howitzer or hauwitzer is a type of field artillery. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, most of which were once governed by the United Kingdom and are its former colonies. ... The NATO flag NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on April 4... The Battle of Mirbat took place during the 1970s attempted coup in Oman. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ...

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). The 18-pounder Gun was the standard British Army field gun of the World War I era. ...

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 converted using new liners and pneumatic road wheels to allow towing. The result was a 3.45 in (88 mm) weapon firing a 25 pound (11 kg) HE shell. It was mounted on the original 18 pdr's single-trail design, which included a circular track under the trail. When used in the direct fire role, the track was dropped to the ground under the wheels, providing a flat surface that allowed the gunners to quickly turn the weapon in any direction.

Whereas earlier designs had used fixed ammunition with the shell and gunpowder in a single round, the new design looked to increase flexibility by providing a variety of different propellant loads. The result was three different "charges", Charge 1, 2 and 3. Rounds would be fitted with the proper charge prior to firing, at which point the gun could be loaded just as quickly as with older single-charge designs. This variety allowed the gun to fire either high-angle or direct at various ranges, without overstressing the system. To these were added two sub-charges to cover the ranges between the 3 main charges and a super-charge that gave a maximum range of 13,400 yards (12,250 m). The introduction of the supercharge necessitated the addition of the muzzle-brake to later models.

The gun was fitted with a telescopic sight for engaging armoured vehicles and other targets in the direct fire role as well as the standard sight for indirect fire. The large gunshield gave cover for the gunners and could take a periscope. Search and attack periscopes of a French-built Scorpene type submarine. ...

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. The limber carried the ammunition (thirty-two rounds) and a selection of stores and the gun tools.

Ammunition

The 25 pounder's main ammunition was the High Explosive (HE) shell, but it could fire smoke shells, star 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 shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the released 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

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 M3 Medium Tank was an American tank used during World War II. In Britain the tank was called Lee and its modified version, with a new turret, was called Grant. As a rush job intended to be brought from design to production in a short period, the M3 was... 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, and in particular its HE round was particularly deadly due to excellent embrittlement of the metal casing.

The introduction of NATO standardization led to the replacement of the gun with the 105 mm, but many of these proved to be less reliable in combat as a result of trying to make a larger gun of the same weight as the 25 pdr. This kept the 25 pdr in operation with mountain and airborne units for many years, its replacement generally being mortars as opposed to newer artillery units. The NATO flag NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on April 4... US soldier firing an M224 60-mm mortar. ...

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. The Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) is the oldest surviving regiment in the British Army, and the second most senior. ... This article is about the plateau in southern England; Salisbury Plain is also an area on South Georgia Island. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

Variants

Mark I

Known officially as the Ordnance, Quick Firing 25 pounder Mark I, or QF 25 pdr Mk.I in short, these conversions of the 18 pdr first entered British service in the early 1930s. Often referred to as the 18/25 pdr, the majority of these were lost in the early campaigns of the war in Norway. Many of these were 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

The Mark II, many of which were built by Canada in Sorel, Quebec, entered service with the Royal Canadian Artillery in 1940. A later addition was the "super" charge to increase the gun's range to 13,400 yards (12,250 m), the power of which put extra stresses on the carriage 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. ... Sorel Town in central Quebec at the confluence of the Richelieu River and the St. ... The muzzle brake of an AMX 10 RC. Muzzle brake of the Sig 550 rifle The S&W Model 500 is among the rare handguns to feature a muzzle brake. ...

Mark III

The Mark III gun 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. A Mark 2 Carriage was developed for easier towing, and the Mark 3 Carriage included a hinge to allow the gun to be fired at much higher angles. Neither carriage was very reliable though, and not widely used. With the introduction of dedicated anti-tank guns, the single-trail design was no longer considered important, and the Mark 5 used a split-trail design with a much wider angle of traverse. The Australians developed a "cut down" version on a lighter mounting as the 25 Pounder Short Mark I. (Redirected from 25 Pounder Short Mark I) The 25 pounder Short Mark 1 (Baby 25 pr) was an Australian pack gun version of the British 25 pounder howitzer, first produced in 1943. ...

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