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Ordnance QF 6-pounder
Ordnance QF 6-pounder was the main anti-tank gun for the British in the middle of the Second World War and also the main armament for a number of armored vehicles. It was first used in North Africa in April 1942 and quickly replaced the Ordnance QF 2-pounder in the anti-tank role, while allowing the Ordnance QF 25-pounder to return to its original artillery role. The US Army also used the "6-pounder" as an anti-tank gun under the designation "57 mm Gun M1".
The "6-pounders" were initially issued to the "Royal Artillery" anti-tank regiments of the infantry and tank divisions in the western theaters of war (four batteries of twelve each) and later six each to the anti-tank platoons of the infantry battalions. An airborne battalion had an anti-tank company with two anti-tank platoons of four guns each. The Far Eastern theater of war had a lower priority and a different organization due to the lower threat from tanks. The gun was also used by Commonwealth troops.
Initially, the anti-tank ammunition consisted of the normal AP tank shell. From January 1943, APCBC armor-piercing shells with an improved tip were also supplied. An explosive grenade against unarmored targets was also produced.
The "6-pounder" could easily take on current enemy tanks, but over time the Germans introduced more powerful and heavier tanks with the Tiger and the Panther. The standard "6-pounder" shell was inadequate against the armor of these new models; the Tiger could not be penetrated by the AP shell from any side, even at close range. However, with special APDS sub-caliber shells, even this weapon could pose a threat to these tanks. In fact, it was a "6-pounder" that put the first two Tiger tanks out of action in the North African theater of war with these hard-core shells.
In the "Royal Artillery" regiments, the "6-pounders" were gradually replaced by the "17-pounders" from 1943, but in infantry units, the gun remained in service until 1960.
Specifications
(1942 – 1960)
- Type: Anti-Tank Gun
- Caliber: 57x441 mmR
- Weight: 2,679 lb (1,215 kg) Mk IV and M1
- Barrel length: Mk II, III: 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m) 43 calibres, Mk IV, V and M1: 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) 50 calibres
- Rate of fire: 15 rpm
- Effective firing range: 1,650 yd (1,510 m)
The Ordnance QF 6-pounder and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Film
| Title | Actor | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Tree of Guernica (L'arbre de Guernica) | Spanish Nationalist soldiers | 1975 | ||
| A Bridge Too Far | British paratroopers | 1977 | ||
| Black Book | Canadian troops | 2006 |
Television
| Title | Actor | Character | Notes | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legends of Tomorrow - Season 2 | German soldiers | Ep. "Fellowship of the Spear" | 2016 |
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears As | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty 2 | 2005 | ||
| Forgotten Hope 2 | 2007 | ||
| Men of War | "QF 6-pdr" | 2009 | |
| Company of Heroes 2 | "Ordnance QF 6-pounder" | 2013 | |
| Call of Duty: WWII | Mounted on Crusader Mk. II tanks | 2017 | |
| Battlefield V | 2018 | ||
| Post Scriptum | 2018 | ||
| Enlisted | 2021 |
57 mm Gun M1
In the spring of 1943, the experience of the African campaign led to the realization of the need to use a heavier anti-tank gun than the previous 37 mm M3. According to an organizational table for equipment dated 26 May 1943, a regimental anti-tank company had nine 57-mm guns and each battalion had an anti-tank platoon with three guns each, resulting in 18 guns per regiment. 1½ t Dodge 6x6 trucks were provided as towing vehicles. By mid-1944, the M1 was the standard Pak of the US infantry on the Western Front, outnumbering the M3 in Italy.
Due to the unexpected entry into service of the new weapon, AP ammunition was the only type of ammunition produced in 1943. Explosive shells only reached the battlefield after the Normandy campaign, but not in large numbers either. This limited the effectiveness of the M1 in infantry support.
The US Army also used a limited number of British '6-pounders' on the Mk. 3 mount, which was designed to be transported in an Airspeed Horsa glider. These guns were used to replace the 37 mm M3s before the Normandy airborne landings.
The M1 was decommissioned shortly after the end of the war.
The 57 mm Gun M1 and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Video Games
| Game Title | Appears As | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company of Heroes | "M1 57mm Anti-Tank Gun" | 2006 | |
| Company of Heroes 2 | "M1 57mm Anti-Tank Gun" | 2013 | |
| Enlisted | 2021 |