The Ordnance QF 6-pounder 7 cwt, or just "6 pdr", was a British 57 mm gun, their primary anti-tank gun during the middle of World War II, as well as the main armament for a number of tanks. It was first used in North Africa in April 1942, and quickly replaced the 2 pounder in most roles, allowing the 25 pounder to revert to its artillery role. The US Army also adopted the 6 pdr as their primary anti-tank gun, known as the 57 mm anti-tank gun M1.

History

Limitations of the existing 2 pounders were apparent even as the gun was first entering service, and an effort was started to replace it with a much more capable QF weapon starting as early as 1938. The 6 pounder gun design was complete by 1940, but the carriage design was not completed until 1941. Having an urgent need for anti-tank guns, the British continued production of the established 2 pounder rather than stop production. Instead they built a new production line, further delaying the 6 pounder's entry into service until May 1942.

The 6-pounder easily dealt with contemporary enemy tanks, but over the next year the Germans introduced much heavier designs into service, notably the Tiger I and Panther. The standard 6 pounder shot was insufficient against the front armour of these new designs, but it was still effective against them from other angles.

After entering service, the 6 pounder was given a performance boost (and greater service life) with the development of improved ammunition. The first to be supplied was a "core" design, the APCR shot. This was followed in 1944 by the "Armour-Piercing, Discarding Sabot" (APDS) shot that greatly improved the armour penetrating ability. An HE shell was produced so that it could be used against unarmoured targets as well.

Although the 6 pounder was kept at least somewhat competitive through the war, the Army nevertheless started development of a more powerful weapon in 1942. Their aim was to produce a gun with the same general dimensions and weight as the 6 pounder, but with improved performance. The first attempt was an 8 pdr of 59 calibers, but this version proved too heavy to be used in the same role as the 6 pdr. A second attempt was made with a shorter 48 caliber barrel, but this proved to have only marginally better performance than the 6 pounder. The program was eventually cancelled in January 1943.

Instead the 6 pounder was followed into service by the next generation British anti-tank gun, the 17 pounder which aside from a small batch in 1942 to fight the Tigers, came into use from 1943. As a smaller and more manoeuvrable gun, the 6 pounder continued to be used by the British Army not only for the rest of the World War II, but also for some 20 years after the war.

Specification

• Bore 2.24 in (57 mm)
• Shell types
  • Armour-piercing
    • APC from September 1942
    • APCBC from January 1943
    • APCR from October 1943
    • APDS from March 1944
  • HE
• Range: 5000 yards (4,600 m)
• Muzzle velocity: 3000 ft/s (900 m/s) APDS round
• Penetration: 60 to 140 mm at 1000 yards (900 m) depending on shell/gun combination
• Crew: 6
• Weight: including Carriage: 2520 lb (1140 kg)
• Traverse: 45 degrees left and right of centre.

The gun carriage was of the split trail type with a large gun shield.

Variants

• Mk 2

original version

• Mk 3

tank version of Mk 2

• Mk 4

longer barrel, single baffle muzzle brake.

• Mk 5

tank version of Mk 4

• Airlanding

modified axle to fit in Horsa glider.

• 57 mm M1

US built Mk IV without muzzlebrake

• Molins gun

6 pounder gun minus carriage fitted with automatic loader built by the Molins company, a manufacturer of cigarette vending machines, and fitted to RAF De Havilland Mosquito planes for anti-ship warfare.

See also

• 6 pounder 6 cwt AA gun
• 6 pounder 10 cwt Naval gun

External links

• QF 6 pounder at LemaireSoft
• US M-1 57 mm Anti-tank gun at Militaria: Weapons
• Armor penetration table

World War II British guns | Field artillery | British artillery Anti-tank guns | Tank guns | World War II anti-tank guns | Military Equipment of the British Empire

Armata 6-funtowa | QF 6 pounder