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Ordnance QF 25-pounder

1939 ANGOLAN BUSH WAR COLD WAR WORLD WAR 2

History of the Ordnance QF 25lb

After the First World War (1914-1918), British Army authorities were persuaded by the prospect of combining the best elements of field artillery and infantry howitzers on an effective battlefield. Evaluations took place in the 1920s and 1930s, but the project did not gain momentum until the mid-to-late 1930s, when the threat of Nazism and an unstable Europe were felt.

By this time, the project had received full attention as the Army attempted to replace its aging 18-pound field gun array as well as its remaining old 4.5-inch howitzers.

The first iteration of the weapon system was dubbed the Ordnance QF, 25-pdr Mk I by mating an all-new barrel with the box mount of an existing 18-pound field gun. By the time Britain's British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in Europe entered World War II in 1939, the guns were already in abundance. However, the brutal German conquest forced the BEF and its allies to a stalemate in Dunkirk.

After heroically saving those who could be dragged from France, the abandoned 25-pounder fell into the hands of the Germans.

Despite this loss, work progressed on a more explicit form of the 25-pounder, known as the 25-pdr Mk 2 on the Carriage 25-pdr Mk I. These are basically the really needed successors to the aforementioned 18lb and 4.5in guns. The value of this system lies in its relatively lightweight construction and ability to fire as a line-of-sight field gun and an indirect line-of-sight howitzer by varying the charge and barrel height used. A vertical sliding bolt mechanism was installed to speed weapon reloading.

Large rubber tire wheels straddle the split trailer unit, and additional gun shield mounting hardware provides nominal protection for riflemen behind. A circular "table" was added under the gun, allowing the gunner to rotate the gun with relative ease.

The first use of these guns was in the North African campaign (Battle of El Alamein), where it was soon discovered that these guns could perform triple duty, proving to be effective anti-tank guns against German and Italian tanks. It was also noted that the base shells used had only so much potential to destroy armor, so additional ammunition was recommended to achieve the desired penetration.

This, in turn, led to the installation of a large muzzle brake on the business end of the gun, and this form of gun finally reached the pinnacle of design.

Various other infantry-level forms were developed, including low beam weapons for jungle warfare and airborne troops (such as the 25-pdr Mk 2 on the Carriage 25-pdr Mk 2). The Mountain Warfare model is a 25-pdr Mk 2 produced on a Carriage 25-pdr Mk 3. The Australians developed a modified "folded" version.

In addition to its widespread acceptance on the battlefield, this gun also formed the main gun of the Canadian self-propelled artillery "Sexton" (described in detail elsewhere on this site).

The 25-pounder was used by a wide range of operators during and after the war, proving that British engineering was very reliable as the system could withstand the rigors of all types of warfare. In the post-war era, its reliability, range and firepower were still valued and it was widely used.

Countries used the weapon until the 1960s, while others reserved it for ceremonial services.