The 2S-pounder Field

Gun 1939-72
CONTENTS
DEVELOPMENT 3
THE FEATURES OF THE 25-POUNDER GUN 8
rhe :\Ik, 1 Ordnance 011 CUTiages :\1\...,1111'1'. ;\I\.... 1\'1' .111(1 :\I\.... "p
The :\Ik. II Ordnann'
CHRIS HENRY has been
inleresled in mllilMy hlslory
since hoe was ill ......11 boy. His
interfll in illrtillery developed
wIlllst a wor1<.,. i111
lhoe Tower 01 Londoflllnd
hoe became Senior Curator lit
lhoe Royal .-..-rles M..-.m
01 Artillery i111 Fort Netson.
He is now the He;ocl 01
CoIleclions at the Museum
01 the Royal Artillery.
AMMUNITION
TOOLS AND STORES
ORGANISATION
1 he d.'I,W!lIllC'!l1
FIELD ARTILLERY TRACTORS
15
16
18
19
AMMUNITION TRAILERS 20
THE 25-POUNDER SELF-PROPELLED VERSIONS 41
The :!:'-poullder l\lk. I Ull Carrier. \';I1t't11illl. :!,r"'pdr, l\1\..., I (Bi,lwp)
l\lolillrillg'. SP. C. :\Ik. I (St'Xloll)

40
22
39
45
48
45
Ordll,IlICe QF 2':>-poum!er Shun (..-\11'1) :\Ik. I Ofl <;,lni;Ij.;(' 1.iJ.;hl
(AIl,I) :\11.,_,_ 1;md II TIll' ami orlll'r De'ig-1I'
VARIANTS
THE 25-POUNDER IN OTHER ARMIES
OPERATIONAL HISTORY
COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY
GLOSSARY
INDEX
MIKE FULLER started his
career in the Brillstl Aerospace
industry, wortllng on both
Harrier and Concorde projects.
He later worked lor MOD
Technical Publlcallons dealing
with armoured flghllng
wehlcles. Now an uperlenclld
Ireelance ilIUSlralor he has
produced llrtwOrk lor a wide
range 01 books and partwo....s.
He has a keen Inlerest In all
areas 01 military history lrom
the ancient world to the
present day.
New Vanguard. 48
OSPREY
------ -
PUBLISHING
-.
The 2S-pounder Field
Gun 1939-72
Chris Henry. Illustrated by Mike Fuller
FnI pullIis/'lMIln GtMI Br\taIfI 2002b'i Of;p-ey PubiIsI'wIg. E'" C<lu'I.
CI"'PtII O>clord 0)(2 9lP. Ufll111ll1frlgdon'l

AI _. from ..., '- dMIng for It-. prIVIlIe StU(Iy.
co-.. 01_, _l*"IMllill uncliw the o.v-.-.d
P.- -":t. 111M no 1*1 pubIcaI.cIn!NY stored ...
__syswn. '" _1n...,ICfmOlb'i"""--'
fIIOllI'IlIng "' __
-..o..t the _ -.. the oopyngIIl_ -*' be

ISBN 1 &tIre 350 0
_......,..,.
K.-. \IaI Gt.-c
_by ...... FUw
o.vr-o by 0.-... DooU IMdIa, UK
.. crw.. -..gI>WOrIlt _ lid
112000010506 10"7&5.32
The --.g--0-. [)red UK PO eo. 1.-0,
'NwIio iQbCfougl\ NNll UnoltlO
". 1011133....., Fp 10111133 &.fJI,oIO
Et!IIot; .,...... 00 .....
The --.g o.p.y DncI US4,
cIo __. PO Ilo>. I.
0I0000k. WI S&02O-OOOI. USA.
---

THE 25-POUNDER FIELD GUN
1939-72
DEVELOPMENT
TIle force to 0per,ltl' a gun in action were IWO
SAS lroopcrs in ,he Omani I)eXl of on 19 Juh 1972. endcr the
command of C<lpt."lin K.cilh, the SAS and members of the Olll:lni
anned force.. fOllglll a nlllning battle of sever..1 hOIll'" a
comrnunb.,influt.'lln'd ctllllic group known a'i the Adoo who wen.'
rebelling again.. t the rule: of the lhcn-currenl Suhall. The 25-pounder
wascmpbl"cd in a protected gUllpitjllSI olilSidc a fon in the lown. It W,ts
fired at poilll blank "mgt' and held on' ,he auackers umillhc SAS relief
force arri\cd to talc conlroJ.
The gun il'\{'lf .. ,ill in exi",ellce alld is d'lled 19-13. Thai it <;lill g,"nC'
good sen.;ce M)1lll' 29 \ car-; laic,' atlcsts 10 the sound dbign and robu<;'
llalUrc of the gun. Fe\\ \,c.lllOlI" (ould be SOlid to ha\e had :ouch a 10llR
life, as modern :lI'Ill:lI11cnts arc in a \en silo... limt:'
Th40 clank 18-pounder field gun,
Inl, ploec a, th40 ba,i, for 1h40
25pounder Mk. I but lacked th40
high tfllj.c:lory Nqulred lor the
modem gun. leourtay 01 RAHT)
3
4
The ".5-lnch howitzer, uHd In
conjunctlon with the 18-pounder
Ileld gun, was a robust, simple
design with e box trell. This style
of trell w.. eventually eccepted
lor the 25-pounder Mk. II.
(Courtesy of RAHT)
and rei\' on a massil'c logi"ties "uppo... w.;tCIl1 10 h't'p them
The story of Ihe of Ihis gUll i, really t\\O storie.... The first
dcals with the 25-pollnder I. or tlte IS'2r.-poundcr as it became
knowli. and COIllCS 10 it wilh Ihe withdr:I\I.11 from Dunkirk. The
deals II'ilh the gUll lhat became the 1110... t famoll.'> British gun of
til(' Second World War. whose "to'1' ("Ol11inll{'d into lhe 1970s. The
intention of this book i" to look al thl' main Wl'''PUlH i1l1l"e b\' thc Uriti"h
Anllr and therefore il will not concelltmtc Ull the experimental ideas
lhal Wt'l'C cmisaged during the dc\'cloprnl'llt orlhe fI'lk. II gUll,
For "eterans of the D('''el'l and all the unit" of the R0Y'II
Regimellt of Artillery who lIsed il during the Second World War, tht:
2!)-pollndcr is ,HI icon gUll, the cololtrs of the regimellt. It can be "aid to
havc begltn as a requircrncill fur the Urilisll AI'lny ill 1919 when lhc \\'ar
Omce discussed the need for flltllre arlll:ll11etlIS, As is the case II'ith much
lIew anillery cqllipmcilt. <111 operational rcqllircmcnt established
and lht'n designs were comidercd. Thi, ,,<IS olkll done in COlUUllclion
,,'jlh the arlllS manufaCHlrer, in this Vicker.. f\nnStrollg:. Although
rnan)' manufacturCI.., werc el'entllallv 10 make Ill(' 2!l-pounder g"un in its
"lriOll.'> guises, it the de'igner" at Vicker.. l\ltO \\ere ke)' to the gun's
dt:... ign alld mallufaCture. The import:mce of the 2:-,..,>ounder \\':.1... that it
\\'as designed as a gUII/hml'it/cr. The combination of charaCteristics of
the IS-pounder field b'l.lIl of the Fir"t World War, with its limited
del.llion and high lI1uo.le It:!ocitl, :ltId the 4,5-inch ho\\'iuel' I\'ith its
high lrajccton' would make thi" lhc most \"cr....llile Briti"h artillc!)'
weapon of the Second World War.
All artillen a tr.ulc-off. A projectile is normally 10
be a certain "'eight .tIIl! to be fired a certain distance. and thi,
the IVlle of barrel and carria!{e needed. In the case of the 25-poundcr. a
stop-gap \'er'ioll and a comp1ctdr Ilew design were COllct.'i\'ed \'irILlal1)
in tandCIll. This did 110t (Ollie abOllt ill a str.ligillforw.u'd war bccau!>c
much less placed on Ihc de\'elopment of new
tcchnolob'Y followill!{ the frightful carnage of Ihe FirSI World War. The
hod}' ill\"Olvcd in this procel>s was lhe Royal f\rtillery Corlllnillee. the
body responsible for ;lIlalysing ;1l1d lesling ne\\' types of artillery
eqllipnrelll. ill wilh the DireclOr. Royal Artillery, Uy
the Artil1cr)' Committee examining mriOIlS options and a
range of 1:\000 for the new equipment. Tht'
prqjecti1c was the puint. Various calibres and weights of
prqjenile wen' considered, 1I0\;lbl}' 3.9-inch and 'I. I-inch projectiles.
The fonner wOllld be lin.'d from Ol quick-firing gUll (the prqjecli1c and
cartridge cal>e loaded lixetl lugether) and the laltcr from a bl't.'cch
loadinl{ (Ill) howiller. ill which the and charge were loaded
scpar;lle!\,. The thinking of Ihe thne apllears to ha\'c been that twO
were net.'ded, It caleul;lIed thaI the larger calibre 6"un should be able
10 allain an effective range of 13.000 ranis with a 33 pound projectile.
The requirement for a gun firing a projectile of 20 10 25
weight ill OClobl.'r 1933 and "'as planned as a 3.7inch
gunjho\l'itl.cr. This was to replace the IWO pre\;ollslr mentioned guns, 11
\\<is 1101 until 1934 thaI a Generdl Staff Specification was isslled ami
models were ordered for lel>! b\' lhe Director, Roral Artillcn, i\1;yor
The 25-pounder Mk, I on Mk. IVP
cemeie, Thi .ctual gun w.. not
litted with the 25-pounder rlfled
.I.."e end we. rec.....ed lrom
Jorden. ICourte.y of RAHT}
5
General II. A. who ordcn."<! comtruclion of the fir"t pmlOt\pe
nux.ld of Lhe 2,>-poullder gllll. ,h often happens. Ihe \\ell.
forced 10 lake ;1 1001... al exisLing equipment and whclher it
could in wille There were. at Lhe lillle. lIlalt\ IS-pounder
guns in :-.Iore. Experiments were made wilh tlu.."SC older gUl1:-. 10 M.'C
whelher lhe\' could be adapll'd 10 accept Ihc I1CW 2}-poumkr projectile,
l\\' 1935. a tk'cbion had been 1;I"el1 10 refil exisLing IS-pounder
jackets \\ith 2:;"pound('I' ol1e.. and adapt their can;ages hI filling Ihcl11
with pnCllmati<: road whc('I" 10 allow 100\;ng al higher b\' a pClrol.
driven \'chick, Tlti:-. rebored gun to be fiul:d with a larger 001 c rifled
liner and becal11e Illc fir'l of the 25-pOLlIldc!' :-.cl;es, known alo Illc
Ordnance QF 25-Ixlr 1\lk, I. Thc rclining of Ihe gun barrel il.sdf
pUloloibk bccauloc Ihc IS-poundc!' barrel made Ill' of:-.en:ral parh: Ihc
rifled bon', known as the ';\' tllbe, could be removed and replan'd with
a new larger horc lim'r of abollt 87.5 mm calibre, new tube
autufn:tlaged, lh:1I j, subjected tu itHernal h)'draulic pressure so th:ll the
1111.'1:11 un the iutlt:r "llrfa(e of 11le bore is strelched be)'ond e1:1"1ic
limil. while lhl' 1l1l't;11 fllnllt.:r away from the intler surface rl'l:litH
daSlicil}.lea\itlg' tllc barn.:1 itt a ulcul1lprcssiull and tlIllch strunger.
This tedltlique slill itl tn;ll1Y harrds lod:ly, Ihe
of 1111.' glltl l'NlllCt'd h} lhe lhe of 1111" old l8-pottmkr
ami only 11,800 yard, could he achio.::n:d. The urigitlal rango.::
rcquirelltl.:nl therefore would never he po..sib1c, and fUrl her
devclopmelll Uti the card.IKe I\Ollld be reqllired to cope willI the
gel1eraled h}' the tlccd fur grcalcr range. The carriage a
dinicuh problem IIll' older IS-pounder had a pole Ihal i, a
JXlle lhal illlel1Cled [0 lx' altachcd to the Iimher bUl fitled
dircClh beluw Ihe bleecll, Tllilo ClJllligunuion affecled Ille gun',
Later of Ihe IR-pounder carriage wen' tIIo\'ing
tIn: kind uf eqllipllll'llI that \\ould e\elllllalh becolllc thc
sland,lrd liekl gun. li'l) 1II,Iin It.r"ioll' I\cre <I\aibb1t;,: (JIle wilh .1 'plil
(the \lk. \'1') .llId mil" I\'ilh ,I ho' mlil (1I1e 111 1\1'). \bout
6 I.no() ()f Illl" \11.... I (\,o,i).(l\ \\t.
0
'(' Clllilcrtcd .md mlod.
A. rear vIew of the 2!1-pounder
on Mk. VP spilt-trail camage,
Only a f_ of theae guns entered
service and moat were loat in
Fr,lnce durlng 1'140. (Courtesy
of RAHT)
The Mk. II 25pounder on Mk. I
cernage. Thi, ver1llon ha
bilrre' with. ,m.1I muu.ie
..tlV,ion .1 th. end .}gnlfylng
thai It w" probably m.de In
Canad". The .h.pe made
m;In<lfaclunt e..ler. (Courte.y
RAKT)
AllILolLgh bOth Vickers and Woohdrh - ill this r;l!<\' the C.. rriage
Department - produced a "'nion 01 ;I ne\\' carriage
neither was re<ill} cOI1'\idered accept .. bk hv til\' gun ncr.. who werc. ancr
all. thl: onl:s who \\'1:1'1: to use the gUll. 01 the two main carriage design'\
pl'OdLLced by ami the ReD at \\'vulwich. the Vicker., .. plit
con'\idl:red in 1937. Ilowen'l". thi .. \I':b nOl to be the linal II'onl 01'\ the box
U'ail conferred ad\,alll.\ge:. in thl: field. III a carria/{I: the
gUll Gill be de\,;:lled to a high anglo.: lhe 01 eech lie.. bel\lel:ll Lite
box '\ides. One has LO /{o b.'lel:. to the I.I-inch Ill. /-;"1111 de.. ign of 1931 to
..c(' where the I 2:l-pounder c.trri.lgc dc..iJ.{1I came from. Vicker.. had
compleled an urder ofa box-trail fUI the gU\el nmcl1l ill
1922 and the model 1922 105 mm h"lIl \I'a'\ the for tIll' !.I-inch Ill.
howiu.e,. The IXlx \e.......imilar 10 th.ll u-.ccl fur the l8-poumkr
Mk. IV. It appears that Vickers profluced the gun in 1931 for trials on
5o.li... bu.... Plain. and examination of this piecl' df'ar" ..how'ithe humped
box :md firing platform in c\idellcc. fhis Gtni,lge \\,IS filled with the
Mk. " barrel and was the beginning of the fiunoul> 2.;'poundcr b,\lIl. In
rl"alitl il "',IS the in'ii'itence of gllllllfl.... in lilt' lit-Id. ('I,..inll fhlling-
that led to the ..doption of a bOkt",il gun.
The 25-poullfh.r as it is lnowlI loda\ i";1 lei) gun from Ihe
18 25-1XltlJlder. It \\'as in del f'lopment as IIll' II 25-pollndcr at ..!xmt
the time a... IS-puunder... IX'ing tU tall' till'
Ilew ,ullIlIlIniliOIl. The II had" \en diITercl1t h:nTcI from I.
GllllllCN wcrc keen 10 ..ee an .lrtil1cn piece lhat cuuld be
through 360 degrccl> man;ed 10 the ofa bux u";:lil. and so the
formal of lhc famoll'i 25-pounder look ..hape. Anillen
Commillee. in a 1l1cmOl',mdlllll dated :i 1926. specified the
reqllirel11elll for ;.\ circular plalfonll. ha... been ...eell. ".I-inch
7
8
glln had till' feature bLllthere also an eXlemporised of thc
firing platform in\'cnlCd h)' Ilogg and Palll and used in 1918. This
piallollll \\':.IS based IIpon a spare wheel and did the same job as the Iatcr
all-steel irl\elllioll. The platform, a steel disc I\'ith projections around its
edge, I\':.IS underneath the trail of the gUll, Whell the gun callie
inlo aClion the platform 10\\'ered and. because of a clever design. it
could be pulled on to the platform b\ the tractor. Once in position. one
lIlall with a could 11':.1\'Crq> the gun in anv direction, This
imlO\':.uion 1I0t ollh a lot of elTon om it also :lSsisted the gun in the
anti-tank role,:lS \Ie shall sec belo\\'. Ccm:rall)'. Vickers m,u11Ifaclltred till'
gun in Bril:iin btll. of the production requiremclILS of the
Second World W.lr, Ihe gun ,,':.Ct c\ellluall> manufactured in Can;ld;1 and
Ausu':.llia b\ prh':.lu:, cotllJ):lIlies. The main manufaclllling plant was at Iht'
\"ickers works in Nc\\'castle and at leO'sl 12.253 were built in Brit;lin alone.
From Seplember 193910 the end of 19-10. \"ickers supplied about two-
thirds of Britain'.. :millen. The relining of the \\Ik. I gun \\':.IS Iargeh
a \"id,ers alTair, and ilS plants in Sheffield and produced
25-poullders a... did ib Scoltish subsidialies. During the W;:lr, other smaller
companie!t \Iert: ill\'ol\l,'d in the manufacturc of the "''tm and its :sp,lre.. ,
but it would nOi be to li ..t Ihem all here.
THE FEATURES OF THE
25-POUNDER GUN
II is \\'onh considering the many different incarnations of the
25-pounde... bllt fir;;t a \\'ol'd of\\'arning alxmt the dilferent marks of gun
that \\'e"e used. Milital1' nOlncndatul'e is notoriously complex and it
worth noting that the 25-poulldc.. ,....Ik. I gun was complelelr diffe..ent
frollt the II. There I\'cre, in fact. thrce main ,"crsions of the ba....el.
three m"in "e..sion.. of tlte c;IlTiage for the [I barrel. two main
\'ersions of the carriage for the I balTel ,uld many. many adaptatiotlS
of the cania,Ke.
The Mk. I Ordnance on Carriages Mk. IIITP, Mk, IVP
and Mk, VP
The Mk. I llUt designed frotn sCI':.llch and.thhough il
ltot a bad gun, lacked all of the excellent design fC<llllres of lhe
'\lk. II. GencI':.llly, lhe '\'Ik, I barrel the all-steel Mk. IV l8-pOlltlder
barrel The barrel il.'iclf con!'>istcd of an aUlOfreltagt:d loo:>t:
liner, jacket. breech ring. oil rt::setyoir and screwcd collar. The breech
an intcrrupted screw breech operated from the right side of the gUll
viewed from lhe ['car, It a breech known as the t\sbur\
breech aftel' il.'i designer and the inten'upted screw known
as the Welin pattenl. Thc inu::rrupted screw was necesS<If\' to that
Ihe bn:cch could be opcncd in onc .. mooth lllotion, The bras!'> cartridge
ensured a gas-tight seal on firing.
The principal carriag:e.. on which thi.. ordnancc W;:1S placed were tlte
'\Ik. IIITI'. '\Ik, [VI' :lIld the "n... VI'. The 'p' desigmHion was uscd to
denote lhal tlte cllTiage was mourHed on pneumatic t\ res. The IWO
former carriage.. were \ en in construction wllere:ls the bller \\':.IS
<JIDNANCE. Q.F. :/S-n.., HAA" I
D!" M.no< __
_OIl .. lMO"",_c.o
c

I'Olm(lO!I 01 I" LOfO
"'1\Ql ..._ 01'("
.-
of spliHrail The 1111'1' and the .\11:. IVI'
designs cOllsi,ting of lhe (fossbar. suspension frame. br-:ll:e
operating gear. cradle c1.1l1lp. and tr.l\crsing gear. '111e trail
m,lIll1!:lclllred in hollo\\ box and it \1'aS ll10lltlted on Ihe
sllspension t1t:,ignnl for lIlechanised The cro...sbar \I';IS
part of the ax1etr{'(, of the IV IS-pounder carriag(' before
cOll\'t:rsion; it h.ld Ihe axlelrec arms tu accollllllodalC a
frame. fr;ulle cOll.\i... led of a lIumber of dilTen:nt
that t'tmblcd lhe and (fadle to be insulatcd from tht:
shocl.. of tra\clling U\cr lhe road at high spt:ed. Thc It,lversing gear un
lhese gUllS alluwed for 4.5 dcgrec... traverse riglll or left of the
position. It cOllld he worl:cd frfl111 ('itllt:r sidt:: of the carriaA"e, that on tilC
right hand ... idt:: beiliK a slow IlIOlion ge,l1' whilsl Ihat 011 [h.:: left could
have slol\' or quicl: l11otion dcp.::nding on tile cllgagcl11I;nt or a clutch.
The bnn"c'r rccupl'r.ltor thai conlrollt:d lhe recoil of the gun worl:ed
ill the later II gUll I,itll a buffer for recoil and a hydroptlcUlllalic
recllpclOItor for rc.'wrnlng lilt.: barrel 10 its original posilion.
The VI' carriage h..d a trail and extended II<1\'erse. Recoil
cOlllrol lhe SillllC :., lhe [VI' but lhe gun \\".IS able to firc at
15 degrees c1('\oltiOlI with lhe legs closed or 37.5 degrees with the
legs open. The maximum depression 5 degrees. The main Ilin of
Ihis carriage was its abilitv to lr.l\'erse 25 degrees left or Tight of Iht'
centre line. which was a big impro\'ement on lhe 1\11:. IVI'. Recoil length
\''as 45 inchc<i. The glln lired from the len side \'ia a mcchanical
linkage \'el) '11I1il<ll" to the othel' gUlls. The barrel. recoil cOlllrol
C<luipmellt and I<Inge indiC;ttOl" were much the S:tme as the IV
GIfI;,lgC but it the axlelrcc. legs ,md ud\Oersing ge;tr that I,ere
A eut.w.y dlll9n1m 01 the
2!1-povnder Mk. t b!'II'e'Ch
.howlr'lg th4' .triker o;a
and breet:h-openlllng I.....r.
Thl. breec:h wa. u.ed on all
.......lon. of lhe Mk. I gun.
(Author'. phofographl

A Hctloned ylew 0' the

25pounder Mk, I barrel showing
the I-.e liner and breech ring.
The muule bush securing ""'w
Willi litted to make su"' Ihat
there was _ movement 01 the
inner liner, (Aulhor's photograph)
--.... -- -
",
o
.....---.-
---
radicalh ahered. The trail ICKS \\ere cOllllected to the axletrec and
cfossbar and \\cre madc of,teel. rh(' ,!),!ctrce h,ld 1\\0 filled
10 il and each u';.lil leg had a met,ll ball brad.el ,II the front. \\l1<'n the
legs were throwll OUlward 10 deplo, lhe gun. IWO bmd..eLS lhat
connected bl a hook to IWO on Ihe ,lUb .Ixic limited the e),len.,ion
of the kl,rs. The sal 011 the 't:al 11!()unted on lhe top plaIt:' of each
leg. The carriage lxxl\' was made of m;llIgalH""t bron/(' and and \\';.1$
the ml\en.ing piln of lhe c-.IITi;lge. II re,h:d 011 the c'lI1;age 1)0(1\
SIIPI)oning br,tcket lhat in IlIm \\';.IS COlllll'Cll"'(1 10 the axletree. The
whole gun and can;ag(' 1)0(1\ .lrT;lngl'm('nt lmn:rscd on the
axletree. The itself \\';.tS di!>llnethe ,md was made of bulletproof
steel. The upper part could be folded c1ml1l \1 hiht u:wcllinl{ bUl the
whole construction was folded OW'I' at each "idl' gi\'inl{ a Ie" dilTerent
appcantllCe 10 the Ialcr II Glniage. rhe real' of the had a
bmckel on the left fol' the case ofa No.i or dial In action.
the gllil could bl' fired ('illll'r with iiI(' II'K' 0Pl'll or dlN'd. although in
Ihe Ialter lhe gUll h;ld limited
The Mk. II Ordnance
The 1'111... II Gill be dc...cribed a 'high n:locil}.lOI11IM1';.lli\'c!y long
wt::apoll Ilsing propellant ch;lrg('S of difrt,rt'lll thai the
relatively I];" tr.-!jeclory Obl;lilled with Ihe call he altert::d
illlu unt:: with a steep ang-It: ufdeM.:elll. Thl.' carri;lgl.' tk... igllcd to give
'10 degree... of and 5 dl'grlTs of wilh a Iral'erSl' of

10
The 2!5-pounder Mk. II breech
snd barrel shown here ar. lrom a
handbook 0' t"o. The
coynterwelghl, normally 'itted
nexl to the breech at the rear of
the barrel, has not been
lHust,..ted. (Author's photog,..phj
,....,-
I
_ ...... .1
degree... TIll' ):;"Illi bolfl d Il,b 1II0UlIlt:d 011 ;t hnlraulic buner willi .1
hnlropncumalic l"({"IIIX'I";llOr. all of\lhich worled within Ihe cradle bo:\
moving I,'ith Ihe gUll b.lIn:1 011 tiring.
The breech \I,\!> ,I \lllical ..liding blocl Ilith a lllechaniGlllirillg loc....
The charg(: of tile hllllllllcantthatlhe propcllam charge,
l\t."rc 100Ided bl irN.r1illg "ql.lr.lle irllo the metal cartridge case, and
a plill1er in:.erted inlo lhe ba..e of lhe ca..e. Loading \\";1.. Glrrit:d OUl bl
placing lhe shell hllO Ih(: brn'ch fir"l and Ihen Ihe cartridge.
One uf Ihe lIlo..1 de\'ice.. fur making the 25-pounder ..0
\,crs:lti\c 11';1.. the firing pl.ltfoflll. There \,en: lWu \cr..ium: the Iargel
:\'0.9 and IIU' 1\:0.22. Ill(' fonJl(:r I)(:in/{ for Ihe .\lk. I carriage. rhe latter
for tht: i\tL II <lnd i\lk. III c'lrria/{e... which were narrower. The toe pl.lle..
of lhe platform dllg imo the grollnd "mllhe gun could be rUlled 011 10
it'> plalfonn in IdH..'n' it ll"Ollld h;t\c 160...degrec 1ll00'Clll('1I1.
could ;llso be C,II ricd our wilhout tht' \"l;'hic1e hut Wilh lhe No.27 lnlilcr
heing used ;l.. a fu!lnull. bUI it "';IS a !ahoriou.. proCC1>s. \\'hen the gun
placed on lilt' plalfonn the 1I,lil I\,l" normally covered. This
tu pre\"ent rhe spack Irolll diggillH" into the ground whell rhe gun
rlccc!ed lO be U';I\"erM.:d r';lpidly for ;mli-tank work.
Thl.: I'rohert scait' \)1" mng:(' rC<ldcr aCled like a llll:chanil":ll
computer and 1I,IIIIt:d alter it.s ill\Clllor. all ;lrtillel1' oOicer nalilcd
ProJx:rl. The 1>call: Olll:11 kllUlHI as a ..mge cone and combilll:d :1
llullllxr of kat II expre"sl:d l:mgenl th<ll the diO'crellce
bctweell lile lil1e of .. ight ,llld the c1e\'ltioll. as range 011 the 1>iglt ..... The
cOile eng"':l\ec! wilh a lang-elll elevation scale on its b,l1>e reading
between 0 and 45 deg-rec... I{ange .. gr.ldualed in ofprds
arc all>O on the cone. In addition. a IUlILLIe \'e1ocit) reader ann
could IX' read orr agaiml lhe cone. The range scale cone made all of the
a<ljusuIlCll!.'> IX'lweell sighting and charge much easi('1" to <;('t
<Iuklh 011 the gUll.
The dial .. ight II:\!> lhc nl.lin indirect fire inSlrumenl of the gunnel". II
could Ix: rel"Ohed IX:lW('('1I 0 and 160 dcgrecs so thai prominent fealllrcs
The 25-pounder 'A' tube,
showing the breech end.
The muule end of the tube has
threaded lectton. which was
melnt to take the Solothom
muule br.lle. (Author.
photographl
11
12
on Ihe bnd-.cape could Ix: \;ewt'd, The bearing bet\,'('cn an aiming l)(Jim
and the tolfget could be Gilcul;ued and the gun offSCI from the aiming
lX)illl b\ the amoun! of degrees called do\,'n from the front by the
oly;en'er through the command pOSl. If this was SCI 011 the sight of the
gun ,md the gun u'l\crscd back to the aiming l)(Jilll, the gun would
then be aiming:1l the large!. There were '\e\cl<l.1 of dial sighlS,
the mosl l>ein,l{ the No.7A. No.iC and No.9 In>cs. For direct
aiming the gum t'lllplmed the or the No.4l sigilling [II
addilioll 10 'ighl.'l, the gun IWluired a clinometer to indicau' the
angk of and often a lidd clinometer used for elemtiOIl. thc
lidel clinoillctcr (j beinj{ used fol' this pUI"JX)se.
Among the mol'(' cllrio\l'i instruments for sighting were the aiming
po.. ts. These were two metal rods p;linled in bbck ami while
with;1I1 l1lllnlX'red crossbar 011 the top. The aiming POSI.S wcrt'
int('neled to 1)(' ll"c'd where there \\'crc no pr01l1inelll ft:alure.. for ;nl
aimillg point or had, The dial sight could be focused UII
them. There were (WO tYlws: th(' No,l for the field gUll Ihe fur
the se!t:pl'Olwlkd gUll,
Thl'l"c were six \'ersions of the gUll barrel itself. The origillal was tilt.:
[ barrel with a loose liner, The Mk. II was the standard design and
lhis manufactllred in Canada known as the C II. It was llSt'd
at abuut the ,al11c lillIe as lhe :.tallelard II, during the earlr pan of
the "';'11'. It is hr tIle linear silh01lctte orlhe barre!
a larger 1111171le ;l1'l'a. Tht' III was introduced in 1944 and had the
chamber altered th,ll whell the Kun W;'IS c1emtcd the projectile did not
b;'l('k OLlt of the chamlwr. The area knOlm as the shot seating was
allcreel to get effect. Again. there was also a C."111adian \ersion of ll,b,
lllark denoled C III. The ... [V barrel was an attempt to stop the
breech ring when Ill(' gun fired. b\' slight]\' changing il.'l
The \'1 barrel was tht, final aheralion, made in 1964. in \,'hich the
breech ring was 1ll.lde of beller <juali., steel. Often one can see the
u,m.. jliOll<; a 25-pounder gUll ban-e! has undergone h\' looking at lhe
A close-up 01 the Probert range
dl"\lm and range quadrant cover
on the MJrbat 2!1-pounder,
This gun has been Iitted wIth the
No.1 Mk, I dial sight. (Courtesy
of RAHT)
Sighting elTengements on the
Aust..nen 25-pcH.IrMter, st>owlng
e No.9 dlel sight end sighting
teleKope. (Courtes, of RAHT)
brl.'ech ring. Stamped numbers 011 the breech tl\lrmall)' indicate Wh;lt
m... rk lhe gun and \\'hether il 1)('('11 alurt'd.
The breech ring itself changed IW1W('('11 tilt' J and
Mk. 11 examples. the ;\Ik. 11 brc{'ch being ll{'W. Th{' br{'{'ch-
k\'cr wa" 10 lhe rig-ht orll1e grin \,'h{'ll f:lcillg tile breech. whil"t
thc gun was fircd by a 1c\,{'r placed Uti Ihe lcn sid{' through a
mechanical linkage. It \\"<lS a \{'nical .!IUdin!;, block that cumpkl{'d IwO
actiom when the breechblock \\'a, lowered. Ihal i" it cocked the
and ejccted the fired cartridge case.
The gun barrel ibclr was ll10unled un a buffel' recupeJ<lIor
mechanism, Ihe whole being cOIHained in a C\ Hnder block. The b'1.lIl was
lllulililed using twO b'1.111 .!IlI'lpS alld th{' br{'ech {'m! or Ihl.-' barrel wa..
filled wilh Ihnlst collars that connCCl{'d to CUllcrs 011 Ihe recoil s}'Stem.
II is iluporwllI to understand Ihat Ihe \\hole recoil hlod. recoiled I\;th
the gun inside the cJ<l.dle and the pi.. ton.. within it \\ere .!tt.."f:ured to the
cradle rrom cap.
The buO'er itselr "'as Iwdr;l1llic and Ihe rcclll)('rator was
hnlropneullIatic. The :usist{'d bl Ihe rcclllX'rdtOI'. cOlllrolled
recoil and the later stage.!l or run-out. The rccupel,lIuJ' .ti.. tl.-'(Ithe buffer
in al>'>orbing Ihe cnerg-. or recoil ami comrollil1K I1m-()ut. and returned
the gun to tht: rulh nm-QUI l>O'>ition and mainlilined il Ih{'re.11 ,III
or c1e\;ltiOII. In order to unde!'litand ho\\ Ihi.. i.. dOlle, one Il{'('d.!l to look
at the C\linder block itself. \\hich had rOllr C\lindel'li: th{' buffer. the
hnlropllculIIatic c}linder. tht" liquid cllind{'1' :uld tll{' reSl.'noir ror the
bunel'. A pistoll nms lip and dO\\'n the buffer along rour
\\'hen the gun lire<;, the piston rotate, along the gJ'ooles and
liquid to flow lhrough a I<11\t: lIloulll{'d 011 it w th,lt. ;1.. the pi.. ton turn!>.
it also reduces the alllOllJII orJiquid 1I00\;ng Ihrough 10 lhe other .!Iid{' or
the ch;ullbcr. This comrols the kId at which the gun recoils. In addition
to thi... the h)dropllcumatic rt:cup{'r:ltor had a fluating: pi!>lon thai
<;t:parated the air and liquid On firing. liquid \\,1$ rorced rrom
lh{' liquid c)linder into the hrdropnellmatic C}lindtr. rompre'ising the
air behind lhe piston and reducing recoil. Com'er,cl), during rUll-ollt or
whell lhe gun begins 10 relllrn to ils normal the air
13
14
ill lhe rcrupcr.uor forct''' lht, f10aling pislon forward and liquid i" forced
lhrough Ihe relrdins.; \;II\'c. lneclheh, Ihe buffer works in the oppo,ile
wa\ to rcroil and ..110\" ,moolh cOllLrol 011 nm-oul. All\one \dlu
<ieen the 25-pollndn firing \,'iI! know how this anion
The carri"ge'l in 1I'ie with the II and lau:,r !.><Irrcl" \\CI"t' lhe
I. I\lk. II ,md I\lk. III. As wc h:l\e seen. Ihe J carriagc was ofa
<!c"ign 'I'illl a firilll{ phuform and front "hiekl. The ;\11...
II wal> the n:IITo\\,cr carri,lgc dC'lign fOI' lhe jungle. but lhe linal main
design change \,.." lhe 1\lk. III carriage. \lhich a lIIodification ofllU'
1\lk. I caniagc bUI 1I"ed with Ihe ,mallcr No.22 firing pbtfonn. TIl(' wail
'("ction" of the rcar quarter (If the gun werejoil1\cd so that till' gUll could
oc c1c\;th:d up to ang-lcs of dcgne". This II;IS an imprOlCIl1Clll 011
earlier mcthod" of (!t.\;llion. which ill\"oh'cd digging a gunp!l fllr the
u;lil. HI;\Cl..els wt'n: rcpositioncd o1llht" gun tmilto allow lor tht'joilllillg'
lllt'chani"m. When openll(d. lhi.. allowed lhe forw;'lrd p:trt of lhl'
n'st on lhe grol II ld whil,t the r('ar part lay flat on it. Cle:lrlv. lhe plallol'lIl
nOI ll".'d ill 1IH' high-:1l1j..;k 1110de.
The breech mech.nl.m 01 the
Mk. II gun. complete with firing
lock l.trlker ce). Thi. could be
sUOY Nlmovltd by pulling on the
ret.lni"1! e.tch, seen he.e to lhe
right, .nd pulling It 'rom the
block. This in effecl disablltd
the gun. !Courtesy 0' RAHT}
" Mk. III c.rr18ge filtltd with
Mk. I .nleld. The pliltfOf"m
I. the No.22, which W 01
1m."" clrcumf.,...,..;.
(Courtesy of RAHT)
Even with motor trensport, thle
25_pounder on Mk, III carrl.ie II
difficult to move on the muddy
roade Of Burma. Th. covera on
the muzzle etop dirt lrom i.ttlni
Into the barrel and prelum.bly
there lIon. on th. b.-.ch. Even
the emallelt llraln 01 dirt In the
breech mechanl.m C(Xlld rend.r
the IIIlrl un......k bnd liable
to be stripped down. (IWM)
AMMUNITION
It oncn Mid LhaL a gun i.) onh .1 dcli\el'\ dcvice, thc rC.11 \ICapOII lX'ing
Ihe ammunition, The 2:)'-polll1(l('r W'L" provided wilh a \el'\ \;:Ided
..deCliOlI of ;Ullmunilion, \er...ltilit\, nu:re Ilere al le,bl
four main t\'pes of projeclile; 'moJ...e, annour-pkrcing
.md carrier u.;;ed 10 ddher ';;lIch thinWl a.) propaganda. tlu: laller
IX'ing a fidd adapladUl' uf the '1ll0J...l' tound. Ix:etl melllioned.
the :Itllnulllition \1':.tS :o.epar;lle loading, that i:o. the projectile ami
Girt ridge were placed in the ..epar;lIeh. The charge cOllsi .. ted
uf pt opella"t it' a of lllodt,lar pacJ...aj.;l" that cOllltl be combined bl
adding or rClllming them to gel the required hallistic ch.II'lcleristic. The
we-'re placed 11I';;lde a bra.... cartridge Ihal \1"" filled with a hase
prlull.:r. The canridge ca.)e \1,1' 'liglllh tapered and eXIx:rimel'L'I weill on
throllgholl\ the war 10 replace the br;"s II'ilh a material thai more
re-'adilr ;1\.,ilab1c. ther(' \1':'<; a normal charg-e of
three col()llred of propellatlt atld a Illlicl, was an
additional bundle of propellam. The thrce charge' lI'cre 'llpposcd to
lo;il'c follows:
Ch;I\'gc I
Ch;tl'l-\c 2
Chal'gc 3
Sitpel'ch;trgc
(red)
(rt.:d and whitc)
(rcd, whitt." and blu!;)
tit
tll
IO,i90m
12.2:,3111
The fact that the ammunition nOI IO.LClcd in a package did
nOt mean thaI the gun could llOt Ix: fired mpidl), Accordillg to one
with the 4th Ficld Reg-Imcrll, RO,"ill Canadian Aniller)'. the fastest
..lte at which a gUll was fired and time{1 I i rounds Ilt."r minute. An
incredible "lie of fire, and probably nOI for long. but which
demonstrates that separate loading \I'IS nOt a handicap when II came to
firing The I gUll was prodded \Iith high-cxplosi\"c. BE
(Base Ejection) ilnd amlOlir-pierdng shot. III 1910. thc"l' were the HE
I D. the I D BE smoke :o.i1ell and the IT 15
shot made which had an internal Iracer. The main high-cxplosiw
shdl rcmained Ih<: liE streamlined. 10, and was used ill COltiUllClioll
willI a llllluher of IIN:S. For CX:ullple. lht: high-explosi\c projectile cOllld
bc uscdwith the liSE, Iii. 117B. 119. 119B,231,232.222.213.T97E6
and the T97[9. all of which served different purposes. The high-
cxplosi\t: projectile was painted a buff colour to denote its cOl1tcrllS.
Thc"C ..hells WCI'C Ilonnall\' filled with Amalol but could al ..o filled with
TNT or RDX. Olher colours used \\cre green for smoke and black for
annour-picrcing. There were aho differently coloured bands around tht'
head and I)()(I}.
Head
Red ring
R(.'(I crosse" in ,I ring
Bbd. ring "I)()\c rcd ling
Whill' ring
8od)'
CrC(.'1I b.md
Two bl.lel.. band...
One biOId-. band
Yello\\ band
indicated the shell was filled
filled shell suitable fOl' hOI
fiued ,\;th exploders suit;lble fOl'
a powder-filled fuse
:lnlluur-piercing shol
Amatol or lilled
1-1 practice
emp" shell for drill
pr.lctice projectile
,.
Thc 25-pollnck'I' W'L' pro\'id('d with an allLi-tank rOllnd cOIl...
of annour-picrcing wlid shol with a copper drh'ing band, SlllOI..C and
propag<lIlda ... 1"e1'C so that on detonating the\' would
distribute lheir from lilt.' base. r\l 1 Alamein lhe lIumber 210
fme I\';.IS a'';.lilablc fot' air-burSl u.'>e, This was considered 10 be particularh
lI...eful again... t Gcrman 88 nUll gun crew", Casllahie" found after lhe
battle- ,,'crt' hidden at till' b01l0111 of a Slil trench and could onl\ h.l\c
bccn GHI ... ed b)' "irbur"t rounds, !llan)' other types of projcctilc Il'cre
experimcnlcd wilh and tcsted, but in generallhe
;lIld carrier roulllh wcre 1110... ( Il'iddr uscd.
Tilt' charlJ,c .'>)'.'>t\..'lll ',';.IS altcred 011 a IlUmber of occasions, and to
more \,cl...atilit)' lhl' charges w\..'rc C\Clllllall}' di,'i{kd inlo ditlt-n'nl

TOOLS AND STORES
No anilkr)' piece is cOlllpkll' withoUI its complimcnt of touls and
cquiplllent. ,,'itholll which a 1J,'111l can be relldert:d llllseniceahk \cr\'
quickl)'. The 2.>-pounder !Ilk. II on !Ilk. I carriage \'';.IS prm'i{kd with a
\';.Irid) of tooh to cope with c\"cnltmlitie". The following' a 01
tools provided for wilh tht: 1J,'1I11:
Ad.tpton.
Air pipe
PIUllPS - Tht:rc 1'Cl'l.' 111'0 pumps pro\'idcd wilh tht: 25-pollll(ler and both
I,'cn: illlcndcd lO I'ccharge the recuperator \,'hen liquid or air
needed, A \\';.IS pro\'ided on the tmil "t.'ction into which lhL'
pump \';IS placed,
Ii 25pounder 'Iring In IUPpot1 ot
,""ouri'd dlvilloni In Nonnend,.
19"4. It II lilt full ..eoli end mutt
IUlt have lMoen 11r1'd. The shield
'- up, 10 Ihe gun e1ml"1l point
mUlt be 10 the ...er ollhe piece.
(lWM)
NO.1 pllmp
No.14 l1IulllinaLing apparallls for all aill1ing' poillt - This item for
firing at niglu. as the gun needed a reference point 10 locale bearing.
known as the GAP or Gun Aiming Point.
Sighl.!>
1'\0.7 glln pull-back
Quick release attachment No.1
Boxes. charging pumps
Spade plalfonn :-':0.2
c.'lp sponge :'\'0.6
Cl<.'ancr :-':0.18
Cleaner \\"001 :-':0.1
Field Clinomeler
CO\cni - breech. mUZLlc. sight and o\cr.11I (:>amctimes known as an
elephant cO\'cr and used to cO\'cr thc gun in lnmsit)
EjcClor projectile - One \en impol1.nll 1001 for the gunner was the
projcctile ejectors. The cjector Mk. I and II \\ere designed to
forcc a projectilc back down to\\'aHls the breech if it was sluck in the
chamber for all\" rcason. The head of the ejector was so designed that
it would not exel1 undue prcSllure Oil the fuse when being applied
from the muzzle end.
PrCs.,UH.' gauges
Striker protrusion :-':0.16
25-pounder
l..;:lrtridKc holder 25-pOlltldcr QF
- all llormallr used with ammunition
No.3-I for the clrtridge primcr
No.119 for inserting and rcmm'Ing
No.120 for setting fuses
No.12l for inserting or removing 2-inch percussion
No.139 for seiling the No.2lO time fuse
Fu'e indicator No.20
2.f>-ton lifting jack
Pullingjack No.2
17
Kc... muzzle ,clocil\' corrector scale reader
Remo\'lngjammed QF Glrlridge :-':0.1
Cocking lam;'tr<1 No.7
Pipe. charging No.2
Plane testing di,,] sight carrier 7 or No.7e dial sight
Platform No.9
PostS, aiming crosshcad No.1
R:ullrncr QF 25-pdr
Rcser\'Oir air 55-inch diameter
SLOp 1111llling back - was a metal bracket th,1I was lined to the rcar of
the b::UTet breech assembly [0 stop il from sliding back ofT lhe (.;,.dle.
Telescope sighting 1\'0.29
Spanners and special implements
In addition to all of this cqlliplllCl'll. lhe h;ld such thinKS as
spades and drag ropes nonnally !;ISICIlCd LO the front of tIll: shield and
held in the from stores tray of the No.27 'lI111l1UlIitioll trailer. Fl.lnhcr
additions were axes, oil hacksaws and a drift.
ORGANISATION
A 25.pounder Mk. II of the
141h Army In Burma In 1944. The
crew h.. ettached drag ropes to
the wheet. and I. attemptlll9 to
move the gun. The rope. would
normally be attached to the lront
ollh"Iald. (Courty 01 RAHT)
,.
III 1939, Royal Artillcll' Field I,'ere the ones who were 10
receive the 2f>.polinclcr I. A regiment was [ormcd of ,\,'0 12-gun
hallcrics. {';lell of three +gUll troops. There were three regiments to a
di\ision. so lheorclicalh a division should consist of 72 25-pollndcrs.
The Detachment
In the Ropl Artillel"}. the crew of the gun is knowil as the dClachmCIll.
'nlis goes back 10 the carh cla\'.'> of the regiment when gunners were
formed into alld thl.:ll wl.:re delached to their
Tllt:rc wcre lllC11 ill a 25-pounder detachl11elll and tile) \\"el"e
numbered from Olle to ,is as lx:I(JI\'.
No.1 the COllllllall(!l:r, made brJ:;"(' of the gUll and was nonnall\'
po.'>itioll(c'd to thc rcaI'.
No.2 held Ihe and operated the brN'eh lewr. lie co Ihe
riKhl or the: gun l\llI'n d('\\cd frolllthc I'car.
No.3 l..llown ,I.'> lilt: 1.1\cr. hl' ,at on the \\()()(Iell scat at the left uflhe gUll
and Ill{' Ill' also acUIIStlllCiliS 10 Ihe No.1
during !;Ifge and fired the gUll.
NoA 1\,:1.'> the 10.lder and placc..-d the projectile and charge illln thc
hreech,
:\0.5 pas..'>ed ammunition 10 NoA :md checked Ihe fuse seuings.
No.6 the second ill conuJlalld. SCt the and lhe chargl'S. He also
re..ponsible for the bmking and movement of the trailer.
FIELD ARTILLERY TRACTORS
Although main lhnl.'>t of thi.'> wOI'k is the gun itself. il is :.cnsiblc 10
something of the 100\;ng \chick.... IIScd \\;th lhc 25-poundcr. Initialh. the
)'\l... I lOwed b\ lhe Dragon scril.'S of :ulillen
mallllfactun..d b\ Vjcl..er" Armstrong. and photographic C\;deIlCl' shmo'S
thai 'IOmc wcre 'lC1H 10 Fr.mcc \\;th lhe BEF to tow thc Mk. I glln, The'\('
\chicles I\cre prol>;lbh lhe LiglH DI<lgon .\Ik. 110. The\ were consi(h:rcd
to be robust and reliable ami lo'ere de\c1opcd for use by lhe Ro\'al Artilll.:l')
in the earl. 193Qo" Another vehicle thai was utilised for 101\;ng lhe
25-poullder W<l.'> lhe CDSW 6s'l ridd anillcn tractor, which
manur.'CllIred 1)\ .\Ionis in 1936. l-Iol\'l'\er. four-wheeled I\'erc
considered and in 19:\7 a slx:cilication was issued for a four-whcel-dri\'c
artillery ImCLDr. There \\'crl' tllree main companies involved: Collllller.
Guy and r-lorris Commercial. The Quad, as it became kno\\'n, Ihe
distinctive Morris C8 InVD Field AI1illclY Traclor or FAT for shon. This
,"chide \\'ellllhrough tiLrl'C llIarks and a redesign ofbod)'work during the
Second World War but the most widely used form Oflf<lclOr. The
I had an bod)'. lhe r-lk. II had:lll 0lx:n tOp. Guy Quad Ants were
sold to the Ikitbh Arm)' blll IIIml ofthclll were lost during lhe bailIe for
Field 'rtUlery tr.ctor1l of 0 troop,
42/53 Field B.ltery,
photogr,phed In September 1940
ne'r SultOn on Se. The troop
were re-equlpp.ed .fter Dunkirk
.nd thIs photo show, ...rly
mornlnll MT Inspection.
ICourtety 01 RAHTI
t.
Th. Canlldilln FOT Field Artillery
Tr.elor, thll mOil widely u'ed
4.4 ".ctor 01 thll s.c:ond World
W.r. (Author's photograph)
France. C."t.nada Ford and Canada General :\tOlOrs also produced a FAT of
lhe C."t.nadian P<utem that \\<is \\;deh u.st.'"d \Iim lI1C 25-IXlunder
:\lks. II and III and ovcr 22.000 of l'l>e ,,'cre manufactured.
The main U"<lctor, the Morris CS. "'lS initiall\ prO\;ded as a vchicle \Iith an
all-metal roof but this ,,'as replaced hI a mil-up canvas one
aften\'ards. This was spread o\'er metal bars welded across the lOp of the
\chicle. The CUriOLIS shape of the roof. \\;1..11 a sloping rear. was thought to
allo\\' the vehicle to be chcmicallv dccomaminated in the event of a gas
.mack. The !\Iorris had a forward h:uch in the front comparunem
through \,'hich the commander could get Out. The intelior fiued Out
for six men and included sLOwage for ammunition and tools. alu10ugh the
main ammunition stowage was in the ammuniliol1 tmiler;. India also
produced a Quad called the Kan'ier. \,'hich was the largesl \'Nllion of this
vehicle.
AMMUNITION TRAILERS
An}' photOgr'aph orthe 25-poundcr olllhc mo"c shows the gUll linked to
a small trailer lhal in turn was hooked lip to the Quad or tractor. The
lmilcr was also known as the lit11ber and was a vitill piece of cqllipmcnl
not (ml}' because it carried the al11l11tHliliotl bUI alsu because it held
20
A eontlKl'lpo",ry d,..wln.g 01 the
rly No.2. lImmunltlon ....II.f,
uk_" from In. 25pounde,
Mk. I IundbocHl o' 1840.
(Aulnor's photographl
-',",
many Tht:fe II'ere in fact t\\'o IrpCS of aml1lunition lrailer - the
No.2-1 and the ;-';0.27. The No.2'1 a dc\'c[opmclll. \,'hich
quickl\' b\ the No.27 before the beg-Ill.
Ammunition tr,lil<,'I"i could be linked and acted as the ammunition
trailers of a gun thc\ wcre referred [0 as ammunition
front and re..... The two tl<lilcrs towed behind the Quad and
supplied ammunilion to the gun in action.
The :\'0.24 ammunition lrailer consisled of an ammunit.ion box, 'Lxle
tube, perch and towing and brake-operating gear. It \I'b
designed to earn 32 rounds ofammunilion. as \\otS the but it \1'aS
lower in height and had 110 for calning the traversing pl;llfonll,
and onh a wooden box on its top al1O\\ed for the carriage of LOob and
stores. Ammunition stored in :\"0.5 ammunition tra\'s. which were
made of g<lh,mi.st-d 1>hcet stl-'el \\'ith I\ood felt and stecllinings.
The :\'0.27 :umnullitiOIl trailer :1Il improvemcnt on the :\'0.24
because it had mon' space for tools and spares and could carry the
Iiring platform 011 top. A 1>tecl Mores 11....\ was filled on the frolll of Ihe
ammunition box. gil ing morc nexibilit\. The trailcr had 1>imil;tr
ammunition to the 1"0.21. which werc open. The :\'0.27 trailer had
a later de1>ign lI'ith altcred tr;wl; that completeh Ihe
projectile and propellant. hinb';ng in the middle so that either object
could be remmed. Some \ctcmns of the desert war ha\'c commcmcd
lhat the reflcctors on the \l'hide and trailer were often smashed so that
lhel would not reflect the ,un, which allowed them to be easih detected
m enCIll\ ground-:utack aircraft. The front mIl' nonnalh' held axel;.
The "'0.27 emmunilion 10I'1er
with later Pf'OIoectlle end eharge
kolden, The eartler modals of
the tOlller had a almpte, lIal tray
to hoW the projec:Ule. The
projec:t1ons on the open door
ere meant to kold the treys
Ilnnly In place when closed.
(Courtesy 01 RAHT)
.,
22
crOld);U"l>. the (jccwr. hambpilcs. a jack. a -"palk, ''''0 drag
rope... alld the ilIulllillall,d ;timing poilll \Iith ib post "piing .1IIt! cmer.
OPERATIONAL HISTORY
The Second World War
The Guns with the British u'I:teditionary Force in France
The .uTi"tl of the Ikili... h ..... Force in France in 19-10 ,lIId ib
'ub't.'quc!Il C\';ICll;U;OIl fmlll Dunkirk is a ",ell-documented Mon,
diflcr('1ll 1\'1)(''< ofanillt'r\ eqllipment ,,'ere 'lent 10 fr.lllce hilt. ,,,piralh.
older CqUiplllCIlI \''<1'" i,... ut"d. :>uch :I... the IS-pounder \Iith ib
accOIllpal1\ing I.f>-inch howit.l.cr.. 011 pneumatic wheel .. ). II
i.. al"O lnu,' lhal 'Ollll' c1i";,,ional arlille!"\' reginu:nl!. conlained IXllh Ill{'
IR-poundcr .lnd the IS/:!5-pOlllltkr. Various methods of tr;IlI"'port II ere
;1\'1;labl('. including the {'arlit'r II.ICIOI.... 'lIcll as Ihe Lighl Dr:lgon II.
In all, 70-1 Wt'rc IOSI in Fr,ulCc and the look
lull ach-.lIllage or lid, windfall h} adapling Ihem 10 lheir own mc. The
:,-polllldef'l ill Gennan he,alllc known ;1'1 Ihe R. 76 ern feldk:lIlollt,
2Hl (e) for Ihe IV and liu H,7C, nn feldkanone 2M2 (e) I\ith
the VI' c;trriage, Dllrillg: and 19!'l9, the Ropl AflilkfY weIll
throlll-{h a pcriod ofrc;mn:tIlwnl Ih:ll was elTalic and partial. Ifol1t,
Thc 1\'iU' ot lhc field ITl-{inH:nts, il is possibk to l-{et The
11:1\ our uf II Ie phonc}' war in which Ihe Bril ish AmI}' rerllained
in limbu The Threal lh,ll accumulaling in Ellrope, For
eX;lInpk, :;O/70th Field Ihllef\' of the 241h Fidd RegillH:lll W('111
10 Tilshcad GlInp OIl 20 August 1938 for practict with the nCI\
/{llll. Tht' COIlHnenlS made h}' onicer>; were
f.l\olll<lhk ,mel tltt'} 't,Hed that thc 25-pollllder was
paniclliarh goud. all I l\:u\t'lllbcr. all IS-pounderll and l.5-inch
howil/Cr:! were rcwrned 10 Ordnance and the Baller\' recehed cighT
18 It Illa\ nul ha\c been apparenl jU!>1 how quid,l\
Ihc!>e gUll>; and dc...chmcnLS \Icrc aboultO be thrOI\ll inlO aClion againsl
1Ill' C('IlH:lIl jllgg<-'rnalli. Fiw: l110mhs later lhc gUll" would
.,land lhdr finn rCOIllc<;t.
On 15 M,t\ 1910, lhe Hallen cro\.<;('d lhe Belgian bonkr ami 1)\
16 il in ,Ielion Infallln Brigark ,mt'rinf{ th'
5a B,tt.-,y, t8th FIe+d Brigad., at
Bulfonl In 1838. The auns .re
the 18125pounCe, on Mk. VP
with the Morris CDSW
towing .....k .. end No.24
.mmunltion t ..I1, wtlkh was
obscHet. before the beginning
01 the Second Wor1d Wa.
(Courtesy 01 RAHT)
fort"'l of Thc ncXI lew da}s wcrc olles of illlellSc ill
which Iht'l{lln" \1'efC in anion timc ;\mllirne of actions all
along the ffont Ift.ft' of A. Uand C. Troops:
'[n action at Worlllhotll, 0.1'. Cendafmel'it.'
(Rowland,on) t'ngagcd a con"iderable number of enCIl1\" infant .... and
and linallv abandolled when line
brokcn. RobilbOll willt IIQ 6 Gloucc!>lcrs al Lt:drinhcm. Uan.tlion
"urrollnded Robin"on ami O.P. part\' (\\'amc, \\'I;ght &: llawkill") fOllglll
their \I'<l\ out with Glullce"tt.'1""'i in Mret"t fighting, \\'onnholll hca\'ih
bombed and ;u B lrp 1\'ilhdre\\':11 1700hr:o. - C trp &: .\
Trool):\1 about 1830 hOIll'. Terrific 100Tentiai rainstorm. BI\ \\;lhdre\1 to
R.\'. aoom 2 miles N of B;lI11becque, DickMlIl r.1Il illlo ...ume Gennam
I\ith.\ 'Tl Guns at RicI\('ld:11 about 1300 Ill'S.'
The next da\ the wel"e in action all da\ fighling running
II'jlh German (.;Inl.:.. AI 0100 ,Ill POSI was establidled in
B.'lInbec<lue clturch and :In ,lI1nourcd (presumabh a unhen.::ll
c:m;er) 'iOlItlt\\"esl of tht, village of \\'e"t c.'lppel. German tanks aelllalh
cIHelcd the town at 1700 hOIll-'; but Ihe Iroops remained ill action lllllil
2100 hours, the la:.t 11'001)' C Troop. dbengaged at midnight.
On 30 all the gUll'> were sunk in the GUlal belween I-Iondshoole
and Bra\ Duncs. It is nOl lno\\"n Itow thi.. \1<lS adlie\'cd but nonnalh
would imohe remO\ing Ihe firing lock h\ laling Olll the striker, guide
blocl and firing Ic\er as a unit and dumping the b'lIllS in Ihe canal. TIl('
Bauen embarled fOl' Bril,lin 011 31 Ma\ Wilhoul their guns. It would
.seem tltat til(' K'm" had pl'OI'idcd good senice during the campaign and
had been in direci and indirect lire I-Iowe\'er. all had
proved to be IlXl much for the Urilish Expedilionan Force and it
clear thai for tilt' 18 2:')-poulldcl' \I<IS 10 bc iLS firS! and last greal
deplOllllclll. Approximateh gUlls were returned to Urilain. of which
l1lam were 18/2j..pollllde..... but thc} werc neH:r to be emplo}ed on.'>ueh
a large scale again. as til(' 25-pollnder l\lk, II became a\<lilable from April
1910.
The 25-pollndcr Mk. II in Action
The lirsl II 2:)-pOlll1der were in t\pril 1940 ;111(1
lI'ere i...stled to SOllle field regiments of the Canadian Annr al Lltal litlle,
It I\'ottld seem that the lirsl baucry of British gunncrs to lhe
Mk. U 25pouooer in a
Nonnandy field. The nonna'
proc:edure WIlS 10 dig tha gun in
10 a gunplt on a
posItion as soon as possible.
The wa, lh40 gun i. deployed
suggest. that It ha. been .....hed
Inlo action, IIWM} 23
24
25-poundcr hlk. II ill action were ,llose of203 B<lltcry orthe 51st Ficld
Regimellt TA during the Norwegian campaign. They fought against
Ccnmm forces in April and early hlay and were ilwolvcd in actions al
Ilarsmd. NalliSOS ami llaak\ik. After the aCtion :It Ilarslad. the
new gUllS were c\'clIltiall) abandoned on 31 May - a stan fOl' a gUll
that was later to be "ueh a maiJlsliIY for British forces.
Daules in the Western O(.'Scrt during 1941-42
';'Ilv vic..... of the 25-rX)lIlldcl' is thai it was simply a superb gun ...
:'Ilanoeu\'l"'abic. it could be mQ\'cd with a tr.IClOr and a line detachment
almost 0lll\1\hcrc: (;'Il;yoJ' M;llhc.....s. Independent Light Batie!"). 78th
Dhision, Tunisia)
fhe SCt..'"S:.IW battlc) thaI raged across ..he deserts of Nonh Africa
J:xotYo'CCIl 1910 and 1912, against firsl the Italians and later Ihe GennallS,
$01\\' wh.n could arguabh be \;e\,'cd as Ihe linest hour of the 25--pollnder.
Wal' in the deM:J'1 w,tS \CI'\' differelll from that experienced in
Europe, The annies had 10 "now precisel\' how Illuch fud.
....ncr and ammunition thc\ \,ollid necd. This led to some dinicuh
decisions aboUl how 10 deplm armour and artiller\'.
From September to Dt.'ccmbcr 19\0, the Italians initialh a{h,lIlccd
tow;ll'ds Eg'oVt, halted JUSt inside the border and went to grollnd aholll
60 mile! inland. Ilrilbh againsl lhem are legendan but the Ibe
made of mobile grollp" of all "C1'\;Ces (known asJock coltullns after
J. c. (:'lInpbcll. \'C) was 10 dilute lhe u;;(' of the 25-pollnder
lhal IX'Gllllt' so cnecti\'c in Ihe btel' b<11"I'lges :lllhe b<m.lc of 1 A1.III1t"in.
In genetal. it \\,tS the 25-pOllmlt'1' 1\1 k. II Ihal was the main anillen
A 25-pounder Mk. II In the
We.tern De..rt, 11141-42.
Unu..... Uy, the lIun ha. a mariling
on the t,..II, pos.ibly denoting
the troop. Th. balTlll ....as also
mar1ted along In. centnl line at
tn. muzzle, Th:o:plo,ion near
the lIun may be the ."8<:t of
count.....bettery "reo
ICourt_y 01 !\AHY)

7m
~
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..
B: 18/25-pounder gun on Mk. VP c:arrlage,
British E.peditionarJ Force; France, 1940
n
C1: 25pounder Mk. II carriage with Morris Quad
C2: 25pounder Mk. III carriage with Chevrolet Quad
D: QF 25POUNDER GUN MK. III ON MK
WITH NO.27 TRAILER
,-
2 No.9 Oral Sl!1rt
3 No,4! s.ghtJng tll8$COpe
4 Range scaI& cone
5 Range II'\dICalor hand wheel
6 Muzzle velooty reader
7 EJevatl!'l9 arc:
8 hand wheel
9 EJevaI.-.g hand wheel
,. SoddIe
11 TlQEIl'lI elellalJOn bracket
12 D!aI SIght case
13 l.ockng plate
14 No2 platform spade box
15 SIght clnorneter case
16 Muzzle brake
17 Coo'ltEll"oNell;1lI
18 IJEm::aI cIOSlng bf8eCh
19 FII10Q kx::k
20 FlmQ lever
21 Butler/rec:upQ'8tor
22 Gunlayer's seat
23 Fmg platform
24 Soghl IXlf1 CCNer
25 Stores tray
26 Towng hook attaetvnent
27 Trail tunper
D
. CARRIAGE
28 F'nng platform catch
29 Arnrnuntoo locker door
30 Spong"'"
31 P9rdl blrnper
32 lJftng handle
33 """'" .,.
34 """'" """"
SPECIFICATION
Detachment: 6
Weight: 35 cwt. 1 Qtt
Barrel length: 98 nches
Width: 7 feet
Muzzle velocity: 1.700 fVsec
Mallimum range: 13.400 yds
Mallimum elevation: 40 degrees
Depression: 5 degrees
Ammunition system: separate loading rn.Att--dwge
No.27 ammunitton trailer (limbef)
Weight (with stores and ammunidon): 30 ewt 3 qtr 1 III
Length: 10 !eel 9 InChes
Width: 6 feet 11 nches
Ammunition capacity. 32 tOlrlOs., 16 trayS
E
E1: 25-pounder gun on Mk. II carriage (Jury Allie)
E2: Ordn.nee OF 25pdr Short (Aust) Mk. I on
Carrl_ge light (Aust) Mk. I
F1: The Bishop mounting and carrier, Valentine, 2!5-pounder Gun, Mk. I
F2: The Sellton if-prop.lled mounting
F
"
G: Mlrbat, Oman, 1972; the I' 2Spounder
u.ed in action
for Iht:M: The h'1.HlS were 1J,1I1l1x:red bv lhe 'oil '.llld, Ihe tr,lils and
plall"onm requiring reasonabl} linn g-rolllld tu lire ";lIi,IaCl(lril". and IIt:re
a \"er\" long- 1'1'0111 their .. llpP0rl leh ide.. , [',oudil ion, were oftt'n ""
bad tha! Ihe had !n lx' willchl'd OIl'r mug-h grollnd II hen
wilhdrawing. 1100..'e\'er, tht' \tar!ling \iC(oric, uf 1111;,' I\r;ti,h m('r the
It,llian<; hid the faet Ihat mo,t Bril;,h wcapon" \Il'rt' nOl c:.pahk of c1calinK
wilh h('.I\,\ armuur, Tht:' h,ld lillie pl'Oblt:lll ligh!h
ann<.'{l Italian tanh, bUI lhe aITi\,11 of RUllll11t'r" Afri\..;1 KOlVS changed
lhe ,iulation complelc1\', AIllll'd with Iht, f;unnll" R8 mm 1-1al... gun (the
.. aOOm H8 mm ill calibrt:) .md I'anler [II and 1\' tanl!.,
lhl' war in Ihe de<ien changt."'tl o\t'rnighl. 0nl\ Ih<.' 2:-J-lxmnder glln h"ld
tilt: nMnocII\Tabilit\, range or hitting pow{'r to challC'ngc Gcnnan :1I1110Ilr
,lIId b'lllls. ,md lhe banle, around InblllL. ,md further would
demnllSLr.lle the I\orth of this gun.
The fighting for Tobruk in .\pril ........ Ihe direci collfrolll;llion of
2:-,..pounden. tanb, At ;1 mllge of ,100 ".rds the gUllS of A E
Battt.'I'\. 3rd Regiment. RO\<l1 Ilorw .\nillel'\. ellWIKed Gcnl1<lI\ l,lIlL..s
forming Ihe (kfences of Tobnll..., TIl(' contillliotl' ,,!looting "Ct t:mb on
lin' ,md allegedh bk\, the 11IITet 011 one. rhe of dl"Crt 1.... rfMe
meam tlMI and lanlJ. wel"e onen pittl'd dir<.'<:th aWlillsl olle
anolher. \\'h.1I is more. il mealH Ihal Ill(' ,Iho cllgagcd
fl"l'qu('lHh agaimt thc 88 nllll Flak ,md ;11 thi, re'llt:cl it \\i1S .U .1
di"'l(h'll1tage. The 2:-J-poundcr 1t,Id a of 13.;,00 \ ....ds ,II mo:.l and
,I llllll/le H."locil\ of 1.700 fcel pcr \Ccoml. \, hil,1 thl' 8M mm had a
1II111/1t' \"t'locit\ of2.624 feel per ,('cund ,mel a maximUlll of 16,183
I"rd,.
has I)(.'(n made oflhe of .lnJulllr-pit'rcing Il\ Ihe
2:J-poumlt-r gun\ dliling the battks, -I lIe projtOctile iL<;4.'lf i,sllt:d
('Mh in the war, a-'> it wa." ;l\(lilabk for tilt' IR but nnt ;n large
In rcalill, thc 2:-"'pollndcl' 11,('d ill <!l"llt'mlion aga;n"t t:tnl...
Comider one of the firsl anions of;\ Il;:tllen (1If\C) RIIA 01121 J.IlIU;lt")
19 12 as pan of Baron column olx'r:uing Ileal' 111(' ""lste' uf\\';ldi d Faregh,
Furt, t:I1Clll\ tank.-., PanIcI' ami PaIlleI' [V" alt,lckt:'d lhc
colul11n 1"1'0111 about '1.000 prds. After a lhe-hollr b:1l11e, it decided to
conduct a fighting withdrawal whil", allacke<! b)' Stuka din'-
IX)lllOCn, and the alh,lIIcing armollrerlllnit!i. DlIrin).( tlti, aClioll, C ;md 0
lroops orA Balter)' I,'erc firing o\"cr UPCII \i).(hl!i al the ell('Ill\', Tllrl'l' gullS
wcre dcstroycd and, although lIn) gum conlinued firing, sllggest
Iltal thcy unly did real damage hy indin.'ct lire al o\'t:r 600
lhe soft !{round was \'cry detrillll:llIal to lhe glllb
Ihe benl and buckled when Ihe wl:rl: firl:d cont;lluall)'. In
" (Ollie!'>! like Lhis. gun Cl'el"S cOllld Ix: picked 011 al will and as onc
commentator put it: 'the old horse anil1en t;lnic, - quick quick
I\nlimlx'ring 10 action fm11l. quick r('1 iremenl (if 'llcll oHlered) - did
nul WOI'l. and 110 mloul' and skill could ha\{' llIade thcllllI'ork. in a terrain
whcre 60 hOl'sepo\\'cr could nul do wllal h,ld. mer dt.-cent
KO;I1Io;. 'iO often done.' In fact. according 10 from Nowmbcr 19-12,
imlireci lire on tank fonll:lLions comiderl'd to lx' fal more enccti\'e.
If l'ncm}' 11mb in numl)('I" \\crc .seen bl .1Il ob\t' ..... IX>SI. a
concentralion of fire was brought down upon tlWlll, It was dinicult to
judge lhe effecl ofthis fire bec;l1Isc il \\.. Il\ dUSlilnd heal
For example: 'In one case a regimental cOllrenmuion fired 011 "Ollie 33
22 2
30 enelll\ mnls \Iilh Ihe fL..,ult. il is alleged. lhat:; were -.et on fire. ,I fCI\
OlltCI"" wcre 'loppt:d and the \\;Ihdr('\\,.. 111e main lhat
the of a rCRimell1 of gilib 011 lank groups 111\";'I1;"bh led 10
of 'he I.lllk..l.:
'The al ,"Hlhing bUI ,hon range" i<; not a good killer of
but rhal In:a\'\ panicularl\' if Ihe fire of I J
i<; illc1udcd .ll"C dTecliH: ill diwrganbing ('!It:Ill\ lank alld
up:-ctling their plalh. 10 enellw lanks mll"t depend 011 Iheir
di<;lkr;ioll '" Firing direct in ib ,ecolllbry rolt: a troop of 25-poI111d('r"
can knock OUI al "hon but all A(tk weapon a 25-pr far
inferior HI tilt' 6-pl'.'
1\ would normall) dcstroy or irlllllobili,e a
lank ifil hil a ltOlck or the lOp ofdw 1II1nt. There arc rnall)'t.'xal11plt" of
Ihe 2,Ij... poullfkr hdllg" a \\'eapon against l;l1lks, hUI il
llle Wilh which lhe gun could be.' u":lincd on:l tal'gcl lhal I11callt
il 11101'(' thall olhel' ticld for lhis liSe.
The dltflcutltu 01 transport
along desert roads. A gun
troop attempting to negotlate
a blocked dese" road, and
the gun In the rear has been
unlimbered. NOle the upper
shield of the gun I\.as been
folded down for travelling.
This would also be do_ If
the dial sight needed a
forward view. (IWM)
3.
The battlc of El Alamcin
Of "II lhe grC'1I ,u"lilkI1 Ixungcs. lhal preceding the ballle of EI Alal11cin
,,"<IS 011C 01 the /-1"1"('<11 of the 25-pollndcr gUll. The niX'nilll-\"
IxunKc 1Ilili"<:d <II lea... l H34 gWh co-ordinaled ill a lire pl:tn designed
to co\er t:l1brim:c..:r that wcre intended to clear a through the
IXlrbed wire OlllCll:Uld Ihal protected lhe llalian and German
frum anad... rhe.: dcakning roar of IXllllbard111clll 1'(:11\ the
Ilight 01 23 October 19-12. As with :HI\' anillery fire plan. unit.; were
10 dil1crclll depending on need. and thlls not alllhc
in action at lhe .... tlnc lime. o\'er one and a half million
ruunds were cxpcnded. Fur am t\l;ti0r anad. no were plac('d
Upoll the ;unounl of ,U11rmInition fired. In faCi. the limitations 011 the
\\'Cl"t' hO\I quiclh the amlllunition could be brouglll lip to the gUllS. The
a\er.lgt.' expt'ndilllr(' of nllllids pCI' gtlll 102 per da\' on-r 12 d,l\"".
35
-
>

T.,. :itS-pounder Mil.. II In the

oeMrt, t.,. 1HI....1of whic:h has
the early prome. The Morris
tractor" t.,. bac:k i'l
camCKIllaged with 10liafJII to
oO'Icure It. 'Ihape from air
athlck. (lWM)
..
, , ;
>
.'
-.
On(: of the greal ch'lilges lilat occurred in late 1941 was tIle
reorganisation of 111(' Anillcl)'. This led 10 a differenl mode of
handling" occausc signalling cemres and the cemral control
of gum had been pre\'ioll'l)' divided up. The Ropl Artillery able 10
make gooc!lhc'>C al EI Alamcin becausc the)' wcre in ,ol11rol of
the I\'hole barrage. ElTectivd), there a separale chain of comlnand for
the thai followed lire plans made b)' artillery officers, l....ll-gC
fonnatiolH. 'O\lch as the or dhision, had an artillery ad\;sor 10 direct
the b'1.lIlS, This Ivpe of gUll cOlllrol was panicularl)' prevalenl in lhe
SOIiet Anm. From 1912 onwards, Ihe Ro)'al Artillery I,'ere increObingl)'
required 10 carn outlarg<,"fornmtion filing, Guns could be ordered 10 fire
a of 'I>ccilic thaI indiclled lhe siLe of Ihe firing group. A
'Mike' Iarget order gale the fire of an anillel)' regiment (2'1 b'1.lI1s), an
'Uncle' t;lrgct g-.I\"C the fire of a di\ision (i2 b'1.lTls) and a 'Victor' target
the firc ofa (150-2j() guns). 111e auack of the 2nd
:\e\\' Zealand Di\;sion on the night of 1/2 NO"ember w.lS accolnpanied b)
a b.'uTIlge of2j-pounder guns that was able to givc a concentration of one
gun I>cr 21 '<trds ofb:lrrage frolliage. The average r.lte of fire 2 rOUllds
per gun I>cr minutc.
For the man on Ihe ground. EI Abmein was a time of great acti,;t\'.
Gunners were imohed in fil'ing at night. const:lluJr firing and being
resupplied b' trud.s from the ('.amll Zone area. j\ gunner's lot was a
smmge experiellce or gelting ordeN, following the drill, but ne\'er being
able to see the target. EI Alamcin one of the greal gunner banlcs or
the Sccond World War. and an report made directly arter
the baltic b) I\rigadier S, C. Kirkman, RA. or lhe Eighth Ann}' \,'linell
on 24 No,ember 19-12, deM:ribcs the differem aspects of llsing Ihe
25-pollnder in such large numbers,
During the balllc a
proportioll of the fidd
:trliller)' givell COlllller-
bailer)' firc tasks. Ihal ther
were t;lSkcd with seeking Olll
enemy gUllS and destro)'ing
Ihem. Al El Alamcin Ihe
guns \\"cre concentrated 011
selectcd 10 destroy
knowll enemy gl111 positions
jUq ahead of the Illaill
barrage, Guns I,'ere located
by aerial phOlOgt;lph or' by
flash spOiling, a lechnique
inmlving \'iewing it position
frolll IWO ol,hel' poinlS al a
known diSlance from each
other .md lhen calculating
the angle 10 the targe!.
This was can;cd out from
obscn<ttion tower<;. Ikig-
adier Kirkman makes
an interesting obs<'n<ttion
here: 'There is no doubt
3.
that eVl:lI bdore the bank. 0111' artilkl) h:ld aehicve.:d a moral
over the.: ;utilkl)', parll} duc, no doub!. to the cnell\) 's
of alllllHH,ilion Ihough he had a unlimited Sllpplr uf
2.>-poum!cr 'UlIlllU1litiun and a number of guns from which to lire iL'
D-Da)' and the Normandy Bolllles in 1944
-'our ,ul)('rgun - the autulll,ttie 2'>-pollndcr. (German pn"Ollt:r at till'
Village of II's. 1914)
From June 19,14 thl' 25-poullder. bOlh towed and '>l'1I:
prol)('lIed. \',IS ill c\'idenn' ill larger lIumbers. The 25-pounder Sl:l\ton
was to Rm,ll I forSt: i\nillc.... units immediate.:h aftcr D-D,I\ 110 that
the\ cOllld be intel,rraled \I'ith the al1l1oured di\isiolls crossing FlOlllCC at
that limc. II h,1lI been estimated that 20 per CCIlI of all 0\1111\ per';Otlll<'1
during 1).)):1\ :lnd after \\ere allocau:d to artillen units. Ica\e\ tiS
\,ith :l lX'wildeling 1lI1lllbl'r of and C"Hl:ldian units armed \,'itll
either to\\l'd 01' 25-IXllllldcl' IIdd gllns.
It is illlercsling thaI imllll'tiiatch aftcr tJle Iandinb'S units wen:
allned with Ihe 2.l-pollmlt'r & ..1011 <;elf-propelled gUll III replace the I.;t..... t
10511I11I SPG. '1l1is lhollgln to halc lx.'t:ause the 1,'Cf('
,hon of mill ,unnulllitioll and therefore il could be I}\ lhe.:11\ in
:'\olln<lmh. 'Ilu: Pdl,t ",:'If-propcllc<l ,\cre eWlllllalh cOll\l'ned into
"'-.U1garoo ,lrtlloufl'tl pl'I"\Onnd Gillie!"". One might think that the ..malkr
calibre projcctik \\,1-<; k<os df('ni\ e than the 105 111m btll this is cel1ainh nut
Ihe GbC. OllIe It)r thi.. rom Ix' found nm in the .. ill' of the ..hell hili
in the ahilil\ of the Bdti,h <ll1d ClIl,ldian gtlllnel'" to conCl'ntlO'te fil'!".
i\'ollnalh IIwl'(,' Wt,,'t' I h'1l1l'; ill a fidd rt.t,rimcllt and 72 gun"i 01 threl'
rchrimenlS ,ICCOtllll<Ulil'tl a di\i,ioll. 11w forward obse....,llion oOirel"
(FOO,) \\l'l"C lIol1lJ.lllv tile otlicel" 01 Ihc baHl .... 1.110 went lip to the
from Ii lie with 11ll' infallll'\
and dire.:cted fire from
Ihc b\' "Idio lhrollgh
a command po't al the
gUIlll, Tilt'\' \\'ere normall\'
l1101ll1ted in lltlil't:l"'al cal"
riel'S adapted to Iht'
po,t role ;u1If
equipped ",ilh <I remote
lnkrophollt: set Illal :IIIOl\'('d
thetn to leave a vehicle and
recl Ollt the G,blt: so that
the\' wen' nOI
linllu the \chide.
t\nillel'\ ofliccr"i \,'t:['('
pre,elll al !e\,cl.. of
coml1land and could, if
needed. call d(l\\'11 fife fwm
lhe whok' fl'l:;:il1lCllt or l'\CIl
tht' l\'Imll' divisiOllal artillel'\
C011lpkllll'I\t if re.:quired,
lk(";Ill"C all til(' glllh '1'('1'('
'UI'\'('\I,.-'{! inlo ,I 11I,Ipped grid
W"iICIll lheir pn:ci<ot.,
u-tlng u.. 25-po1Jnder In
Nonn.ndy. Th. gun .hield h
b-.n m.rIt8d out In squ......
nr th. d181 .ight .nd note. are
wrinen In them. Th... milY be
lor pAl-registered targets.
(Courtesy 01 RAHTl
\..1\01"11 ill relation 10 oth('r and Iheir
The lev 10 Ix:illj.; ,tblt.: to
large hrroups of 2:)-pollllder, Oil 10 a targel was
the speed wilh I\hidl Ihn could Ix
into the grid. c.IlTicd 0111 h\
TIlt' fin' of 21 or i2 011 a 'ingle
larget gan' thl' Gt'rm,Ill' Iht' ,h;u
the 2:-)-POUlldcl \\iI' ,I "llpcrgull' Ihal could
be lo;lc\(oci '1llIonut.icalh. In (.Iel. 01lC G.llladi,lll
officer with tht' IIh Field Rt'gimt.'nt. Roval
Canadian Anillcn IlI.tIl'd 'h,1I I\hell the
wert' wid Ih,i1 III(' "''till had
lo.lding-ammunilioll, I.t'. 11l.l1 il had 10 have
Ihe projeclile ,md Glrttidgt.: lo,l<k-d ..ep;u-::t1ch.
tile'! did not belie\(' l\h.1t Ihe\ wcre being lold:
theo. IIICl'd\ 'lllir\..l"(llIl di,bdkr, llodding ill ;1
kno\\ing f:.bhiol1, ,b Ihough 10 ....1\ of COIlI""C \\t.' \..nm\ \Oll han:, to lit:' 101
set::lHil\ r('01son<;;.'
.0\0. .111 example 01 hm, thl'''C guns wcre Ilsc'd wc 'houlrl Ino\..
lhe ,lClil)m ill lht' :-':olnl.lmh brea\..olll during 19-1... 01X:I",;lIiUlh
Goixlwood. ,\tlanlle ilnd rot.lli/e were example" of anilll'1"\ barrage.. thai
were ablt' 10 hrt'al.. up of Gcnn:m inf:.ulln and armour.
\\ithOlll \\ hich alli('d force, \\ould halt:' becn sc\ert:,h mallk"(l. In Ihc
words of Lic'Ult'Il'lIl1..(;enl'r.ll Sir nrian Ilnrrocks. '1 u"Cd 10 ,il Oil Ihe mp
of J'ieoll] \\llh 111\ ehicf glllllll'l" Sluart Rawlins be!>ide lilt'. \\ilh
300 guns .11 ,ht' l'lId uf OUI' If ;111\ unil.'> werc hdd up. \Ie
wcre ahle 10 conCl'nlmlt' in a f('\\ lhc lirc of Ihese gUll' on Ihe
enelll\.
How did aClu;tlh affen Ihe and hm\ dlCCli\c il?
Wc a'iurn 10 IIJ(' of the Canadian artillery 10 !low Ihe\
fared IX:I\'een 20 JIII\ ,llld 'li Juh. The 2nd Canadian \,ilh
i2 were 'llpplied 193.000 rollnds. on ;l\t:mg(: liring
n.. 25pot.ln6er Mk. II in ..... on
tn. 1I.I"n lront In '9-43.
leourtu, RAHT)
A 25-pounder, prob.bly Mk, III
wllh SOIOlhom muute br.k.,
lUll .ft.r the 0-0., I.ndlngs.
(IWM)
37
38
A 25-pound... 01 42nd Field
Aegimet'lt In poat-wer rote,
po..ibly In the Mlddte Et. The
lIun t",11 he. been dUll Into. pit
.nd MIKe the piece he' e mueh
hIgher elev.lIon th.n on norm.1
ground. The No.1 hilt ,hort
r.mmer in hI, hanel, intended to
..,i,t the Ihtllllnto the eh.mber.
(COiJrte', 01 RAHn
300 rOllnds pCI' gun per day. The 'Ith Field Reginlent diary stated that on
Verricres Ridge, 'Continuous firing all dOl)' breaking up counter.macks.
All coullter.luacks were successfully broken up - almo:>t elllircly due to
anillery support. At 1600 hours had fired over 16.000 rounds since 1600
hours 24th.' Clcarly artillery lire alone was cap<lble of breaking up an
allack by the Germans in Normandy.
Post war Service
The 25-pounder in aclion in Korea
The ....'ar in Korea bclween 1950 and 1953 !law the 25-pounder in action
again. Thrcc field regimellts were sent out to Korea: 45 Field RebJiment
between No\"ember 1950 and No\'cmber 1951. 14 Field Regimellt
bet\,'ecn No\'cmber 1951 and December 1952 and 20 Field Regiment
bct\"eell December 1952 and Dcccmocr 1953. Of th\.'SC, the 25-pollnders
of 45 Field Regimell1 are known for their action in sllppol1 of the
Gloucester Regiment at the B.-mle of the Inuin Khl'r.
For Illuch of the war thc lin\."S rcmained st;uic, and Ilre-regislcred
"reas cOlild be targeted. The ballef\ (Ol1un;lI1der supporting the
Glouce<;ter's defence, Glir \\';ard, \,'IS able to call dm,'n fire on am
number of targelS because of the ,"iew acro:.s Ihe plain, Normal
procedure was to use the Air Obscrmtion Post to "pOt for the gllns. This
could be an Auster Mk, VII pilolcd b\' a gunner oflirel' \,'ho was able to
spot targelS and then con"ect gunfire 011 10 them, Thc 25.vollnder was
the heaviesl BI;tish gun present in the Korean War ;lnd as such it
highly successful in breaking lip hllman-\\'3\'e attacks. II0I,'e\'er,
the larger American 155 mm gUll l1t:eded for larger bombardments
:md this ma)' have signalled the cnd foT' the smaller calibre gun.
The 25-pounder in the Malaysian Emergency llnd Indonesia
TIll' gi\"en to Mala}'Ol betwecn 1918 and 1960 g.we the
25-pounder a ncw le,tse of life during tIl(' 1950s and '60s, Thc C'.ormnnnist
n:bel-led units werc not armed with many hea\')' weOlpons. and
consequently they used the thickjunglc as a cow'r for their hit-andrun
opel<llions. The artille'1' nsed to give support
to Gurkha divisions that wcre scm Oil long-nlllge
patrols to seek them OUI. The gUlls werc not
normally used in permanent positions and
gunllcrs \\'eI'C expected 10 lin: al an}' lime. The)'
slept in thc b;l(ks of lorries; interestingly the
prime mo\"er durirll{ Ihis C:l1upaiKn was the
American 2..5-lon truck from the Australiall
ann)', Guns wOllld hc oper.lted by shifts, sometimes
of three men at a t.ime.
The tanic;:t1 plllvoses of the gun wcre often tu
act as an areadenial I,'eapon to lhe communists,
The gun might be positioned in a tea plantation
and rangcd down inlO thejulIgle. The guns \\'ould
be r.llldOlnly fircd into the jungle so that the
cOIIITllunists got thc idc" that no....,here w;:ts s.. ;lfc
I'm thclII to go, III the words of onc \'etel'an of
the camp;:lign, Jack L:mglc\ of D troop. 95 Field
Uatten'. aU<lched to the 17th Gurkha Division:
would police patrols. 'teallllCir
and IIwll nm inlo lilt' jutlA'lt'. The idea was Ihal our troop or b"ltt'r"
\\'ould I>t:' deplO\cd to pltl sheils into a \...llOwn arca. a trac\... in the jUIIA'Ie.
so that the Gurkhas could COlllC tip behind and catch them ... We would
be tiring 1>0 nllich th.lt the paint U1I the gun would blacken and bli,tl'r.
rOll cuuld allllo,t 'tc Ihe gun barn:l, ill tllc night glowing n:d Iht:\ \\erc
;;0 hot.'
THE 25-POUNDER IN OTHER ARMIES
111e pro\'i<:>ion of Ihe 2:>-pulllldt:r gun lO olher armies It,ll> I>t:'ell quilt:
\\idcspread around lilt' \lorld. IlOiIt Indian and Pakislani annies han:
had 25-puundel'l> .,inn: the Sccolld Wodd War. Large llumber.. of lhc'it:
wcre u1>cd b\ Ixllh ,idt.'S dllring lhe conflict of
1970--71. In facl. India \\it...1 major IIscr of Ihe 2:)-pollnder llnlil the lalcr
197(b..\fler parlition in 19-18. both India :md Pakislan wert.' allOIlt.'d fit:ld
regiment.!> equiplx'd with the 2;;'pulinder. Inllllt:dialch afler lhe Sc.-ocoml
World \\';\1'. 1 ,md 2 Indian Anll\ Field Rel,>imeIlL" were e(llliplx'd \\'ilh
XlUOIl M:lf-propelled Kiln... III 19-18 Ihere W;:I<:> anion in Jammu .llld
,,"lShrnir and. ;1.., IllO.,t of lhe field llniu wert: ;:ll1ncd wilh lhe 2;;'polillder.
1I1L'SC were inc\'il.lbh u'it:d. In 1962. border inCIlf'iioll" h\ Ihl'
led (0.1lI tllldec1.lred \\';.11' against India in which licld
II. Interesting .new of ... Ind.,,"
25-pounder snow;ng the Ioe.aIty
applied camouftage colour
scheme, pnMMbly gt'Hf\ 8nd
1thMl. Othet' schenIes
-.. applied In the field.
especlalty In the Western DeMfl
campaigns. as defenc:e against .Ir
anaek.. (COurtesy RAHT)
were deployed in Ihe around K.;uneng when' til('
border meet.!. and Ti!X'L In one aHack, or97 Field
Ballet; fired mer 300 rounds lhe Chinese which. it is claimed.
broke up their infantr\' allad. all of lhese annies deplo)'('d
the 2;;'pounder II alld III on II and [II carriages wilh few
changes. althollg-h Soulh Africa lIlodified and manufactured Iht:1Il 011> lhe
90 mill gun. Man\ African nalions. including ;-..'igclia and :-'Iol.unbiquc.
still ha\c Ihem in senke.
3.
40
The Aust,..lIan gun.
TM two cu.....ed pl.t" b4tw..-n
lhe wn-l. 1100 c.m.ge .......Ie
stand. uHd to reUrt1I th. str.ln
of 'IrI"9 from lhe wh_ls,
(Courtesy 01 RAHT}
An e.cellef'lt plclure depleting lhe
problems of tnll1$I)Orting rlld
gun. during tM Burmll
campal9n., II .hows II gun 01
27 FIeld Regiment I,.."elllng on
lhe Kalapanzln RI"." Burma, This
gun appears to be. Mk, II gun on
a Mk, I carriage Judging by the
posltlon of the .lr pump bracket,
The shield has been removed .nd
the jeep appears to b4 Ihe towing
"ehlcle. (Courtesy 01 RAHT}
VARIANTS
Ordnance QF 25pounder Short (Austl Mk. I on Carriage
Light (Aust) Mks. I and II
j\ll gUll' gu through modifications \\ IIt:n ill the fidd. l'rublclll:'> afe
CllCOlllHCfCd IlwlI O\('rCOIlll' hI .l<lapting 11('1,'
partS in a serie.. of lIludilic.uiom, which aIlO\\' the
1 gUll 10 IJcrfulI1l l>ellcr Hlt'!" ..enke life.
Ilm,c\cl'. '0111(;' Ilt.'colllc "0 modified that the gun
is 1:Klrch' rl'cogni",hk as tht original. A good
cx;unplc uf thi, procc..., is the OrdnallCl: QF
2':;'lx!l' Short (All") I 011 Carnage Light
(AIL"') I .1l1e1 II. In 19..J2. ,\II..Ir.lli<l1l forces
wen: fighting thcJtp<lllt..l>C ill :'\1..'\\ Guinea and thl"
l1e:l\'lc<;, ,upport thC\ cuuld 1llu<;u'r W;:L,> the 3-inch
mortar. "ht, (t'rrain dic1all'd \\hal lind of gun
could be 1I:'>('d.md tht, .-\USII";.lli<lll:'> IICfe luul..ing
for a gun lhal could 1)(' hrol..(fl dO\\'Il illlo "C\eral
ail' 1l,m'I)(lnahll' and could he packed
into it jeep or 1Il0\1.'(1 1)\ lIIule. rhl:"
Director of Anilll..... J. W. A. O'Rdan
lhat the 25-pounder could be for such a role.
Ch"rlelo KUI,'oh Pl\ Ltd produced protut\!x, .1lId field lrial, I,ere held on
10 Decemocr 1912. II was Ilot until t\ugU'it 1913 that gum Ix-gan 10 he:
to Ihc AIF Di'i'iiUlls. In :-':ew Gllilll.'a lhe' \\Cf(' Il'\('d in sllppon
ulllle ith and 9th IlIf;ulln Di\"iloionl> b\ 2 1 .md 2 12 Field Regimenll>
TIle gun ga\l: g((xl 'en'in' ;lml robml ('llOugh to'iuni\'c
life in lhe jungk though many lllodilicalium 'I ere necded, one of
the initial problem, being that it wa... colI,ideled ,I high-rbl.. acti\"ity to
fire Ihe gun with a'mperrharg(.
AU'"'llians affectionately kn('w Illl: gun a" lhe 's\luut' and one can
,ee II hy when looking al it. The barrel fOlll' fl'el lung and the I"hole
gun weighed onc and a qU<lrtcr TIl(' could bc
broken down inlO I or 14 loads (dl'pellding 011 Idlme h.llldbouk Ollt'
which wcre Ihen par:lChllll'd OUI of 01<:-47 Irall'purt pkllle,
Thl' h:ld 10 he packl'd ill sq)arall' ntnon" :lIId dropped
indi,"idllallv. The carri:lgc \\"a... a ....tdieal dc\'i:t1ioll fl'Olll lhl' Brilish gUll ill
lhal it 01 a lIew lrail
and Tlte lmil was llla{k of hox-,e('liOlI Sled
and hinged al lhe 11liddk 01 tlw behind
the brel"ch. Tht, gun had a ,mall jude\" wheel at
11ll' rcar. which .lllelll'ed it 10 IX' lll:ll1OCll\f(,d
in po:-ilion: il 11';" l,li,nl ,11)O\e Ihe lI-:lil for
tl,Ill'port purpu'e,. It aho equipped with two
which \\I.:r(' illtl.:nded 10 redllce
on llll' \\hl'eh. IltI\\l'\cl, .ttl illierel>ting r('porl
frolll 23 Fidd Ilallen ft.-quested lhat
the stahiliw..... Ix, rl'lIlmcd ht.'Cilll,e the' c<lused
IdwlI ;lnd rUllning up. The
,tabilist.,,, wet'{' felllll\ed alld lh(' gUll, wefe u,ed
on thdt thrnllj.!;hout 1\e\1 (.uinca.
Front "Iew of Itte Bishop
,.Ifpropelled gun,
ICourt..y of RAHTI
-./';"";._---
-
The Pheasant and
other Designs
\lthough il lHII ,,,;nh :l 2:'-puunder. il is wonh melllioning lhal Ihe
:\lk. I Glrriag(' Ilscd lor.1Il C:l.pCrilllCIll Wilh the 17-potllldcr :lIlli-t;m"
gun barrel, TIl(' cumtatlt tl'chnuloh,;cal 1>;lllle 1X'lween ,\lIied and
Gennan \Icapon .. to COltlt' lip \\;th bigger and more hc:.',wih
armoured t:ml..s .lIId Iht-, gUll' tu PClll..'tr.l\1..' them led lite Briti:,>h IU M.'C" a
much more' IlO\\l'rful gun lhan lhc 6-pounder. The 17-pollndt'r glln
barrel \'-;'IS reach 1'01' ".'rvice 011 I :'11:11 19-12, bIll \\"orrie!> abolll the
appe;Il'OlI1cc uf the German Tiger tallk in North Africa in 19-12 led the
LO le,t lht' gun on a 25-pollllder carriage. comhin:lIion
bt.-carne knowlI.1S lilt: 17-pdr JIll. I 011 C:trriagc :'Ilk. 2, colloquialh "110\\11
as the 'phe..:,>.llIt', .Illd W;IS 'l:11I to Africa Ilherc it ga\"c gOtXI servicc,
cerlainh in Iht c,lIl1paign, The 25-poundcl" carriage nOI
10 tall' tilt' generated b\ a gun thai had a mill/ie
rclocil' of 2,9{){) !eet per 'ecund but it to be able 10 copc \,'illl
the firing of lilt' gllli \\"cll.
As has bCl'n pn:dol1,11 mentioned, the de\elupmenl of a ne\l' gUll led
10 a gnc"al dcal of cxperirnclltatioll and Ihis led to a number of
imcre'iting aheration.. , One of the 1110re illlrigl1ing \l"a'i the 25-pollndcr
t\nllOllr(,d l{evolving Cupola designed by lhe Free French
Oflicer Kibal1d. cOll .. of a stl..'cl IlilTet on a four-I,'heeled
tmiler and could he Inll'l'rsed ill any direCtion. As wilh lhe SR mIn FlaK
gUll il was inlended Illal il could be lired from wheels bill llorrnally it
lI'ould be IIlOllllted on two :ltUuslable rear legs. As with Ulany similar
idea'i, it pron:d 10 IX' ,mel the idea was dropped ill 1944,
A b:ultT' 01
2j..pollllders IIOnll:llh COII-
of ballen hl'ad-
quaner... in flllll ,11Id a
light Irailer. Tlh:n: w('re IWO
Iroops each of ,('wn
Ullte" Do ,l1Id a 1-1011
Lr.lilel: The' gUll troup had
four each
LO .1 jeq) \I'ilh Olll: KIIl1
SIOI,'t--d in it ami 21 round)
of .ulllllllnitiOli. TIlt' D6
ll,tCtor c;tn;ed &l mum\) of
HE altllllllliitiotl,
THE 25POUNDER SELFPROPELLED
VERSIONS
The 2S-pounder Mk. I on Carrier, Valentine, 25-pdr,
Mk. I (Bishop)
111c two main dcveloprncnl:'> in tcnns of self-propelled t:<llIipment were
the and lhe $exton. III JIIIIC 1911. the war of movement in the 41
An early wlew 0' the Carrier
Valentine 25Pdr Gun Mk. I
wiewed Irom the right rear with
doors elosed. Thl, pieture may
hawe been taken on SaU,bury
Plain. (Author" photogl1llph)
\\blem Desert led lO a re<luirt'lllt'nt fOi' ;1 of lhe
25-pollnder gun. In June 19-11. lllc Hinningham Railwa\ GlIliage and
Wagon CoO. Ltd ,,'ere asked 10 ...\I('"h a hrtlll I>.\<;(-d on Ihc Valentine
lank chassis. This Ihe} did and produced lhe or. to qUOIe its
milit;u1' title. 25-pollnder Mk. I on C;1I1ier. \'alelllilw. 25-pdr. I. Ii was
Ihc first British altCmpl al d4. igning .1 h'1.lIl and was nOI
I}aniclilarl\' successful. being 10\\' OIl i mph, and lhe Iimil4."(1 amOlllll of
c1C\'ation -.evereh' rCSlricted the r;.IIlge 10 6,400
The gun was norm;llI" cn:wcd b" four mcn: gUIlIICI'. loader, driver
and commander. It could be supplied \\ith a Brcil gun for AA defence
bUI this nOt 1I0nnall\' ShO\\'ll in phologlOlphic ('\idencl', The \'ehide
\\,IS p<.mcred b)' an Me dicsel cnginc and had ;m ,1I"I1IOUr lhickneo;s of
60 mill at maximum and 8 IIl1tl minimum. Thb gun a :>lOpgap
and was \'el1' distincti,'C it had a Iarg('
011 lhc chassis containing thc gUll. The gUll capable or 8 degrecs or
lI'a\"Cl'st.', 15 degrees of de\Ollion and 5 or The Uishop could
can1' :\2 rounds of ;ulllnunition and, in ordel' 10 imprO\(' ammunition

.'.

t-
. ,\
... t
, ...
--;' I
'\ "'1,/.. q, ."\ /' . ' .,..
" . t I',
" I,.. If w, .
...( /. ' r
':,-l..,,c:f; ... '.
J f'
.,
,
A Bl.hop Mlf-propelled gun In
aellon In Tl.IniI5ia In 1843. The
rear of the IUlTeli. open
end the gun i. loaded from
the ,.ar dec:k. Thi. ope..tlon
mu.t hawe beer> awkward o..er
a long period 01 lIme. The
Bishop wa. a typieal eumpie 01
a tank eon..e..1on 10 SP 8un
(CourteI5y 01 RAHT)
2
seaton .ett-propelled gun 01
G Battery, A Troop, RHA (HAC),
01 whom Stlrtleent Saunder.
w81 the No.1. The gun wa.
photographed In Belgium on ltl
way to Antwerp In 194" The
number 76 I. the arm 01
.e.... lce marking lor artillery.
(Author'. photograph)
supply, a No.27 alll,mllli,ion trailer \\';l!o tOI\'ed
along" \\'ith lhe vehicle.
The wt:re nOI rl'ad)' for service lltllil.Jlll}
1942 .1I,d about 100 were e\ellIUall)' ddi\"ered.
Although a fUrl her 50 were ordered ill 1912. it
nOI clear \1 hether thl'v \It:re delivered. They wen:-
in Ihe \\btern De,cr! ami in Sicil) and Italy.
st.Tring with the Eight and FirSI AT'lJlies. Although
of limited IISC, Ihe Bishop \1';1.'0 emplo}ed ill Illlh in
1913 and :.ened its pUll>o..e ulllilthe US designed
Plie..t 103 mm gllll carriage and the Sexton 25-
JXlunder SI'G Gillie into usc.
Mounting, SP, 2Spdr, C, Mk. I
ISexton)
The Americ.lII W;-IS i!>:.u(."tl to Blitish
annaured fonn:uions hut it ....m the C:madi:1Il
Anm Enginecring Oc.-'Sign UI'aI,ch that GUile up
with a de:.ib"l lhat c\cllIualh to become Ihe
Sexton <;elf-propelled /{llll 01' the
25-lxlr, C. Mk. I. The $exlon owed much to the
in tcrms of dc:.igll and wa!> realh a Ram
!'.'-lIlgaroo annourc.-'d pel"loOIll,e1 carrier with a
25-pounder mounted ulXln it in an open-lopped
sllperstnlClUre with the dli\er on the right-hand
of the vehicle. The saddle and pimle of the
gun had 10 be redesigned so lhat the glln could
be u:l\'crsed quid,h. In addition Lhe recoil was
limiled to 20 inch(':, to ellable the Kun 10 elcv;lle
LO 40 degrees.
In this altered gun shipped to Uritain for trials and ill
the Locomothe Works wa:. producinl-\" the gun. The Sexton
welll through man)' of lhe same change:. a:. Lhe R,UIl lanks and GnTiers.
in that Ihe carl)' version had a ri\ctcd ,."d bogies, which wcre
altered in 1944 10 cast one-piece alld /0.14 hogit's witl, Il:,ilillg roller
Later w:rsiolls also had" towing hook for the al1llllllllilion
Imiler, ,uld an auxiliar), genenllor. The Sextoll wall manufactured in
a COIllIll,lIld POSt version known the St:Xt011 GPO or (;\111 Positio1l
Orticer. TI,is had lhe gUll relllOVed OIlld :tIL additiOll:.11 No.19 r:ldio
SCt added to allo\l' the \'chiclc to comrol h,wery firc. illclu(kd
the lise of map tables and exu'a t:<jUiPIllCIII. The Contincntal
R-975 400-480 horsepower ael'O enginc Ihe tnain pOII'er uilit for a
brge \'ehic1c \\'eighing 25 tons wilh a relati\'l'ly light gun.
The SextOn righting compartmcnt so de'iglled so lhal lhe driver
:oat below the gun on the right-hand side. Ilowever, a:. all}Uody who has
allClIlpled to drive one will know, lhe spac(' t:xtrelllc1v cramped and if
the c1111Ch was opened lhe dri\er needed an extra joint in hi... leg to be
able 10 oper;:He it. When riring, the \'ehide and \\';IS loaded
through a hatch aIXl\"e the tracks on the left-hand side of the \'chide.
The space was constnlcted so Ih,1I the floor plates could be
rcmO\ed and projectiles \,'erc held in lockers underneath. There was
for 8; high-cxplosi\'e or smoke projecliles and 18 amlour-
43
44
The Sel{lon self-propelled gun or
Mounting, SP 2.5pclr, C. Mk. I.
The annoured ...........109 shield
CfIn be c:I.arty ..en either ,Ide of
the gun barTel. Ther. I, further
shield .bo.... the breech 01 the
"un. {Courty 01 RAHTl
Ttt. Mlrbat 2.5pounder, the IIiSI
gun used In action by British
forc... The gun h8$ been
repainted but bullet hoi.. are
stili vlsfble In the shield. Thoe
Sulbln of Oman pun:haHd the..
guns from Britain to gl... eat...
"nt90wer to his ann, when
combatlOi1 A600 I"",,.
(Court..y 01 RAHTJ
piercing projectile.. , For (kfencc in <In cmcfgt"11C\, thert' \\cre two Bren
glln, that could be mOlllllcd un a rCTllu,abk' pedc,,;!! damp. and
occasiollall\' Browning machine Kilns ,,'crc fitted. rlll'rl' WI'f(' normal!\
.. is cn'wlllClTlbcrs: ,he commander. dri\cr. luader, glllllll'l". J.;llll alld
operator. The Sextoll direClh replaced Ille Pd!.'!>1 inJunc IY-I4.ju.'>l
arh.. r the !':onmmdv landing. rrn'ing up or 10;, mill :Ullllllll1iliol1
tu ,!l(c" Annv, In all. :.!.150 had IX'l'1l bllilt b\ 19-1:-, and Iht:
Bl'ilish Ann> IIscd lhclll imu the 1950-;,
GLOSSARY
Artillery board - A board used in a command post 10
calculate range and beanng to larget.
Axletree - The assembly that takes the weight of the
eqUipment and attaches to the wheels.
Breech loading (BlI - Usually denotes a gun thaI IS loaded
with a separate propellant bag behind the prl)tOClile.
Buffer - The part 01 a gun carnage that controls recoil.
801. trail - A gun trail thaI 1$ Qesigned in the shape of a
hollow bolt
Charge - The explosive reqUIred to propel a shell to a tatgel.
Clinometer - Ari Instrument used to measure the angle 01
elevatIOn of a gun, In degfees, whICh normally acted like
a spln! level.
Cradle - The part 01 the gun WIthin whICh the guo barrel

Dial sight - A 360-degree sight used for indirect fire.
Laying - The aiming 01 the gun.
Quick firing (QF) - Usually denotes a gun that has a fiKOO
cartridge case.
Reeuperator - Normally, a device that returns the gun barrel
to its origmal position after firing.
Run-out - The POSitIOn of a gun barrel before finng or after
rEICOll. Agun barrel is said 10 be run-out when it has been
fired and laid to rest.
Sight clinometer - An II'lstrument thai measures the angle
of SIght.
Trail - The lower rear sectIOn 01 a gun carnage touchInQ the
ground.
Tangent Elevation - The angle between the 11118 sight and
the elevatIOn of the gun.
COLOUR PLATE COMMENTARY
The Ihree main type. of artillery projeetilo lrom lett to right
are: high ollplo./Vo, .moko and armour pJorcing_ Tho high
uplo.i..e protectilo waa equipped with I'" No.11? fUM. T...
T on tho body of tho armour plorclng profectilo Indicated
thilt it had a tracor
A: 18/25POUNDER GUN ON MK. IVP
CARRIAGE, BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE;
FRANCE, 1940
ThIs IS typical of the guns that ""'8l'e sent WIth the BnbSh
&peditionary Force to Frnnce in 1940. Many 01 lhese guns
WMl provlded JUSt before the unrts left for combat and were
subsequently Iosl. Most glrIS had no markings and those with
!he BEF were painted a light stone colour. The If'IStrument
above the hand wheelIS a range quadrant. .....n.ch was used to
set elevatlOO and variations such as muzzle velocity. It acted in
the same way as the range drum on the later Mit. II guns. The
Mk. IV carriage is distlnctMl WIth its bolt trail appearance,

..
B: 18/25-POUNDER GUN ON MK. VP CARRIAGE,
BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE; FRANCE,
1940
Only a few 25-poul1der Mk. Is were sent to France and very
lew returned home to service In Britain. most having been
destroyed in France. This gun Is painted in the light slone
colour used by the British EKpedltlonary Force at the
beginning of the war,
C1: 25POUNDER MK. II CARRIAGE WITH
MORRIS QUAD
The Moms Field Art!lIery Tractor was the main BntJsh vehicle
used to tow the 25-pounder trail6f and gun. TIlls version is a
Morris C8 Mark III. It was produced from 1942 until 1944
when a later body mark was Introduced that had addllJonal
stowage althe rear.
C2: 25-POUNDER MK. III CARRIAGE WITH
CHEVROLET QUAD
Canada produced many military vehicles lor use by
Commonwealth forces; this vehICle is the eGT CMP Field
Artillery Tractor The leiters CMP stood lor Canadian Milrtary
-

; 25p!t1O \
l5 po. 10
G

..
/-.
,NT
264,1,
KJIA. c.
1517
72238
45
46
Pattllfn. The Chevrolet Quad was a Canadian-made Field
Artillery Tractor and was consldemd to be superior to the
Moms tractor, which was underpowenKl. The 25-poundef
barrel has a muzzJe brake added. which was a 1942 addition
ItItended to stabIlise the gun when USI09 supercharge wrttl
armour-piefclng shot. In all, over 20,000 01 these vehlcles
were manufactured.
0: OF 25POUNDER GUN MK. III ON MK. I
CARRIAGE WITH NO.27 TRAILER
The 25-pounder Mk. II ordnance (barrel and breech
assembly) on the Mk. I carnage with the No.27 trailet beside
it. This gun IS shown In positIOn mounted upon the No22
linng platlorm and WIth the trml spade cover in place to
reduce any hindrance when the gun is traversed. The gun is
lined with a muule brake. which helped reduce recoil by
deflecting the blast 01 the propellant gases leaVing the barrel.
VariolJs tools and appliances were held on the gun carriage
such as the dial sight case to the right 01 the shield.
L_
E1: 25POUNOER GUN ON MK. II CARRIAGE
(JURY AXLE)
The narrowllf carriage, called the Mk. II, was intended to be
used in COf1IUOCtJon wrth a Willys Jeep as a lOWIng vehlcle.
ThIS gun was fitted WIth the smaller No.22 platlorm and can
be seen here WIth the main plate cut so that drag ropes can
be used. The trail eye can be slotted into two posrtlOOS, one
lor travelling and one lor linng. lhe lonner allow1ng the spade
greater clearance from the ground in the travelling poslhon. A
fuse sethng plate IS fitted 10 the left rubbing plate guard bar.
E2: ORDNANCE OF 25-PDR SHORT (AUST) MK. I
ON CARRIAGE LIGHT (AUST) MK. I
The 'snout' as it appeared in 1943 dunng the New GUinea
campaigns. Mainly dropped by air the gun could be towed by
A 25pounder Mk. lit c.mage. Similar 10 the Mk. I bUI wilh
'itllng' and Imaller platform of the Mk. II camage. (Aulhor's
phologreph cour1elY 01 RAHT)
,lImint posts mounted on the lront 01 the gun. The
!Mmlnt posts were used to lay the gun lor tine (bearing).
The.. weB the No.1 ty'pe lor the field gun. Normally, the
head would be 01 the Nme shape on each gun so that
each gun c:ould be ditf.......tlaled by the snape 01 the
heed. This was 10 avoid c:onfuskln when more tMn one
guo In a batte..., was be1r'lll laid. (Courtesy 01 RAHT)
a Jeep but the jockey wheel at the back must have been
somewhat difficult to control. The first reports of actions
against the Japanese at Lae In New Guinea in 1943 stated
that In counter-battery actloos against Japanese guns the
'baby' 25-pounder was lar supenor and on some occaSionS
fired POint blank at Japanese guns on exposed hilltop
posItlOOS.
F1: THE BISHOP MOUNTING AND CARRIER,
VALENTINE. 25-POUNDER GUN, MK. I
ThIs BIshop is depicted dunng the Western Desef't battles
wrth the sand and black camouflage scheme that was typical
of the penod 1941-42. The vehICle has an 'A' on ItS turret,
whIctI may be the ItOOP letter signifying that this gun
belOnged to A troop. The rear doors are open because of the
.,tense neat. It is covered in salldbags alld many of the
accoutrements of war that were hung around the outside of
tr.e gun, internal space being very limited.
F2: THE SEXTON SELFPROPELLED MOUNTING
DepIcted IS a sexton of the Royal Horse Artillety In Palestine
In 1947. sextons were noonaIly issued to Royal Horse
Artillery umts to keep pace WIth armotXed formations. ThIS
partlCl,llar gun IS part 01 t Battery (BuII's Troop), 2nd RegtrTl80l
RHA. The Sexton was armed With two Bran guns for seIl-
protectlOfl and these could be mouflted upon removable
clamps as reqUired.
G: MIRBAT, OMAN, 1972; THE LAST
25POUNDER USED IN ACTION
The last 25-pounder used in action was actually dated 1943.
During the ulldeclared war in Oman in 1972, $AS troopers
from the British Army Training Team and members of the
Omani armed lorces in Mlrnat came under attack from Adoo
tnbesmen of the People's Front for the UberatlOfl 01 the
OCCupied Arabian Gulf. Troopers Labalaba and Takavesi fired
the 25pounder at POint blank range at the attacking guerrillas
infillfahng the town. Labalaba was wounded Ifl the chIfl and
then mortally wounded. The gun was fired at personnel
targets at vety short range and it was fIOt mmediately deaf
how effectIve it was in destroying attacking troops.
AssIstance came from two other members of the $AS tBam,
captain Mike Keally and Trooper Tobin, who were also
present at the scene. Tobin was also wounded. and atter the
day's events Captain Kealy was awarded the Distinguished
Service Order. 47
INDEX
r'l"''''' '" "'.. ilI, ...
......"b 110 "", l'l
171'O"ndn I>t;u,k lC"" II
IJIv._ ... s, 7, n
,.r"""lI ut
75-v<...,,1rt .... '" & "n. l)
1'l-VI
\(,oI:wIr " ........... tt...."'11( ...... II
...
I<Il..-H""_,........- ....h"

_ ........
.... ,....-..-""""
_ .. I ..,,,,,,,, .... '7,17 II ......
"'.,......,.
_ ....... p..
........... "
.....-. V"P!"' nl..-
_ 11 I' .....:n.tl n ...' ....
_ ,'I.\.i.u

......104.
_01,,,,_,,,
&-bft_ :!:\
-
11"""""" 41
,.,.,..... .

7 7 " 1I,I!-I',
.... .. I'" r.
-'-""""""ll"" " II "" tl.'"
_...
,

....... t .... 1_ .... B.r:t!".
"
buIrn ,,,,,,,..............._.""',, 1'\.11
_ UI8 ..
c....-" 12
""" 0:.:/11.4\
, \nm'''lIC''''''''',,'lI.'''''Jn'''_h .,
..<.. ::'I. "'" ""
"." n A
I ...,. l<J ...
\ll 12'1 ' M.IO
\lllll' u"od<, 1:1 7 '1).11 II II J,l t6
\1.11' II' "-Ill. n
""'1''''''''''' .. I
, ...""1",,,
1',lh
R"... 1.<1 1(,
d"........'.'" 12
".''''''l''''.' (. t;1<
".",,,..4,,,,,,, (0 .. , ...",
".... 11<-1". SII
1.'M. 19-H ,.., 37
d<-p<.........

\ll I :t..."........... 9

,1nIjrtl I-(" UI
_ ............ II_It. 13
dI-. "'P'" 18
_M
U "-"'__ 16."'-'"
---


--. ..."........_1l"" U
.--pUofo U1-<l.II.H.ll '"
b"'ll" c "-'
_d-..-...."" RXJoo '"
h_.. :!:!.:!). U
Iuon 16
L<.- 10.... tt 'U. r.
p-"
..... .--.1
1_...... I ............r_ r.
___",t
I_Itnft._o(dN-............ \o\.. "'"
I..... ""."l'l."
h""'-u..> YI
1...... 1<>0<'" '1..1

j<><"-...-tl....'
.. e ..........
..... I'M. ".',Q-\,'
!.n l)-Ito
1 ......... 11 \_'1'u"'--.lt<ft'" "...... '>-b
._,.
11m.,. OW
\1,,1 1............. _,,,," G. 'I II 11 1;-
'Iuh n.""" C. 'I. 1;-
"" f.- "" -10
II.," ,"",""""'.. "orL 1'1
"'..u bl"..... C. S7 n
' .... 010........ ,
,......-..,
"",,, d>. 19-\1 17 't'I 3Il. "_'Ill
'I,,,,,.,,,.,,, c.,n,...!C',.ll...
1)'11......,. " I .. .. I)" ...
1""10-,, III
..,...." .. I'" 1
".n.",.." 'I.. '17
\h,\n;an<cQl' "'""'- I ...... ' III I U. 10) 18 1to-l1
'M....' ........... II,
.............'"
,,,," ,Iruo "",",. 1Jl.1'1
r..u..-
1'hr_".tIw II
""...... " .... t1w.
"'- W, _ W'Il 1",""""1 ll"'" ,... n. H
"'" .x" .......... II n
..............'" U
......... 1....... _ "
..... ".... ...... '1'''''5
,.."..... "
I"".....V" ..
.......
""""--''1
r_..... ' oIw 11 n
,,-."/;oc I n 17""
_.
It"
It"-II 1'-11 11
"' .....1.'1JId<"l ..... I'
Ko..o ..
...... ...-...1. __ 1
1t< 1 1
10 1 \no " t1
, ..., .,................." ..
W'Il1""Jl"'ilrd_ ,. 11> fl-H It-tJ -H 17
.............. ..... n ,'" U I:\-It-H 11

>l...-Id-tIw I" II 17)l M
-.:'I_ IS
"''''''' \h
"' "
"""" '" I>
1."" .......... 'I
...... Ib_,"
or....... C. II ilf ti n nil"
"'"'P-''' ,WI ....... U 18 Sf
........... 7."
n..I1...-1l1'..._ .....
III 1 q
III 111...\0 ...,,",,
".1... " II
' .....". "'!-II
hI..<'" I,.".. l. 7 S. 1"
II",I, ..! ".,,10- "
11,,,1 l." 'Ill
...m I........ "'II U II>. ''1-'1-1. J4 ....." .
,) I'
".",1"."
COMPANION SERIES FROM OSPREY
48
ESSENTIAL HISTORIES
(""",,0< "ud..... ,,1',10.. """"t'. "10',"'0<1, ".1 ..\..",u"..... ur 10..""" ...",Ih,,'.
'I"",,,n, 10""., I" ,,,,,,,,, u",...... ,.... I".""'" J 1.0,,10 ,,>i ..,,", "uJ".,
,_ "",,.. ........."' of I,,,,,,J'''J'" ",J"I","",h.k , ..,tl< 'u ,II< fl,h"",
,,,,,If. ,..... ""''I'k ,""."J I ". I.... ,,,, ,mpo<' un ,..........Id ,n",oJ "
MEN_ATARMS
I.......",for,,". I"'I'f'I<"'. """"". h........nJ 'IO'J'"."' ...... of ,I>< ... ",kt\
m,I,.." I.....,.. r".....I....' """" '" ,II< JIK'<"I' do, lu''''..'' .. " ', .....
full_ml"......... ,.. pIouo,>v.p/I> .nJ .. 1>.-,,,, ,,' ,. 'OOll , ...... of ho""...
",oJh ,u bf..
ELITE
'l'h" ""'I'............u,prnrn, ."",..'" ...... Unl' h,o.Iuno '" , ...
......., 11 _\ bu, ," _ ...<n<kd '1'<'.''''''"'' uf Loryc.- "''''''''''.
.bo, "",I"""" I"""'''''.., nd ' .... h,,"1"'" ,J ....f...
CAMPAIGN
\"_,, of ......un, "'" ,,,.Ill...,............'" ,he ..............J .....,<JX'.
....Ioc.. _anmI _ '" ,ho: __kJn .h......mau' ,11< ..........
...... 01 c..... l...a--euaou. b.l1l. '"*" J-d.--.. """"...,c
,"' pIooouJr.ofllo> ..... h.nlr ""'I"",....w ,ho: lhmur:h ad
1' ",""""',,,","""........
OROER OF BATTLE
'IM ,.....,"', b..."" '" 10",,"). "",,_h,_u,," <.."un.o,""" "I' , '''-'1''
.."J ,"',,' ""nrn"" ., ,,<II , 1".. "I ,ho: "'''M"nJ<,,' ,,..,,,,,.1 ' ".
."J "'1...1 ...10"''''''.....'' e ""1" ,... h,J,,,, ,.,. I"IJ ' N'" P.
.......",,,,.,,,,1 Ji.,...n" "oJ P",",,,,,.ph, hdp ,ho: " , '0 , ,..... """nc '"
,ht '" ""I"',wn'c,1 J"I
WARRIOR
I"..""" '''I'' ,I>< J"" I" ... of 10 ,,,, \ fOJh""" men ,nJ .. ,....... I'''' "'"
1"'-"""". tIn.. h", ""',. ,.. , p''''" ."" "110''''''''''_
'1.11....1ou>l, h<.l ...rr.", nJ lulk"""" .n.. p/loJo.'V.ph,nd
.....-- ", bonlr.nJ do,,, I.k pn." ..... iku,lnl """,,n, ,I>< "pc"rn<<>'"
cumbo..".. .he .,....
AIRCRAFT Of THE ACES
I'urtr.." uI ,II< ,hI< ",lui. 01 ,he .!Ooh <'<1', >I, c..n..... """'''''.''''
un..."" ,"."""'... " .. 10 ...,," ... 01,.. l nit h , .Ie pl.o>1. "'" I..JkuIou,
oombone ",,10 tho hnl ",lu,.1 pho.-"""ph lahl< '0 """ode'
<kwlnl ......llhl ...... ,ho ..,prnmo.... uf .... .. 'ho ...
COMBAT AIRCRAFT
The .oriJ\ F'/'" __ noli ....... ,,,...1 ""'h ........ bn, , ...
............t til Ilo<ud f.-h C'<pb' "d.. kaJ thtooIo>r '"""
of .."'_ ,,... 1'J'O<'<d h> , ...,. 1In- do,
.........l ....* fII-. :1..,.1 """,.,nph.
The design, development. operation and history
of the machinery of warfare through the ages.
The 25-pounder
Field Gun
1939-72
Full colour artworic
Cutaway artwork
OSPREY
PUBLISHING
Photog<aphs
Unrivalled detail
Of all the British guns in use
during the Second World War,
the 25-pounder was the one
that best represented Britain's
armed forces. It was adaptable,
packed a powerful punch
and, above all, it was reliable.
This book provides a full
combat history of a gun that
was used in e"ery theatre of
the Second World War and
saw extensive service in the
post-war years, particularly
in Korea and during the
Malaysian emergency. The
last 25-pounder gun to sec
action in the Ilrilish Army
was one used by SAS Iroops
at Mirb,lI, Oman, in 1972.
ISBN 1-84176-350-0

9 781841 76350 !>1 .,
15 "H
'" ,
....