Calibre: 86.8mm
Length of Bore : 2.346m
Length overall: 4.65m
Track Width: 1.79m
Height Travelling: 1.65m
Weight in action: 1,801kg
Traverse on carriage: 8 deg
Traverse on Platform: 360 deg
Elevation: -5 deg to 40deg
Muzzle velocity: (HE) 518 m/s
Shell Weight: (HE) 11.34 Kg
(Smoke) 9.93 kg
Maximum range: 12,253 m
Rate of Fire 10 rounds pre minute
The 25pdr was developed to replace the WW1 18 Pdr and 4.5in Howitizer. The original Mk1 were re-sleived 18pdr. The Mk2 gun entered service in 1940 first seeing action in Norway with the Royal Artillery and France with the Royal Canadian Artillery. The gun served in all theatres and provided sterling service through the every campaign involving British and Commonwealth forces. It was also popular with the Germans and the Americans. It was used not only as a towed piece but also as a Self Propelled Gun.
As a very robust and simple gun to operate it is still in service across the world. It was retired from front line service in 1967 but continued as a training and ceremonial gun with the regular and territorial army until the 1990’s. It was used at the Battle of Mirbat by the SAS in 1973. But has been used in a variety of trials including in Northern Ireland firing simulating IRA Mortar Launchers.
Internationally the 25pdr has served in a number of Campaigns Malaya and Korea with the Commonwealth. In Africa with the Portuguese, Rhodesians and South African’s. With the Indian and Pakistani Artillery in South West Asia. In Europe it was used by many armies after the war the Irish army have only recently replaced them with the 105mm Light gun.
