Ordnance QF 25pdr (87.6 mm)

A pair of Ordnance QF 25pdr (87.6 mm) on L9059 in Standard camouflage

Description

The Ordnance QF 25-pounder was a British gun-howitzer primarily known for its role as the British Army's field artillery during World War II. It was a highly effective and versatile piece of artillery, easily relocated and deployed while providing substantial firepower at ranges of up to 12 km. Most famously, it served as the main armament of the British tracked self-propelled artillery gun, the Bishop, and its Canadian equivalent - Sexton. In naval use, the 25-pounder was occasionally mounted as an improvised weapon on vessels or in coastal defence role, notably in the defence of Malta.

The gun was introduced in Update "Dance of Dragons" along with the L9059. It features a potent high-explosive shell, but is less effective against armoured targets. Its low rate of fire and slow muzzle velocity make it challenging to use against distant enemies.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• L9059

General info

Available ammunition

87.6 mm Mk.ID HE is the default ammunition for the gun and is highly effective against a wide range of targets, from motor torpedo boats to sub-chasers.

87.6 mm Shot It APC is a specialised round that lacks the ability to ignite fires or cause spalling. Instead, it can be used to target specific components deep within a vessel, such as engines. However, unless engaging a large vessel broadside, it is generally not recommended due to its minimal overall damage output.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		100 m	1,000 m	2,000 m	3,000 m	4,000 m	5,000 m
Mk.ID HE	HE	12	12	12	12	12	12
Shot It APC	APC	86	63	51	43	38	35

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
Mk.ID HE	HE	533	11.34	0	0.1	820	79°	80°	81°
Shot It APC	APC	573	9.07	-	-	-	48°	63°	71°

Comparison with analogues

The gun’s HE rounds are very effective at short to medium ranges, thanks to their excellent explosive filler. However, its low muzzle velocity and slow rate of fire make it difficult to consistently hit long-range targets, even larger ones. Additionally, the relatively large size of the turrets, combined with their poor 9.5 mm RHA, makes them more vulnerable to destruction compared to most counterparts, resulting in significant crew losses.

The AP rounds are considered grossly inadequate, with their use limited to rare situations where the HE shells cannot achieve better results.

HE

Cannon		Sample Ship	Ammo	Calibre (mm)	Muzzle Velocity (m/s)	Sustained rate of fire (rounds/min)	Targeting speed (°/s)		TNT Equivalent (kg)	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
							Horizontal	Vertical		100 m	1,000 m	2,000 m
	Ordnance QF 25pdr	L9059	HE	87.6	533	6.7	5	3.8	0.82	12	12	12
	3-inch Mark 10	PC-451	HE	76.2	823	15	10	18	0.5	8	8	7
	FlaK.18	Krischan der Große	HE	88	820	17	10	6.8	0.698	11	11	11
	S.K.C/35	AF D1	HE	88	700	13	10	6.8	0.698	11	11	11
	F-34	Pr.1124 late	HE	76.2	680	16	21	3.4	0.621	10	10	10
	ZIS-S-53	Pr.191	HE	85	785	15	21	6.8	0.741	11	11	11
	D-56TS	Pr.1204 late	HE	76.2	680	15	21	10	0.621	10	10	10
	76 mm/45 QF 3in 20cwt	SGB Grey Fox	HE	76.2	762	12	13	10	0.32	6	6	6
	6pdr 7cwt QF Mk IIA	Fairmile D (617)	HE	57	655	42	34	21	0.153	5	5	5
	8 cm/40 3rd Year Type	Type K-8 No.13 late	HE	76.2	685	20	11	10	0.480	8	8	8

AP

Cannon		Sample Ship	Ammo	Calibre (mm)	Muzzle Velocity (m/s)	Sustained rate of fire (rounds/min)	Targeting speed (°/s)		TNT Equivalent (kg)	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
							Horizontal	Vertical		100 m	1,000 m	2,000 m
	Ordnance QF 25pdr	L9059	APC	87.6	573	6.7	5	3.8	0	76	63	51
	3-inch Mark 10	PC-451	APCBC	76.2	823	15	10	18	0.133	111	92	79
	F-34	Pr.1124 late	APHEBC	76.2	665	16	21	3.4	0.15	85	72	62
	ZIS-S-53	Pr.191	APHEBC	85	785	15	21	6.8	0.164	133	114	99
	D-56TS	Pr.1204 late	APHE	76.2	662	15	21	10	0.049	96	81	70

Usage in battles

The Ordnance QF 25-pounder performs well against low-BR boats but suffers from several drawbacks. A single round is unlikely to destroy even the smallest vessels, but firing two or four rounds can bring down most motor torpedo boats. The large explosive filler also increases the likelihood of damaging multiple external components of larger vessels, such as destroyers, and setting them on fire.

This gun is best used at short to medium ranges, where the low muzzle velocity has less impact on accuracy. At longer ranges, it becomes difficult to hit manoeuvring targets, though the low muzzle velocity can be advantageous in some situations. For instance, by firing from behind cover, the shells can be lobbed over obstacles to strike otherwise unreachable targets.

The armour-piercing rounds, with their low muzzle velocity and poor penetration, are also hampered by the lack of explosive filler. As solid shot, they can only damage components they directly impact, making them highly situational in use.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent HE shell
• Low muzzle velocity, and thus a steep arc of fire, makes it possible to hit targets behind cover

Cons:

• Low muzzle velocity makes it difficult to hit targets at range
• Solid-shot APC rounds with minimal damage and poor penetration
• Large turret with just 9.5 mm RHA armour

History

The Ordnance QF 25-pounder was introduced in 1939 as a British field gun-howitzer, designed and manufactured by Royal Ordnance. Throughout its service life, the gun was produced in numerous factories across the UK, Canada, and Australia, playing a crucial role in World War II. Though it was eventually phased out of the British Army, the 25-pounder remains in use among various armed forces around the world.

Britain sought to replace both the 18-pounder field gun and the 4.5-inch howitzer (114 mm) with a single weapon capable of fulfilling both roles. The result was the 25-pounder, named for its ability to fire a 25-pound (11.3 kg) projectile. The initial version, Mark I, was introduced in late 1939 as a temporary solution, combining the barrel of the older 18-pounder with a new carriage. It saw action in the early stages of World War II, including the Battle of France. In 1940, the improved Mark II was introduced, featuring a purpose-designed barrel and carriage. The Mark II quickly became the standard artillery piece of the British Army during World War II and beyond, serving in major campaigns such as North Africa, Italy, and Western Europe.

Following the war, the 25-pounder continued to see widespread use in various global conflicts, including the Korean War and numerous colonial and post-colonial wars. It was gradually phased out of service in the British Army by the 1960s, replaced by more modern artillery systems such as the L118 towed howitzer. Remaining guns were sold to numerous countries and through continued arms sales they remain in use to this day, with Pakistani military still manufacturing munitions for the gun. Finally, many pieces were preserved in museums and are still being used in ceremonial roles across Europe.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

• Ordnance QF 3-inch Howitzer

External links

• [Wikipedia] Ordnance QF 25-pounder
• [Tank Archives] 25 Pounds of Death

France naval cannons
37 mm	37 mm/50 model 1925 · 37 mm/50 model 1933
47 mm	3 pdr QF Hotchkiss
57 mm	57 mm/60 ACAD Mle 1951
75 mm	75 mm/50 Canet model 1891 · 75 mm/50 model 1922
90 mm	90 mm/50 model 1926
130 mm	130 mm/40 model 1919
138.6 mm	138.6 mm/55 model 1910 · 138.6 mm/40 model 1927 · 138.6 mm/50 model 1929 · 138.6 mm/50 model 1934 R1938
152 mm	152 mm/55 model 1930
155 mm	155 mm/50 model 1920
203 mm	203 mm/50 model 1924
305 mm	305 mm/45 model 1906-10
340 mm	340 mm/45 model 1912
	Foreign:
20 mm	2 cm/65 C/38 (Germany) · 2 cm/65 Flakvierling 38 (Germany) · 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (USA/Britain)
40 mm	2pdr QF Mk.IIc (Britain) · 2pdr QF Mk.VIII (Britain) · Bofors L/60 Mark 2 (USA) · Bofors L/60 Mark 3 (USA)
87.6 mm	Ordnance QF 25pdr (87.6 mm) (Britain)
102 mm	4 in QF Mark V (Britain) · 4 inch/45 Mark XVI (Britain)
105 mm	SK C/33 AA (Germany)
128 mm	12.8 cm/45 SK C/34 (Germany)
150 mm	15 cm/48 KC/36 (Germany)