QF 17 pdr Mk I-II

QF 17 pdr Mk I-II
Country	UK
Type	Anti-tank gun war
Period	ww2
Topic	Album of 23 photos of a gun QF 17 pdr Mk I-II

Photo gallery of a QF 17 pdr Mk I-II, The Ordnance Quick-Firing 17-pounder (or just 17-pdr) was a 76.2 mm (3 inch) gun developed by the United Kingdom during World War II. It was used as an anti-tank gun on its own carriage, as well as equipping a number of British tanks. It was the most effective Allied anti-tank gun of the war. Used with the APDS shot it was capable of defeating all but the thickest armour on German tanks. It was used to ‘up-gun’ some foreign-built vehicles in British service, notably to produce the Sherman Firefly variant of the US M4 Sherman tank, giving British tank units the ability to hold their own against their German counterparts. In the anti-tank role it was replaced by the 120 mm BAT recoilless rifle after the war. As a tank gun it was succeeded by the 84 mm 20 pounder.

Source: Wikipedia

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The Most Formidable Anti-Tank Gun of the West

The Ordnance QF 17-pounder was arguably the finest Allied anti-tank gun of World War II. Developed in 1941 to counter the increasing thickness of German armor, it surpassed the earlier 2-pdr and 6-pdr guns in every metric. While the Mk I was the standard towed version on a split-trail carriage, the Mk II (and subsequent Marks) were optimized for use in tanks and tank destroyers. It was the only Allied gun capable of consistently knocking out a Tiger or Panther at combat ranges, making it the most feared weapon in the British arsenal.

Attribute	Technical Specification (17-pdr Mk I)
Role	Anti-Tank Gun (Towed or Vehicle Mounted)
Caliber	76.2 mm (3 inches)
Barrel Length	55 calibers (approx. 4.2 meters)
Rate of Fire	10 rounds per minute
Max Range (HE)	~9,600 meters (10,500 yards)
Armor Penetration	~130mm (APCBC) to ~230mm (APDS) at 1000m
Weight (Towed)	2,100 kg (4,600 lbs)
Carriage	Split-trail (Mk I) / Vehicle mounting (Mk II)

Design Engineering: High Velocity and Sub-Caliber Power

The Muzzle Brake: Due to the massive propellant charge required to fire such a heavy shell at high speeds, the 17-pdr produced a violent recoil. A large, double-baffle muzzle brake was essential to dissipate the gases and prevent the gun from leaping off the ground.
APDS (Sabot) Technology: The 17-pdr pioneered the use of Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS) ammunition. By firing a smaller tungsten core inside a lightweight sleeve that fell away after leaving the barrel, the projectile achieved incredible velocities (over 1,200 m/s), allowing it to punch through the front of a Tiger II.
The “Pheasant” Expedient: When the 17-pdr barrels were ready before their proper carriages were, the British mounted them on 25-pounder howitzer carriages. These hybrid guns, known as “Pheasants,” were rushed to North Africa just in time to surprise German Tiger tanks at Medenine.
Mk II Integration: To fit this massive gun into a tank turret (like the Sherman Firefly), the recoil system had to be completely redesigned. The Mk II variant featured a shorter recoil stroke and turned the gun 90 degrees on its side to allow the loader to access the breech more easily in cramped conditions.

Operational History: Breaking the Panzers

The Firefly Legend: Perhaps the most famous use of the 17-pdr was in the Sherman Firefly. This gave British and Commonwealth armored units a tank that could finally kill German heavies from the front, forcing German tank commanders to target the “long-barreled Shermans” first.
Northwest Europe: From D-Day to V-E Day, the 17-pdr was the primary “door kicker.” Whether towed by a Crusader tractor or mounted on the Achilles and Archer tank destroyers, it provided the lethal reach needed to halt German counter-attacks.
Massive Signature: The downside of its power was the muzzle blast. Firing the 17-pdr kicked up so much dust and debris that it instantly gave away the gun’s position and often blinded the crew for several seconds after the shot.
Post-War Service: The 17-pdr was so effective it remained in service long after the war, seeing action in the Korean War and serving as the primary armament for the early Israeli tank corps.