View source for Ordnance QF 25-pounder

{{Short description|British field gun and gun-howitzer used during the Second World War}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Ordnance QF 25-pounder
| image              = 25 Pounder Gun.JPG
| caption            = Ordnance QF 25-pounder gun mounted on its firing platform in Dundas, Hamilton, Canada
| type               = [[Field gun]] and [[gun-howitzer]]
| is_vehicle         =
| service            = 1940–present
| wars               = {{bulleted list|
  |[[World War II]]
  |[[Indonesian National Revolution]]
  |[[Indochina War]]
  |[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]
  |[[Greek Civil War]]
  |[[1948 Arab–Israeli War]]
  |[[Malayan Emergency]]
  |[[Korean War]]
  |[[Suez Crisis|Second Arab–Israeli War]]
  |[[Sino-Indian War]]
  |[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
  |[[Portuguese Colonial War]]
  |[[Rhodesian Bush War]]
  |[[South African Border War]]
  |[[Nigerian Civil War]]
  |[[Six-Day War]]
  |[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
  |[[Dhofar Rebellion]]
  |[[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]]
  |[[Iran–Iraq War]]
  |[[Lebanese Civil War]]
  |[[Sri Lankan civil war]]
  |[[Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)|Iraqi Civil War]]
  }}
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           =
| number             =
| spec_label         = Mk II on Carriage Mk I
| length             = {{convert|4.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} <br>muzzle to towing eye
| width              = {{convert|2.13|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=1|}} <br>at wheel hubs
| height             = {{convert|1.16|m|ftin|abbr=on}} <br>trunnion height
| diameter           =
| passengers         =
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| action             =
| image_size         = 300
| origin             = United Kingdom
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged          = yes
| is_bladed          =
| is_explosive       =
| is_artillery       = yes
| is_missile         =
| is_UK              = yes
<!-- Service history -->
| used_by            = ''[[#Users|See users]]''
| design_date        = 1930s
| manufacturer       = [[Royal Ordnance]]
| unit_cost          =
| production_date    =
| variants           = ''[[#Variants|See variants]]''
<!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = {{convert|1,633|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = {{convert|2.47|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (28 calibres)
| crew               = 6
| cartridge          = 88 x 292mm R<br>High explosive<br>Anti-tank<br>Smoke<br>HESH<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/ammotable10.html|title=78- MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES|website=www.quarryhs.co.uk|access-date=2017-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813134712/http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/ammotable10.html|archive-date=2017-08-13|url-status=live}}</ref>
| cartridge_weight   = {{convert|11.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}} (HE including fuze)
| caliber            = {{convert|3.45|in|mm|2|abbr=on}}
| barrels            =
| rate               = Gunfire, 6–8 rpm<br>Intense, 5 rpm<br>Rapid, 4 rpm<br>Normal, 3 rpm<br>Slow, 2 rpm<br>Very slow, 1 rpm
| velocity           = {{convert|198|to|532|m/s|abbr=on}}
| range              =
| max_range          = {{convert|12,253|m|yd|abbr=on}} (HE shell)
| feed               =
| sights             = Calibrating & reciprocating
<!-- Artillery specifications -->
| breech             = Vertical [[Rifled breech loader#The sliding block|sliding-block]]
| recoil             = [[Hydraulic recoil mechanism|Hydro-pneumatic]]
| carriage           =
| elevation          = -5° to 45°<br>(80° with dial sight adapter and digging trail pit or wheel mounds)
| traverse           = 4° Left & Right (top traverse)<br>360° (platform)
}}

The '''Ordnance QF 25-pounder''', or more simply '''25-pounder''' or '''25-pdr''', with a calibre of 3.45 inches (87.6&nbsp;mm), was a piece of field artillery used by British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces in the [[World War II|Second World War]]. Durable, easy to operate and versatile,<ref>[https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30025245 Ordnance, field gun, QF 25 Pdr Mark II] at Imperial War Museums, 2024</ref> it was the most produced and used British [[field gun]] and [[gun-howitzer]] during the war.

It was introduced into service just before the War started and combined both high-angle and direct-fire abilities, a relatively high rate of fire, and a reasonably lethal shell, with a highly mobile piece. Initial production was slow, but by 1945, over 12,000 had been manufactured. It remained the [[British Army]]'s primary [[artillery]] field piece well into the 1960s, with smaller numbers used in training units until the 1980s. Many Commonwealth countries used theirs in active or reserve service until about the 1970s, and ammunition for the weapon is currently (2020s) being produced by [[Pakistan Ordnance Factories]].

==Design==
The design was the result of extended studies looking to replace the [[Ordnance QF 18 pounder|18-pounder]] ({{convert|3.3|in|adj=on}} bore) field gun and the [[QF 4.5 inch Howitzer|4.5-inch howitzer]] (114.3&nbsp;mm bore), which had been the main field artillery piece during the [[First World War]]. The basic idea was to build one weapon with the high velocity of the 18-pounder and the variable propelling charges of the howitzer, firing a shell about halfway between the two in size, around {{convert|3.5|-|4.0|in}} of about {{convert|30|lb}}.

Development during the inter-war period was severely hampered by a lack of money and it was eventually decided to build a new design from existing 18-pounders by converting barrels but designing a new barrel and carriage for production when funds were available. The result was a {{convert|3.45|in|1}} weapon firing a shell weighing {{convert|25|lb|1}}. It was mounted on late model 18-pounder carriages. One of these used a circular firing platform and this was adopted for the new guns. The firing platform was attached to the gun and when lowered the gun was pulled onto it. This platform transferred most of the recoil forces to the ground, instead of using the spade at the end of the trail, making the gun very stable when firing. It also provided a smooth flat surface for the carriage to rotate on using the road wheels, this enabled the gunners to traverse the carriage quickly in any direction.

[[File:The British Army in the United Kingdom 1939-45 H20971.jpg|right|thumb|A 25-pounder field gun and [[Limbers and caissons|limber]], towed by a [[Morris C8|Morris Commercial "Quad"]], crossing a pontoon bridge at Slaght Bridge in [[County Antrim|Antrim]], [[Northern Ireland]], 26 June 1942]]
[[File:The British Army in Italy 1944 NA20531.jpg|thumb|right|A 25-pounder with its wheels elevated on ammunition boxes for an extremely high angle of fire, San Clemente, Italy 2 December 1944]]

Unlike the 18-pounder, the 25-pounder used howitzer-type variable-charge ammunition. The 25-pounder was separate-loading; the shell was loaded and rammed, then the cartridge in its brass case was loaded and the breech closed. In British terminology, the 25-pounder was called [[British ordnance terms#QF|"quick firing" (QF)]], originally because the cartridge case provided rapid loading compared with bag charges, and was automatically released when the breech was opened.

The use of separate shell and cartridge allowed the charge to be changed for different ranges. For the Mk 1 Ordnance on an 18-pounder carriage there were three "charges", charges one, two and three, all of which could be used in the common cartridge design. The Mk 2 Ordnance on Mk 1 carriage added a "super" charge in a different cartridge. In 1943 a separately bagged "increment" charge was added; used with the Super it provided higher velocity for anti-tank use. The introduction of the increment to super was only possible following the addition of the [[muzzle-brake]] in the previous year. Subsequently, another type of increment was introduced to be added to charges one and two to provide additional combinations for use in high angle fire. However, this fire required a dial sight adaptor, removal of the platform and some excavation of the ground.

In common with all British guns of the period the indirect fire sight was "calibrating". This meant that the range, not elevation angle, was set on the sight. The sight compensated for the difference in the gun's muzzle velocities from standard. The gun was also fitted with a direct-fire telescope for use with armour-piercing shot. It also used "one-man laying" in accordance with normal British practice.

An important part of the gun was the ammunition trailer ("trailer, artillery, No 27"). The gun was hooked to it and the trailer hooked to the tractor for towing. The gun did not need a limber<ref>Limbers were necessary for [[Horse artillery|horse-drawn artillery]].</ref> and could be hooked directly to a tractor. The trailer provided the brakes as only a hand-brake was fitted to the gun carriage. The trailer carried ammunition; thirty-two rounds in trays (two rounds per tray) in the trailer protected by two doors. Ammunition was also carried in the gun tractor with the detachment and various gun stores. Some stores, such as sights, were carried cased on the gun. Each section (two guns) had a third tractor that carried ammunition and towed two ammunition trailers.

The normal gun detachment comprised six men:
*No 1 – detachment commander (a sergeant)
*No 2 – operated the breech and rammed the shell
*No 3 – layer
*No 4 – loader
*No 5 – ammunition
*No 6 – ammunition, normally the "coverer" – second in command and responsible for ammunition preparation and operating the fuze indicator

The official "reduced detachment" was four men.

==Production==
Many different companies manufactured the guns and component parts in the UK. [[Vickers-Armstrongs]] in Scotswood, [[Baker Perkins]] in Peterborough and [[Weir Group|Weirs]] in Glasgow were some of the most significant. The various Royal Ordnance factories produced most of the ordnance components. In Canada, Sorel Industries built complete guns and provided the ordnance for fitting to the [[Sexton (artillery)|Sexton]]. Australia also built complete guns, choosing to weld the carriages rather than rivet, as was the practice in the UK and Canada. In all, over 13,000 were made worldwide.

==Ammunition==
[[File:25 pounder base charges diagrams.jpg|thumb|upright|left|{{center|Normal cartridge arrangements}}]]
The 25-pounder fired "separate" or two-part ammunition – the projectile was loaded separately from the propelling charge in its (usually brass) cartridge case with its integral primer. Typically for a quick-firing gun, the cartridge case provided [[obturation]].

There were two types of cartridge. The normal cartridge contained three cloth charge bags (coloured red, white and blue). White or blue bags would be removed from the cartridge to give "charge one" or "charge two", leaving all three bags in the cartridge case gave "charge three". The cartridge case was closed at the top with a [[leatherboard]] cup. The second type of cartridge was "super", which provided one charge only. The cup could not be removed from the cartridge case. In 1943, an incremental charge of {{convert|5.5|oz|abbr=on}} of cordite ("super-plus") was introduced to raise the muzzle velocity when firing [[armor-piercing|armour-piercing]] shot with charge super; this required a [[muzzle brake]] to be fitted.<ref>Range Table Part 1, Ordnance QF 25-pr Mk 1 and 3, AP 2CRH, Charges 3, Super and Super plus Increment, 1943</ref> Adoption of "upper-register" (high-angle) fire needed more charges to improve the range overlap. This led to the development of the "intermediate increment" of 4oz cordite, which was introduced in 1944. The bags were striped red and white to indicate that they should only be used with charges one and two. When one bag was used with charge 1 it provided charge 1/2. When one was added to charge 2 it provided charge 2 1/3, and two bags, charge 2 2/3. This allowed a range of seven different charges instead of four.<ref>Range Table Part 1, Ordnance QF 25-pr Mk 1 and 3, Standard Projectile, Intermediate Charges, 1944</ref>
[[File:QF 25 pounder Ammunition-001.jpg|thumb|Display of 25-pounder shells and cases. Left to right: smoke, armour-piercing (pre-1955 UK markings), HE (RDX/TNT, strange markings), HE (Amatol, pre-1955 UK markings), smoke (pre-1955 UK markings). Although some shells are shown in the cases, the shell and the case were separate items.]]
[[File:Gunners of 'E' Troop, 124 Battery, 151st Field Regiment filling 25-pdr shells with propaganda leaflets, Roermond, Holland, 24 January 1945. B14123.jpg|thumb|right|
[[Royal Artillery]] gunners fill 25-pounder shells with propaganda leaflets.
[[Roermond]], The Netherlands, January 1945.]]
There were many marks of cartridge, mostly differentiated by propellant type. Double-base propellant ([[nitrocellulose]]/[[nitroglycerine]]) was the UK standard but one mark used US single-base (nitrocellulose only). However, triple-base nitrocellulose/nitroglycerine/[[Nitroguanidine|picrite]] was used throughout the war and eventually replaced all others.<ref>Range Table Part 1, Ordnance QF 25-pr Mk 1 and 3, Lower Register, Standard Projectile, 1948</ref>

The 25-pounder's main ammunition was the high-explosive ([[List of British ordnance terms#HE|HE]]) streamlined shell with a 5/10 CRH [[ogive]] and [[External ballistics#General trends in drag or ballistic coefficient|boat tail]]. The explosive filling was {{convert|1.824|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of TNT or Amatol.<ref>{{cite book |date=1944 |title=Handbook for the Ordnance, Q.F., 25-Pr., Marks II and III on Carriage, Q.F. 25-Pr., Mark I and Mounting, S.P. 25-Pr., C Mark I and Mounting, Valentine, 25-Pr., Gun, Mark I Land Service|location= |publisher=HMSO|page=193}}</ref> It was also provided with base ejection smoke (white and coloured), star shells, and [[Shell (projectile)#Chemical|chemical shells]]. Incendiary and coloured flare shells were developed but not introduced into service, and smoke shells were sometimes reloaded with propaganda leaflets or metal foil "[[Chaff (radar countermeasure)|window]]". The UK did not develop a [[WP smoke shell]] for the 25-pounder.

For anti-tank use, the 25-pounder was also supplied with a limited amount of {{convert|20|lb}} [[Armor-piercing shot and shell|solid armour-piercing (AP) shot]], later replaced with a more potent version with a [[Shell (projectile)#Armor-piercing shells|ballistic cap]] (APBC). The AP shot was fired with maximum charge, charge No. 3, super, or super with Super increment depending on the ordnance mark, as muzzle velocity was critical in direct fire for penetration and a flat trajectory.

A [[shaped charge]] anti-tank shell was under development in Canada, but the introduction of the three-inch (76.2&nbsp;mm) calibre [[QF 17-pounder]], an anti-tank gun, in 1944 ended its development. After the Second World War, the UK replaced AP shot with a [[High explosive squash head|HESH]] shell. Coloured marker shells (dye and PETN) were also developed but not introduced.

The standard fuze was No 117 direct action (DA). No 119 (DA and graze) was also used. Combustion or mechanical time fuzes were used with base ejection shells and mechanical time with graze were used with HE. [[Proximity fuze]]s were used from the end of 1944 and subsequently replaced by CVT fuzes.
{{clear left}}

==British service==
[[File:2-8 Field Regt.jpg|thumb|An Australian 25-pounder at [[El Alamein]] in July 1942]]

The 25-pounder was the main field artillery weapon used by [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] and colonial infantry and armoured divisions of all types during the Second World War. It was also used by the [[RAF Regiment]] in North Africa.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The RAF Regiment at War 1942-1946|last=Oliver|first=Kingsley|publisher=Pen & Sword}}</ref> Throughout the war, each British-pattern infantry division was established with 72 25-pounders, in three field artillery regiments. Armoured divisions were eventually standardised with two field artillery regiments, one of which was self-propelled (see below). Before mid-1940, each regiment had two batteries of twelve guns; after that date, regiments changed to batteries of eight guns and added a third battery, a process that was not completed until early 1943. In the late 1950s, the British Army reverted to batteries of six guns. Field artillery regiments had two batteries of 25-pounders and one of [[BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun|5.5 inch guns]].

The early 18- and 25-pounders had been towed in the field by the [[Morris CDSW]] or the earlier [[Vickers Light Dragon]] Mk. III, a tracked vehicle derived from the Vickers DA50 which was also the basis of the Bren or [[Universal Carrier]]. Throughout most of the Second World War, the 25-pounder was normally towed, with its limber, behind a 4×4 field artillery tractor called a [[Morris C8|"quad"]]. These were manufactured by Morris, Guy and Karrier in England, and, in greater numbers, as the [[CMP FAT|Canadian Military Pattern field artillery tractor]] by Ford and Chevrolet in Canada. In the 1950s, the British Army replaced the various "quads" with a new Bedford three-ton gun tower fitted with a specialist body.

[[File:25pdrgunedincastle.JPG|thumb|left|Gunner's view; 25-pounder on display at [[Edinburgh Castle]]]]

In 1941, the British Army improvised a self-propelled 25-pounder named the [[Bishop (artillery)|Bishop]], on the chassis of the [[Valentine tank]]. This mount proved unsatisfactory and the Bishops were replaced in 1942 by the American [[M7 Priest]], which did not use the 25-Pounder complicating the supply of ammunition in the field. The Priests were replaced in 1944 by the [[Sexton (artillery)|Sexton]], which used the 25-Pounder. The Sexton was designed, and mostly manufactured, in Canada (some two thirds of the ordnance and mountings were imported from the UK due to limited Canadian production capacity) and was the result of mounting a 25-pounder on a [[Ram tank|Ram]] or [[Grizzly tank|Grizzly]] tank chassis.

[[File:Bermuda Regiment 25 Pounder Field Gun.png|thumb|right|A 25-pounder of the ceremonial ''Gun Troop'' of the [[Royal Bermuda Regiment]]]]
By Second World War standards, the 25-pounder had a smaller calibre and lower shell-weight than many other field-artillery weapons, although it had longer range than most. (Most forces had entered the war with even smaller {{convert|75|mm|abbr=on}} designs but had quickly moved to {{convert|105|mm|abbr=on}} and larger weapons.) It was designed for the British practice of [[Suppressive fire|suppressive (neutralising) fire]], not destructive fire that had proved illusory in the early years of the First World War. Nevertheless, the 25-pounder was considered by all to be one of the best artillery pieces in use. The effects caused by the gun (and the speed at which the British artillery control system could respond) in the [[North-West Europe Campaign of 1944–1945]] made many German soldiers believe that the British had secretly deployed an automatic 25-pounder.<ref>George Blackburn, 2000, ''The guns of war''. Robinson Publishing. {{ISBN|1841192104}}</ref>

In UK service, during the 1960s, most 25-pounders were replaced by the [[FV433 Abbot SPG|105mm Abbot SPG]], some by the [[OTO Melara Mod 56|Oto Melara 105mm pack howitzer]], and the remainder by the [[L118 light gun|105mm L118 light gun]]. The last British military unit to fire the 25-pounder in its field role (as opposed to ceremonial use) was the Gun Troop of the [[Honourable Artillery Company]] on [[Salisbury Plain]] in 1992.{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}

==Service with other nations==
[[File:25 pounder firing a blank.ogg|thumb|A 25-pounder firing a blank at Royal Armouries Museum, Fort Nelson]]
In addition to Commonwealth and colonial forces, other Second World War users included the free forces of France, Greece, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The first shot fired by US artillery against the German army in the war was from a 25-pounder of the [[34th Infantry Division (United States)|34th Infantry Division]].<ref name= 'Zaloga 2007 36'>{{cite book|title=US Field Artillery of WW II|first=Stephen|last=Zaloga|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qRfpxDlDrxgC&pg=PA36|publisher=Osprey Publishing|page=36|year=2007|volume=New Vanguard 131|isbn=9781846030611|access-date=2015-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729071434/https://books.google.com/books?id=qRfpxDlDrxgC&pg=PA36&lpg=PA36|archive-date=2016-07-29|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the Second World War, 25-pounders remained in service with many Commonwealth armies into the 1960s. They were used in Korea by British,<ref>{{cite web|title=A Royal Artillery 25-pounder field gun in action in Korea, 1951 (c).|url=https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1999-10-22-9|website=nam.ac.uk|publisher=[[National Army Museum]] |access-date=6 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106171648/https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=1999-10-22-9 |archive-date=6 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Canadian<ref>{{cite web |title=25 pounder Gun/Howitzer |url=http://canadianartillery.ca/25pounder/ |website=canadianartillery.ca |access-date=6 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106132517/http://canadianartillery.ca/25pounder/ |archive-date=6 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and New Zealand regiments<ref name="NZ"/> and in Malaya by British and Australian batteries. They also featured in wars on the Indian sub-continent and in the service of Israeli and other Middle Eastern armies.

===Australia===
Australia used the 25-pounder extensively, including in WW2, Korea and the Malayan Emergency. They were kept in use by reserve units until the 1970s. Individual guns are now often seen as fixed memorials in memorial parks and Returned Servicemen's clubs. 1527 complete guns were manufactured in Australia{{sfn|Mellor|1958|p=238}} from May 1941.<ref name=amms/>  Domestic production allowed the 25-pounder to be mounted in Australian-produced vehicles, such as the [[Thunderbolt tank]] {{sfn|Mellor|1958|p=317}} and the post-war self-propelled gun, the [[Yeramba]]. This led to Australian development of a short-barrelled lighter version which was more suitable for off-road deployment, as required, e.g., in the New Guinea campaign.<ref name=amms>{{cite web|title=Ordnance QF 25-pounder Short|url=http://www.ammssydney.com/ordnance-qf-25-pounder-short/|website=ammssydney.com|publisher=Australian Military Modelling Society|date=September 25, 2012|first=Peter|last=Hartup|access-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105005849/http://www.ammssydney.com/ordnance-qf-25-pounder-short/|archive-date=November 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> 213 of the shortened guns were produced, starting in 1943.{{sfn|Mellor|1958|p=239}} These were declared obsolescent and placed in storage in 1946.<ref>{{cite book|title=Fire! The 25-Pounder in Australian Service|first=Michael K.|last=Cecil|publisher=Trackpad Publishing|page=186|year=2021|isbn=978-1-9998867-1-4}}</ref>

===South Africa===
The gun was called G1 by the [[South African Defence Force]]. It was extensively used in the early stages of the [[South African Border War]], including [[Operation Savannah (Angola)|Operation Savannah]].{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} The G1 is still used in the ceremonial role.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cape Field Artillery celebrated its 160th year of {{sic|nolink=y|exist|ance}} |first=Dalene |last=Coetzee |url=https://www.gunners.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CFA-160th-BIRTHDAY-2017-1.pdf |date=2017}}</ref>

===Rhodesia===
The [[Rhodesian Army]] used the weapon during the [[Rhodesian Bush War|Bush War]] but by this stage the round could not penetrate enemy bunkers.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ian F. W.|last=Beckett|title=The Rhodesian Army: Counter-Insurgency, 1972-1979|url=http://selousscouts.tripod.com/rhodesian%20army%20coin%2072_79%20part2.htm|date=2007|website=selousscouts.tripod.com|access-date=2017-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209042437/http://selousscouts.tripod.com/rhodesian%20army%20coin%2072_79%20part2.htm|archive-date=2016-12-09|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sri Lanka===
The Ordnance QF 25 pounder Mark III was added to the [[Sri Lankan Army]] inventory in 1985 supplied by [[Pakistan]] at the early stages of the [[Sri Lankan civil war]] and was fielded by the 6th Field Regiment, [[Sri Lanka Artillery]] which was raised in September 1985. It was replaced by [[Type 60 howitzer|122&nbsp;mm Type 60 howitzer]]s, but still remains in service with the Ceremonial Saluting Battery of the 6th Field Regiment.<ref>{{cite book|title=The tamil separatist war in Sri Lanka|doi=10.4324/9781315646053|first=Channa|last=Wickremesekera|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=486jCwAAQBAJ&q=25+pounders&pg=PT32|year=2016|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-1-138-18311-7|access-date=2018-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093408/https://books.google.fr/books?id=486jCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT32&lpg=PT32&dq=sri+lanka+25+pounder+gun&source=bl&ots=yA-PDcu24E&sig=Lc9cpgDuIR2Bax03trZ2H2AkzZI&hl=fr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi8wJyn1f_bAhUHrRQKHVeHC6kQ6AEIeDAL#v=snippet&q=25%20pounders&f=false|archive-date=2018-07-02|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=6th Field Regiment Of Sri Lanka Artillery |url=https://gunner.lk/regiment.php?id=5 |website=gunner.lk |publisher=Sri Lanka Artillery |access-date=21 October 2020}}</ref>

===Ireland===
In 1949, 48 ex-British-Army Mark III 25-pounders were acquired by the [[Irish Defence Forces]] and were in service with the [[Army Reserve (Ireland)|reserves]] until 2009, having been replaced in the army by the [[105 mm Light Gun]] in 1981. The Irish Army maintains a six-gun ceremonial 25-pounder battery for use on state occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.military.ie/en/info-centre/defence-forces-history/history-of-21-gun-salute/|title=History of the 21 Gun Salute|access-date=2 July 2018|website=military.ie|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702122230/http://www.military.ie/en/info-centre/defence-forces-history/history-of-21-gun-salute/|archive-date=2 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

===India===
[[File:Captured QF 25-pounders.jpg|thumb|[[Pakistan army]] soldiers examine captured Indian QF-25 pounders at [[Chumb]] during the 1965 War.]]
The [[Indian Army]] used 25-pounders against [[Pakistan]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]], the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] and the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]] and against [[China]] during the [[Sino-Indian War]] in 1962.{{sfn|Henry|2002|p=39}}

===Jordan===
The Jordanian [[Arab Legion]] deployed eight 25-pounder field guns during the fighting in 1948.<ref>{{cite book| first=Peter|last=Young|series=Men-at-Arms|title=The Arab Legion|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]|year=1972|isbn=0-85045-084-5|page=30}}</ref> Later, the [[Royal Jordanian Army]] deployed several batteries of 25-pounders during the [[Six-Day War]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Jordan in the 1967 War|first=Samir A.|last= Mutawi|page=120|doi=10.1017/CBO9780511563546|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|year=1987|isbn=9780511563546}}</ref>
[[File:Karama Battle 4.jpg|thumb|Jordanian gunners firing 25-pounder field guns at [[Battle of Karameh|Karameh]], 1968]]

===Lebanon===
The [[Lebanese Army]] aligned twenty-one QF Mk III 25-Pounders on its inventory in 1975, with most of them being subsequently seized by the [[Tigers Militia]] and the [[Kataeb Regulatory Forces]] (KRF) militia in February 1976 and passed on to its successor, the [[Lebanese Forces (militia)|Lebanese Forces]] in 1980, who employed them during the [[Lebanese Civil War]].{{sfn|Kassis|2003|p=28}}

===Luxembourg===
[[File:Luxembourg National Day 2004 - 101 cannon shots.jpg|thumb|Four Luxembourg [[25-pounder]] guns re-barrelled to 105 mm, used for gun salutes]]
During World War II, the [[Luxembourg in World War II#Free Luxembourgish Forces and the government-in-exile|Free Luxembourgish Forces]] fielded four 25-pounders, which were named after the four daughters of [[Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg|Grand Duchess Charlotte]]: [[Princess Elisabeth, Dowager Duchess of Hohenberg|Princesses Elisabeth]], [[Princess Marie Adelaide of Luxembourg|Marie Adelaide]], [[Princess Marie Gabriele of Luxembourg|Marie Gabriele]] and [[Alix, Dowager Princess of Ligne|Alix]].<ref name="LuArmyPiron">{{cite web |title=Les luxembourgeois de la "Brigade PIRON" |trans-title=The Luxembourgers of the "PIRON Brigade" |url=http://www.armee.lu/historique/les-luxembourgeois-de-la-brigade-piron |website=armee.lu |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105233013/http://www.armee.lu/historique/les-luxembourgeois-de-la-brigade-piron |archive-date=5 January 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Post-war, the [[Luxembourg Army]] used a number of 25-pounder guns. In 1955–1957, they were rebarrelled to {{convert|105|mm}} and fitted with new sights. The First Artillery Battalion with 18 guns was placed at the disposal of the 8th Infantry Division of the United States from 1963 to 1967. The last shots fired by the First Luxembourg Artillery Battalion left the tubes on May 31, 1967.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.artillerie.lu/ |title=1.BATAILLON D'ARTILLERIE LUXEMBOURGEOIS |access-date=2020-04-15 |archive-date=2019-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129083848/https://www.artillerie.lu/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some are maintained for [[Salute#Heavy arms: gun salutes|gun salutes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armee.lu/materiel/armement |title=Armement / Matériel|language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810225555/http://www.armee.lu/materiel/armement |website=armee.lu |archive-date=2014-08-10 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Greece and Cyprus===
The 25-pounder first entered service with Greek forces in North Africa during WWII. Three (numbered I, II and III) field artillery regiments of 24 pieces each were raised as part of the Greek infantry brigades raised by the Greek government in exile. Their only significant actions were at [[Second Battle of El Alamein|El Alamein in 1942]] and [[Gothic Line|Rimini]] in 1944. After the end of the Second World War, the 25-pounder served as part of the Greek Army during the [[Greek Civil War]]. A total of 125 25-pounder guns were used by the Greek artillery during the civil war of 1946–1949, in various organizational schemes. After the civil war, they were organized into seven independent regiments of 18 guns each. Following Greece's entry into [[NATO]] in 1952 and the standardization on American calibres in 1953, the 25-pounders, unlike other models, were not retired but reorganised into 13 battalions of eight guns each, as part of divisional artillery formations. In 1957, the influx of American artillery pieces permitted an increase from 8 to 12 guns per battalion. In 1964, 54 25-pdr guns were handed over from Greece to Cyprus, where they entered service with the [[Cyprus National Guard]] organized into four battalions of 12 guns each ( numbered 181, 182, 183 and 185) and one independent battery of six guns (184). They saw action during the [[Military operations during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus|Turkish invasion]] of the island in 1974. The 25-pounders remained in Greek Army service until 1992, when they were retired as part of the CFE agreement. The guns of the Cyprus National Guard remain in storage.{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}}

===New Zealand===
[[File:NZ artillery 25 pounder Korea 1951 (AWM HOBJ2238).jpg|thumb|25-pounder gun of the New Zealand Field Battery in Korea]]
During World War II New Zealand Gunners of 2nd New Zealand division made extensive use of the 25-pr in Greece, North Africa and Italy. The 16th Field Regiment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery, equipped with 25-pounders, was formed to join the United Nations force in the Korean War. The 25-pdr was replaced in first-line units by the [[OTO Melara Mod 56|OTO Melara L5 gun]]. The guns were withdrawn from operational service with [[Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery#Territorial units|Territorial Force Artillery]] by 1977. Today, 25-pounders remain in service as ceremonial guns.<ref name="NZ">{{cite web|url=http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/military-hardware/museum-collection/ordnance-quick-firing-25-pound-mk-ii/|publisher=National Army Museum: Military Hardware|title=Ordnance, Quick Firing 25 Pound Mk II|website=armymuseum.co.nz|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702102030/https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/military-hardware/museum-collection/ordnance-quick-firing-25-pound-mk-ii/|archive-date=2 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Nigeria ===
The [[Nigerian Army|Nigerian Federal Army]] used 25-pdr guns during the [[Biafran War]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Jowett|first=Philip|title=Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967-70|date=2016|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |location=Oxford|isbn=978-1472816092|page=20}}</ref> The Nigerian Army still fielded them in 2002.{{sfn|Henry|2002|p=39}}

===Iraqi Kurdistan===
A 2015 news report shows at least one 25-pounder in service with Kurdish [[Peshmerga]] forces, employed against [[ISIS]] positions in [[Mosul]], Iraq.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/09/middleeast/kurds-iraq-isis/index.html|title=Kurdish fighters battle equipment woes as well as ISIS in northern Iraq|first=Tim |last=Lister|date=9 February 2015|work=CNN|access-date=20 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150305200139/http://edition.cnn.com/2015/02/09/middleeast/kurds-iraq-isis/index.html|archive-date=5 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

===South Vietnam===
In 1953, the [[Vietnamese National Army]] was equipped with 122 QF 25 pounders.<ref>Phạm Văn Sơn, ARVN military history, vol.4, 1972, p.364</ref>

==Variants==
===Mark I===

[[File:The British Army in France and Belgium 1940 F4338.jpg|thumb|An 18/25 pounder & limber towed by a [[Vickers Light Dragon]] Mark III, Belgium, 1940]]
[[File:25 pounder field gun of 153rd Field Regiment 07-06-1943.jpg|thumb|25-pounder field gun of 153rd Field Regiment ([[Leicestershire Yeomanry]]) during a practice shoot in the mountains near Tripoli in the Lebanon, 7 June 1943]]

Known officially as the "Ordnance, Quick Firing 25-pounder Mark I on Carriage 18-pr Mark IV", or "Ordnance, Quick Firing 25-pounder Mark I on Carriage 18-pr Mark V" and commonly called the "18/25-pounder". The Mark I was a 25-pounder barrel and breech in the modified jacket of an [[18-pounder]] gun, as a 'loose liner'. The jacket provided the interface to the 18-pounder carriage. The earliest versions retained 18-pounder type elevation sights but later ones had Probert pattern calibrating sights on the right side of the saddle. The Mark IV P, carriage was a box trail, Mark V P, was a [[Gun carriage#Modern gun carriages|split trail]]. These conversions of the 18-pounder first entered British service in 1937. A few were lost in the [[Norwegian campaign]] and 704 in France, leaving about the same number in UK's global stocks. They served in North Africa (until about late 1941) and India. This mark of 25-pounder was limited to charge 3 due to its 18-pounder carriage.

===Mark II===
[[File:QF-25-pounder-beyt-hatotchan-2.jpg|thumb|25-pounder with a [[muzzle brake]]]]

The '''Mark II''', fitted to the Mark I carriage was the standard gun during the war. They were built in Australia and Canada but mostly in UK. Deliveries (from UK production) started at the beginning of 1940 and first entered service with a Canadian regiment stationed in UK during May 1940. No Ordnance 25-pr Mk 2 on Carriage 25-pr Mark 1 were lost in France. This gun fired all charges, 1 – 3 and Super.
In 1942, a muzzle brake was fitted to the gun to eliminate the instability caused when firing the 20&nbsp;lb AP shell with Charge Super at direct fire low elevation angles. To preserve the gun's balance on the trunnions, a counterbalance weight was also fitted, just in front of the breech ring. The designation of the modified gun was not changed. Eventually, all guns serving in Europe were so converted.

The Mark II ordnance had six main marks of the barrel:<ref name=henry12>{{harvnb|Henry|2002|p=12}}</ref>

;Mark I barrel
:Original variant with a loose liner.<ref name=henry12/>

;Mark II barrel
[[File:25 Pounder MK-II.jpg|thumb|A 25 Pounder MK-II at a war museum in India]]
:The standard design, also made in Canada as C Mk II barrel.<ref name=henry12/>

;Mark II/I
:In 1946, a programme was introduced to modify the gun's breech ring by morticing the rear corners. A corresponding modification was made to the rear corners of the breech block. This was to reduce the instances of cracking the ring.

;Mark III barrel
:The '''Mark III''' barrel was a Mark II with a modified receiver to prevent the rounds from slipping back out when loading at high angles.<ref name=henry12/> It was introduced in January 1944.

;Mark III/I
:This was a Mk III gun with the same modification to the ring and block as for the Mk II/I.

;Mark IV barrel
:The '''Mark IV''' was identical to the Mark III/I, and featured the modified ring and a paired block from new.

;Mark VI barrel
:The final alteration of the breech ring made in 1964.<ref name=henry12/>

===Short, Mark I===
{{main|Ordnance QF 25-pounder Short}}

[[File:Short 25pdr.jpg|thumb|A Short 25-pounder in [[New Guinea]] in 1944]]

The '''25-pounder Short Mark I''', or '''Baby 25-pr''', was an Australian [[pack gun]] version of the 25-pounder, first produced in 1943. This was a shortened version of the standard 25-pounder, mounted on the ''Carriage 25-pr Light, Mark 1''. Weighing {{convert|1,315|kg|lb}}, it was around {{convert|315|kg|lb|abbr=on}} lighter than the 25-pounder Mark II.

The "Baby" was intended for [[jungle warfare]] and was only used by Australian units in the [[South West Pacific theatre of World War II|South West Pacific theatre]]. The gun could be towed by a [[Willys MB|jeep]] or broken down into 13 sections and transported by air. During the [[New Guinea campaign]] the gun was manhandled up steep jungle tracks where trucks could not operate.

===Carriages===
;Mark I
The Mark I carriage was the first real 25-pounder carriage. Later in the war, some guns had a double spacer-separated shield to improve protection. It had Probert-pattern calibrating sights, but with the range indicator wrapped into the distinctive cone that rotated against a fixed reader arm.

;{{anchor|Jury axle}}Jury axle
In [[Burma campaign|Burma]], artificers of [[1st Midlothian Artillery Volunteers#129th (Lowland) Field Regiment|129 (Lowland) Jungle Field Regiment]] developed a local modification to use a Jeep axle and wheels to produce a 20-inch narrower [[axle track]] for easier movement along restricted jungle paths, along with some minor modifications to the gun trail; it was called the '''Jury Axle'''. Tests in action showed the gun was stable, it was first reported to GHQ India in October 1943. It appears that it was also used without its shield, and the gun could be disassembled for transport in pieces by Jeep. [[2nd Kent Artillery Volunteers|139th (4th London) Jungle Field Regiment]] used the modified guns and developed procedures for dismantling them for stowage aboard [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas C-47 Dakota]] transport aircraft.<ref>Farndale, General Sir Martin; ''History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery – The Far East Theatre 1939–46''; Annex L; Brasseys; Revised edition 2002, {{ISBN|1 85753 331 3}}</ref><ref>Anon, ''Lewisham Gunners: A Centenary History of 291st (4th London) Field Regiment R.A. (T.A.) formerly 2nd Kent R.G.A. (Volunteers)'', Chatham: W & J Mackay, 1962.</ref>

;Mark II
The Mark II carriage was basically the War Office-approved formalisation of the Jury Axle version of the 25-pounder. Changes included a narrower shield, a new narrower track platform (No 22), and modified Jeep wheels.

;Mark III
The Mark III carriage, also narrow, was a further development of the Mark II carriage to provide joints that enabled the trail to be cranked for "upper register" (high-angle) fire to avoid the need to dig a trail pit, and used with the cranked "dial sight adaptor" previously adopted for high-angle fire. It entered service soon after the war. High-angle fire had been introduced in Italy and used increments to charges 2 and 3 to give the 25-pounder seven charges.

;Mark IV
The British did further work on the Australian-designed short 25-pounder, enabling it to fire charge Super. One or two prototypes were produced and the carriage was officially designated the Mark IV, but never went into production.

==Self-propelled 25-pounders==
===Bishop===
The [[Bishop (artillery)|Bishop]] was a British self-propelled 25-pounder using the [[Valentine tank]] chassis, soon replaced by better designs.

===Sexton===
The [[Sexton (artillery)|Sexton]] was a Canadian self-propelled 25-pounder using the [[Ram tank|Ram]] or [[Grizzly I cruiser|Grizzly]] tank chassis.

===Yeramba===
The [[Yeramba]] was an Australian self-propelled 25-pounder using the [[M3 Lee]] tank chassis.

==Operators==

=== Current operators ===
* {{flag|Morocco}}
* {{flag|Australia}}
* {{flag|Canada}} (also used in military funerals)
* {{flag|Cyprus}}
* {{flag|Egypt}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Key to the Sinai, The Battles for Abu-Ageila in the 1956 and 1967 Arab-Israeli Wars|year=1990|series=Combat Studies Institute, Research Survey no.7|first=George Walter|last=Gawrych|url=http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/KeytotheSinai.pdf|page=14|access-date=2018-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215215501/http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/download/csipubs/KeytotheSinai.pdf|archive-date=2017-02-15|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|France}}: used by [[Free French]]<ref>{{cite journal|title=La Bataille de Bir-Hacheim|language=fr|url=http://www.france-libre.net/site/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/pdf_revue%20n36.pdf|page=IV|journal=L'Épopée de la Première Division Française Libre, cahiers|issue=9}}</ref> and then in [[French Indochina|Indochina]]<ref>{{cite book|first1=Maurice|last1=Vaïsse|author-link1=Maurice Vaïsse|first2=André|last2=Bizard|title=L'Armée française dans la guerre d'Indochine (1946-1954) : adaptation ou inadaptation?|language=fr|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kxGVMCls88QC&q=25+pounders+&pg=PA186|page=186|publisher=Complexe|year=2000|isbn=9782870278109|place=Brussels|access-date=2018-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702122025/https://books.google.fr/books?id=kxGVMCls88QC&pg=PA186&lpg=PA186&dq=french+25+pounders+indochina&source=bl&ots=8hUVgsdZVP&sig=di3_bwEzmdxqAZCQ8pvzdJFu-7I&hl=fr&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju7bTvlYDcAhWDJlAKHaFHB30Q6AEIQjAI#v=snippet&q=25%20pounders%20&f=false|archive-date=2018-07-02|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|Fiji}}<ref>{{cite news|title=New artillery guns to replace old weapons|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304103719/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=281772|archive-date=4 March 2016|url=http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=281772|first=Ana|last=Madigibuli|date=1 October 2014}}</ref>
* {{flag|Greece}}
* {{flag|India}} Now as ceremonial gun.
* {{flag|Indonesia}}: 144 from [[Royal Netherlands East Indies Army]] (KNIL).<ref name="41VA">{{citation |language=nl |work=Netherlands Artillery units |url=http://www.41afdva.net/Db/Onderdelenlijst.php  |title=Onderdelen (Units) VA I – VA VI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921030313/http://www.41afdva.net/Db/Onderdelenlijst.php |archive-date=2016-09-21 |quote="... De KNIL afdelingen VA-I t/m VA-VI waren uitgerust met van de Australiërs afkomstige 25 ponders die speciaal waren ontworpen voor oorlogvoering in de tropen (smalle spoorbreedte en knikaffuit). Bij de overdracht van de soevereiniteit aan Indonesië op 12 December 1949, werd het materieel van de afdelingen overgedragen aan het Indonesische leger ..." (The KNIL battalions VA-I to VA-VI were equipped with 25-pounders from the Australians, specially designed for warfare in the tropics (narrow wheelbase and nodded carriage trail) When the sovereignty was transferred to Indonesia on 12 December 1949, the equipment of the batalions was transferred to the Indonesian army ...)}}</ref>
* {{flag|Ireland}} (relegated to ceremonial role)
* {{flag|Israel}}{{sfn|Gawrych|1990|p=25&96}}
* {{flag|Jordan}}
* {{flag|Kuwait}}<ref name="Nyrop">{{cite book|author=Nyrop, Richard F.|title=Area Handbook for the Persian Gulf States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BPX0h_wbFtEC&pg=PA238|year=2008|publisher=Wildside Press|isbn=978-1-4344-6210-7|orig-year=First published 1977|page=194|ref={{harvid|Nyrop|2008}}|access-date=2018-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223181321/https://books.google.com/books?id=BPX0h_wbFtEC&pg=PA238|archive-date=2018-02-23|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{KUR}} -[[Peshmerga]]{{sfn|Military Balance 2016|p=491}}
* {{flag|Lebanon}}
* {{flag|Lesotho}}<ref name="Beyond Blue Helmets">{{cite book|title=Beyond Blue Helmets: Promoting Weapons and Ammunition Management in Non-UN Peace Operations|first=Eric G. |last=Berman|publisher=[[Small Arms Survey]]/MPOME |date=March 2019|url=http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-MPOME-Report-WAM-Non-UN-Peace-Ops.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603103636/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/U-Reports/SAS-MPOME-Report-WAM-Non-UN-Peace-Ops.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 3, 2019|page=43}}</ref>
* {{flag|Luxembourg}} (relegated to ceremonial role)
* {{flag|Malta}} (relegated to ceremonial role)<ref>{{cite news|title=Photos of the week: 9-15 July 2015|date=July 18, 2015|newspaper=[[Times of Malta]]|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150718/pictures/photos-of-the-week-times-of-malta.576894|access-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093410/https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20150718/pictures/photos-of-the-week-times-of-malta.576894|archive-date=2 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|Mozambique}}: still in service in 2002{{sfn|Henry|2002|p=39}}
* {{flag|Myanmar}} -50 in service<ref name="asiapacificdefencereporter.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.asiapacificdefencereporter.com/order-of-battle/myanmar|title=Myanmar|access-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129025311/http://www.asiapacificdefencereporter.com/order-of-battle/myanmar|archive-date=29 November 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* {{flag|New Zealand}} (relegated to ceremonial role)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/military-hardware/museum-collection/ordnance-quick-firing-25-pound-mk-ii/|title=Military Hardware|website=armymuseum.co.nz|access-date=2018-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702102030/https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/military-hardware/museum-collection/ordnance-quick-firing-25-pound-mk-ii/|archive-date=2018-07-02|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|Nigeria}}
* {{flag|Pakistan}}: Some units inherited from the [[British Indian Army]] with several more captured from retreating Indian forces during [[Operation Grand Slam]] in 1965.
* {{flag|Paraguay}}:<ref>{{cite web|title=Paraguay: Small Arms in the Land of the Guaraní|first=Julio|last=Montes|website=smallarmsreview.com|date=27 April 2012|url=http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=1079|access-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702064511/http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=1079|archive-date=2 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> 12 from South Africa{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
* {{flag|Poland}} ([[Polish Armed Forces in the West]])
* {{flag|Portugal}}: Registration – Obus 8,8&nbsp;cm m/43<ref>{{cite book|last1=Abbott|first1= Peter |last2=Rodrigues|first2= Manuel|title=Modern African Wars 2: Angola and Mozambique 1961-74|publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=1998|page=18}}</ref> (relegated to ceremonial role)<ref>{{cite news|title=Bateria de Salvas|url=http://www.revista-artilharia.pt/noticiasDet.asp?idNoticia=594|website=[[Revista de Artilharia]]|date=23 January 2019|access-date=1 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202112151/http://www.revista-artilharia.pt/noticiasDet.asp?idNoticia=594|archive-date=2 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|Qatar}}{{sfn|Nyrop|2008|p=270}}
* {{flag|Singapore}} (relegated to ceremonial role)<ref>{{cite news|title=Behind-the-scenes: What goes into the 21-gun salute for NDP|first=Xabryna|last=Kek|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/behind-the-scenes-what-goes-into-the-21-gun-salute-for-ndp-7848526|website=[[Channel NewsAsia]]|date=4 August 2016|access-date=2 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093616/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/behind-the-scenes-what-goes-into-the-21-gun-salute-for-ndp-7848526|archive-date=2 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{flag|South Africa}} (relegated to ceremonial role)
* {{flag|Sri Lanka}} (relegated to ceremonial role)
* {{flag|Suriname|Suriname National Army}}: 3 displayed during parades in 2016<ref>{{cite web|website=[[Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses]]|title=Suriname's Armed Forces: Capability Compromised – Analysis|date=2 February 2017|first=Sanjay|last=Badri-Maharaj|url=https://idsa.in/issuebrief/suriname-armed-forces_sbmaharaj_020217|access-date=8 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921070537/http://www.idsa.in/issuebrief/suriname-armed-forces_sbmaharaj_020217|archive-date=21 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* {{UAE}}{{sfn|Nyrop|2008|p=326}}
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}
* {{flag|Zimbabwe}}{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

=== Former operators ===

* {{BEL}}: Used by [[1st Belgian Infantry Brigade|Belgian Field Battery]] during WWII;<ref name="Piron Batailles">{{cite magazine |date=March 2006 |title=Les Hommes oubliés - La brigade Piron au Combat ! |magazine=Batailles et Blindés |publisher=Caraktère |page=25 |language=fr |issue=13 |issn=1765-0828}}</ref> also in [[Belgian Congo]] post-WWII<ref>{{cite book |last=Abbot |first=Peter |title=Modern African Wars: The Congo 1960–2002 |date=February 2014 |publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]] |isbn=978-1782000761 |location=Oxford |page=10}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Czechoslovakia}}: used during WWII<ref name="nasenoviny.com">{{cite web |last=Hyrman |first=Jan |title=The port of Dunkirk in World War II - The Czechoslovaks at Dunkirk 1944-45 |url=http://www.nasenoviny.com/DunkirkEN1944_45.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714154719/http://www.nasenoviny.com/DunkirkEN1944_45.html |archive-date=14 July 2011 |website=Nase noviny}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Kingdom of Italy}}: Captured examples and 1943–45 co-belligerent forces
* {{Flag|Kingdom of Iraq}}
* {{Flag|Nazi Germany}}: (Captured examples)<ref>{{cite magazine |date=October 2016 |title=La Kampfstaffel " Rommel " |magazine=Batailles et Blindés |publisher=Caraktère |page=18 |language=fr |issue=75 |issn=1765-0828}}</ref> Mk I designated ''8.76 cm Feldkanone 280(e)'', MK II designated ''8.76 cm Feldkanone 281(e)''.
* {{Flag|Netherlands}}: Used by [[Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade|Royal Netherlands Motorized Infantry Brigade "Princess Irene"]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Neal |first=Don |title=The princess Irene Brigade ( A potted history) |url=http://www.gunsandbugles.co.uk/princess-irene.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811115937/http://www.gunsandbugles.co.uk/princess-irene.htm |archive-date=2014-08-11 |access-date=2018-07-02}}</ref> [[Royal Netherlands East Indies Army]] (1945–1949), [[Netherlands Marine Corps#History|Marines Brigade]] (1945–1949), [[Royal Netherlands Army]] (1945–1984)
* {{Flag|Oman}}: ~40 in 1976{{sfn|Nyrop|2008|p=405}}
* {{flag|Rhodesia}}
* {{Flag|South Vietnam}}: 122 in 1953
* {{USA}}: during [[Tunisian Campaign]], [[Battle of the Bulge]]<ref name="Zaloga 2007 36" /> and [[Pacific War]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Chapter 7: Decision at Sea |url=https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/GuadC/gc-07.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422064828/https://history.army.mil/books/wwii/GuadC/gc-07.htm |archive-date=2019-04-22 |access-date=2018-07-02 |website=history.army.mil}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[British standard ordnance weights and measurements]]

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist}}
;Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
* Various QF 25-pr Range Tables Part 1 1939 – 1967
* Various QF 25-pr UK Gun Drill pamphlets 1939 – 1976
* Various QF 25-pr Handbooks 1940 – 1957
* British and American Artillery of WW2. Ian Hogg. {{ISBN|0-85368-242-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Henry|first= Chris|title=The 25-pounder Field Gun 1939–72|place=Oxford|publisher= Osprey Publishing|year= 2002|volume=New Vanguard 48|isbn=9781841763507}}
* {{cite book|first=Samer|last=Kassis|title=30 Years of Military Vehicles in Lebanon|place= Beirut|publisher=Elite Group|year= 2003|isbn=9953-0-0705-5}}
*{{cite book|last=Mellor|first=D.P.|year=1958|title=The Role of Science and Industry|series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 4 – Civil|volume=V|location=Canberra| publisher=Australian War Memorial|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070217/|oclc=4092792}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|QF 25 pounder}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110405090721/http://www.pof.gov.pk/AA_qf25pdr.aspx Pakistan Ordnance Factories – current producer of 25-pounder ammunition]
* [http://nigelef.tripod.com/25pdrsheet.htm Ordnance Q.F. 25-pr Mk 2 on Carriage 25-pr Mk 1]

{{WWIIBritishCommGuns}}
{{BritishEmpireWeapons}}

[[Category:88 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Cold War artillery of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Field artillery of the Cold War]]
[[Category:World War II artillery of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II field artillery]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1940]]