- For the Steel Division: Normandy 44 unit see SD:6-pdr (UK)
6-pdr is a British Anti-tank unit in Steel Division II.
Background[ | ]
As it had long been clear that the 2-pdr would be sorely inadequate in future confrontations, the British were planning to introduce a more powerful AT gun. The gun design was complete by 1940, though the carriage design would only be completed in 1941. Furthermore, the fall of France and the subsequent Dunkirk evacuation left the British army bereft of AT capacities, resulting in a delay of 6-pdr production as switching production might prove fatal for the United Kingdom in their darkest hour. It was estimated that to produce 100 6-pdrs, the UK would have to sacrifice the production of 600 2-pdrs. When the threat of a (perceived) German invasion dwindled in 1942, production of the 6-pdr started in earnest.
The 6-pdr first saw action in North Africa in May 1942, acquitting itself very well as it could penetrate all Axis tanks then in service. However, it was incapable of frontally penetrating the later-introduced Tiger in Tunisia 1942 and the Panther in Normandy 1944, though the 6-pdr had good chances to succeed when firing at the sides and the rear. The more powerful 17-pdr was introduced in early 1943 and proved capable of frontally penetrating the heavier German tanks, but despite this, the 6-pdr would continue to see service during the war and several decades afterwards.
The US army also quickly adopted the British AT gun under the name M1 Gun 57mm. Total US production of the 57mm reached 15 600 guns, while the British produced 35 000 guns themselves.
Each Infantry Battalions of the 15th Infantry has a Anti-tank platoon with six 6-pdr.
15th Infantry's 15th Reconnaissance Regiment had a Anti-tank Battery of eight towed 6-pdrs.
The 97th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery that supported 15th Infantry were equipped with 4 Batteries each with two troops of 4 17-pdr and a troop of 4 6-pdrs.
The Parachute Battalion of the 6th Airborne were not equipped with 6-pdr while the Airlanding Battalions were equipped with two Anti-tank Platoons with 4 6-pdrs. 6th Airborne has 3rd and 4th Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery. The 3rd Airlanding Anti-Tank Battery was equipped with two troops of 4 17-pdrs and two more troops of 6-pdrs. The 4th Airlanding Anti-tank Battery was equipped with 16 6-pdrs.
6th SA Armoured's 24th Guard Brigade three infantry battalions had their anti-tank platoons.