- For the Steel Division II unit see SD2:6-pdr (UK)
6-pdr is a British Anti-tank unit. It was a primary British anti-tank gun used throughout the war, proving effective against most German tanks save for the big cats. Aside from being towed, the 6-pdr was also mounted on various British tanks where possible (replacing the 2-pdr), such as the Churchill, the Valentine, the Crusader and the AEC Armoured Car. It was also adopted by the US army under the designation M1 Gun 57mm.
The 6-pdr is a reliable early game AT gun available to all Allied divisions (under different names), capable of defeating most armoured threats. It cannot engage soft targets.
Overview[ | ]
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 ,Guards Armoured and 7th Armoured 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 Motorized Infantry Battalions of the Guards Armoured and 7th Armoured has three Anti-tank platoons with 4 6-pdr in their support company.
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.
The 97th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery that supported 15th Infantry were equipped with 4 Batteries each with two troops of 4 17-pdr (UK) and a troop of 4 6-pdrs.
Strategy[ | ]
Similar in function to the German Pak 38, the British 6-pdr is a capable AT gun in phase A. It is available to every Allied division, though the name designation may vary among different nations. It boasts good penetrating power for its price, defeating light tanks & the earlier German medium tanks alike. The player can also opt to only fire when the enemy vehicle is well within range, ensuring that the 6-pdr can fire off repeated shots. The 6-pdr is only moderately accurate and is hampered by its 1000m firing range, like all early game AT guns.
Its usefulness drops off slightly in phase B, but it can still reliably deter tanks such as Panzer IVs and Stugs from advancing. The very occasional side shot can also destroy or panic heavier German tanks.
The 6-pdr is manned by five men and can be incapacitated by artillery fire or airpower. It is therefore advisable to move the AT gun after engaging an enemy to avoid retaliation.
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