- For the Steel Division II unit see SD2:Canon 57mm
Canon 57mm is a French 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. Numbers were also distributed to Commonwealth divisions and French and Polish troops amongst others.
These anti-tank guns were used in the anti tank platoons of Régiment de Marche du Tchad. Like the Americans Armored Division that the 2e Blindée based their composition Armored Infantry Companies has three Canon 57mm in their integral Anti-tank Platoon.
Strategy[]
Similar in function to the German Pak 38, the Canon 57mm 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 Canon 57mm can fire off repeated shots. The AT gun is only moderately accurate and is hampered by its 1000m firing range, like all early game AT guns.
It is especially vital to the French to field good AT deterrents in the early stages of phase A, as it must seize ground during this period. Its two most powerful anti-tank units are the TD M10A1 and the Canon 57mm and this will remain the case throughout the game (the division does have a few veteran tanks with 13 AP late game). Though the tank destroyer is more powerful, the AT gun is less vulnerable to enemy fire and provides good support. Indeed, the French must make good use of combined arms to push through enemy lines and consolidate their own lines before the inevitable decline in power in phase B and C.
The Canon 57mm will struggle in later phases, but it still constitutes a staple defensive unit for a successful French defence. The AT gun is manned by five men and can be incapacitated by artillery fire or airpower. It is therefore advisable to move the unit after engaging an enemy to avoid retaliation.
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