Ordnance QF 17-pounder AT Gun

The Ordnance QF 17-pounder was a British-developed anti-tank gun that played a crucial role in the latter years of World War II. Introduced in 1943, it was designed to counter the increasing armor thickness of German tanks like the Tiger I and Panther. With a 76.2 mm caliber and capable of firing a high-velocity armor-piercing (HVAP) round, the 17-pounder was one of the most powerful anti-tank weapons of its era, capable of penetrating over 200 mm of armor at close range. Its muzzle velocity was around 900 to 1,200 meters per second, depending on the ammunition type, making it highly effective against enemy armor at long distances.

Initially used in the North African campaign, the 17-pounder quickly gained a reputation for its ability to destroy heavily armored German tanks that other Allied guns struggled to penetrate. It was eventually mounted on various platforms, most famously on the Sherman Firefly, a modified American Sherman tank. This combination became a critical part of the Allied forces' armored divisions, particularly in the Normandy invasion and subsequent operations in Europe.

Australian Use of the 17-pounder

The Australian Army also adopted the 17-pounder during World War II, primarily in response to the evolving threat of Japanese tanks and the potential for more heavily armored enemy vehicles. While Japanese tanks were generally less formidable than their European counterparts, Australia sought to bolster its anti-tank defenses as the war in the Pacific escalated.

The 17-pounder was fielded in both towed configurations and mounted on armored vehicles. In addition to vehicle mounts, the gun was also deployed in a towed configuration by Australian infantry units, serving as a key defensive asset against armored threats. The Australian Army continued to utilize the 17-pounder in the post-war years, particularly as a part of its anti-tank regiments, where it remained in service until it was gradually replaced by more modern anti-tank systems in the 1950s.