British 6 pounder Gun Airborne version
The British Ordnance QF 6-pounder, often referred to simply as the 6-pounder, was a highly significant artillery piece in World War II, offering a vital balance between firepower and mobility. Originally introduced in 1942 to replace the older 2-pounder anti-tank gun, the 6-pounder quickly established itself as an effective and reliable weapon system capable of defeating the increasingly well-armored German tanks on the battlefield.
The 6-pounder was a 57mm gun, and its official designation—Quick-Firing (QF)—highlighted its rapid rate of fire, made possible by its use of fixed ammunition (where shell and cartridge are combined into one unit). Weighing around 1,140 kilograms in its standard field configuration, the 6-pounder struck a balance between manageable weight and potent anti-armor capability. It could fire armor-piercing rounds at a muzzle velocity of over 850 meters per second, which allowed it to penetrate the armor of most German tanks of the time, including the Panzer IV and even, under favorable conditions, the formidable Panther.
Initially deployed with regular infantry and armored divisions, the gun's potential was quickly recognized by British airborne forces. As part of the expansion of British airborne capabilities during the war, there was a growing need for effective support weapons that could be deployed by air and used immediately upon landing. Glider-borne forces, especially those involved in large operations like the Normandy invasion and Operation Market Garden, required artillery that could provide anti-tank defense yet be light enough to transport via gliders.
To meet this need, a modified version of the 6-pounder was developed for airborne operations. The gun itself remained essentially the same in terms of barrel and ammunition, but its carriage was redesigned to be more compact and lightweight. The standard split-trail carriage was replaced or adjusted to make the gun more suitable for transport in the Airspeed Horsa glider, the mainstay of British airborne transport. In its modified form, the airborne 6-pounder could be broken down into parts or loaded fully assembled into a Horsa, allowing for rapid deployment upon landing.
Once on the ground, airborne crews could quickly manhandle the gun into position. Despite the challenging terrain and limited resources typically available to airborne units, the 6-pounder proved remarkably effective in this role. Its performance was particularly noted during the defense of key positions in Normandy, where glider-borne anti-tank guns were used to blunt German armored counterattacks against lightly equipped paratroopers. At Pegasus Bridge and in other sectors, the 6-pounder played a pivotal role in delaying or repelling enemy armor long enough for heavier reinforcements to arrive.
One of the most famous instances of the 6-pounder's use in airborne operations was during the Battle of Arnhem, part of Operation Market Garden in September 1944. British paratroopers of the 1st Airborne Division used 6-pounders to great effect in their desperate defense of the Arnhem bridgehead. Though ultimately overrun, the airborne troops inflicted significant casualties on German armor, with the 6-pounder standing as one of the few weapons capable of threatening enemy tanks in those early hours.
Despite being gradually superseded by the more powerful 17-pounder as the war progressed and enemy armor became more formidable, the 6-pounder remained in service throughout the conflict due to its versatility, ease of concealment, and effectiveness against medium armor and soft targets. Its airborne variant was particularly valued for its portability and reliability under combat conditions
