Royal Horse Artillery Battery

The first versions of the OQF (Ordnance Quick Firing) 25 pdr Mk I were commonly known as the 18/25 pdr and saw service in during the opening stages of the Second World War in France and North Africa. However, most were lost on the beaches of Dunkirk during Operation Dynamo (the evacuation of the Allied soldiers from France). This led to the design of the OQF 25 pdr Mk II which was fitted with its own dedicated carriage designed by Vickers and was designated as the OQF 25 pdr Mk II on an Mk I carriage.

The 25 pdr proved to be a highly effective weapon on the battlefields of World War Two; its High Explosive (HE) rounds were especially effective. The lethality of the HE round was estimated to be 1.5 times better than that of the American equivalent, the 105mm. During the North Africa campaign, the 25 pdr was often pressed into service as an anti-tank gun whenever the 2 pdr anti-tank gun proved inadequate. As World War Two ground on, the 25 pdr continued to be modified and improved and will go down in history as one of the most successful artillery pieces in the history of warfare.