Knowledge (XXG)

Ordnance QF 20-pounder

Source 📝

477:
330 mm and 290 mm respectively. Against sloped armour, the APDS had reduced effectiveness: penetrating 87 mm (3.4 in) and 77 mm (3.0 in) of RHA at 1,000 yd (910 m) and 2,000 yd (1,800 m) respectively, against a plate angled 60 degrees from the normal, this is only 174 mm (6.9 in), and 154 mm (6.1 in) of line of sight penetration. At given ranges, the 20 pounder APDS Mk. III shot only had 53% of its line of sight penetration against a sloped plate, compared to at the normal. Line of sight penetration refers to a flat line drawn through a piece of sloped armour, indicating the effective thickness.
497: 389:. Analysis of the T-54's armour suggested that the 20 pounder would be ineffective at penetrating the latest Soviet armour. The 100 mm gun wielded by the T-54 was also assessed. The Centurion's earliest combat experiences and intelligence on Soviet armour and tank guns led to development of the 105 mm L7 tank gun, which was designed to fit specifically into the turret mountings of the 20 pounder, facilitating retrofitting to existing tanks. 422: 335: 1202: 103: 33: 476:
projectile had a muzzle velocity of 1,465 m/s (4,810 ft/s) and the APDS Mk.3 could penetrate 330 mm (13 in) of RHA at a distance of 1,000 yards (910 m), and 290 mm (11 in) of penetration at 2,000 yards (1,800 m), equating to a line of sight penetration of
392:
During the development of its successor, the 20 pounder continued in front-line service and was even trialed in other fighting vehicles. One was fitted to a Swiss pre-production
1145: 1246: 1108: 381:
In 1956, detailed intelligence on the then-new Soviet T-54A main battle tank was obtained by the British military, after Hungarian rebels drove to the British embassy in
1231: 1138: 1236: 1205: 327:
tank gun was developed from the 20 pounder. In 1954, the original version of the 105 mm was made by re-boring the tube of a 20 pounder barrel.
550: : a training variant of the APDS-T Mk. 3 except for mild steel sabot painted black with yellow band. The DS/T PRAC Mk. 4 was fielded in 1955. 57: 1131: 708:
The gun is specified as 83.4 mm (3.283 in) here, while Ogorkiewiecz states the weapon was 83.8 mm. Norman gives it as "3.3 inch (84 mm)"
975: 1069: 1037: 1013: 75: 399:
Between 1968 and 1971, Mk III Centurions of the Australian Army, equipped with the original 20 pounder, saw action during the
521: 473: 534: : a training variant of the APDS Mk. 1, it is identifiable by the yellow band painted on its black lead sabot. It uses a 778: 584:
consisting of a black metal cylinder filled with 580 steel pellets (9.5 kg). It has an effective range of 229 m.
396:, replacing a domestic 90 mm Kanone 1948 gun. (However, the Panzer 58 was later equipped with the 105 mm L7.) 386: 996: 827: 370:
The gun was fitted predominantly to the Centurion tank, first seeing action in 1950 with British Army units during the
48: 1048: 544: : an improved Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot round fitted with tracer. The APDS-T Mk. 3 was fielded in 1950. 466: 407:, the 84 mm ammunition of the 20 pounder was considered suitable for the armoured fire support role. ( 1241: 189: 872: 1113: 504: 501: 237: 496: 43: 846: 1182: 1177: 557: 217: 955:. Thun: Kriegstechnische Abteilung Sektion für Schiessversuche 11/R. May 13, 1954. pp. 1–6. 1210: 1187: 1172: 1085: 1065: 1033: 1009: 971: 784: 774: 324: 288: 273: 107: 1123: 912: 564:. The shell is painted olive drab or buff with red band and black RDX/BWX (explosive filler). 1026: 277: 269: 1059: 462: 303: 280:
heavy tank. After the 20 pounder gun was found to have inadequate performance against the
525: 481: 111: 421: 334: 1225: 718: 581: 485: 408: 404: 968:
Cold War, Hot Science: Applied Research in Britain's Defence Laboratories 1945-1990
281: 102: 574:
filled with three internal smoke canisters ejected by a Base Ejection (BE) device.
571: 400: 375: 185: 181: 110:
equipped with the 20 pounder. This gun is a later model which is fitted with a
371: 201: 177: 1089: 788: 465:
of 1,020 metres per second and could penetrate 210 mm (8.3 in) of
393: 284: 1155: 382: 265: 122: 1103: 717:
The 20 pounder's APDS round had twice the penetration capability of an
535: 411:
tanks did not operate in South Vietnam until later stages of the war.)
227: 17: 642:
1,430 m/s (4,700 ft/s) or 1,465 m/s (4,810 ft/s)
614:
1,000 m/s (3,300 ft/s) or 1,020 m/s (3,300 ft/s)
829:
Memorandum E.13 Tank Effectiveness: Conqueror, Conway and Charioteer
876: 999:". opensource, p. 9. British Army Operational Research Group. 495: 458: 656:
600 m/s (2,000 ft/s) or 602 m/s (1,980 ft/s)
514: : an Armour-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped (APCBC) round. 561: 1127: 416: 329: 26: 287:
the gun was mostly replaced in service by the larger calibre
469:(RHA). However, these conventional rounds were rarely used. 752: 750: 53:
Messy and unorganised article; needs expansion for content.
913:"Panzer 55 Centurion Mk 3 / Mk 5, Pz 55 mit 8,4 cm Pak 55" 1082:
Fighting Vehicles and Weapons of the Modern British Army
935: 933: 433: 346: 299:
The gun was developed by the Royal Ordnance Factories.
841: 839: 826:
British Army Operational Research Group (June 1954),
1028:
The World's Great Tanks from 1916 to the present day
997:
Tank Effectiveness: Conqueror, Conway and Charioteer
528:
propellant (NH). The APDS Mk. 1 was fielded in 1947.
403:. In the context of counterinsurgency operations in 970:(1st ed.). Harwood Academic Pub. p. 120. 236: 226: 216: 200: 195: 173: 149: 141: 136: 128: 118: 93: 1109:British standard ordnance weights and measurements 1025: 966:Bud, Robert; Gummett, Philip (November 1, 1999). 873:"Centurion Mk.3/5/7/8 - 20 Pounder ammunition" 264:) was a British 84 mm (3.307 inch) 1139: 1064:. London, UK: Jane's Information Group, Ltd. 8: 268:. It was introduced in 1948 and used in the 756: 1146: 1132: 1124: 1050:Armour in Profile (Number 23), Centurion 5 207:226.4 in (5.75 m), 66.7 calibres 90: 1247:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1948 906: 904: 902: 900: 898: 896: 894: 771:T-54 and T-55 main battle tanks 1944-2004 625:4.52 kg (3.4 kg without sabot) 76:Learn how and when to remove this message 1232:Cold War artillery of the United Kingdom 587: 813: 734: 701: 939: 769:Zaloga, Steve; Johnson, Hugh (2004). 7: 801: 741: 560:using a No. 410 Mk. 1 instantaneous 1053:. Surrey: Profile Publications Ltd. 832:, p. 9 – via Archive.org 1104:Pounds as a measure of cannon bore 1006:Centurion Universal Tank 1943-2003 875:. 12 November 2022. Archived from 25: 1008:. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. 628:1,325 m/s (4,350 ft/s) 1201: 1200: 522:Armour-Piercing Discarding Sabot 420: 333: 101: 31: 1237:Tank guns of the United Kingdom 684:910 m/s (3,000 ft/s) 480:The 20-pounder could also fire 242:+18° to −10° in Centurion Mk 5 95:Ordnance QF 20 pounder Mark I 1: 1058:Ogorkiewicz, Richard (1991). 1032:. Brown Packaging Books Ltd. 670:251 m/s (820 ft/s) 306:, it ran through two models: 232:84 millimetres (3.31 in) 847:"Centurion Tanks in Vietnam" 387:Hungarian Revolution of 1956 51:. The specific problem is: 1263: 461:projectile had an initial 47:to meet Knowledge (XXG)'s 1196: 1163: 558:High-Explosive (HE) shell 467:rolled homogeneous armour 313:without a fume extractor. 211: 129:Place of origin 100: 1188:165 mm L9 Demolition Gun 1080:Pugh, Stevenson (1962). 1047:Norman, Michael (1967). 190:South African Border War 1004:Dunstan, Simon (2003). 594:Weight, complete round 1114:Ordnance QF 32-pounder 1084:. Macdonald & Co. 507: 319:with a fume extractor. 295:Design and development 250:Ordnance QF 20 pounder 499: 1024:Ford, Roger (1997). 917:militaerfahrzeuge.ch 58:improve this article 1061:Technology of Tanks 879:on 12 November 2022 853:. 26 February 2023 773:. Oxford: Osprey. 757:Ogorkiewicz (1991) 597:Projectile weight 508: 432:. You can help by 345:. You can help by 278:Caernarvon Mark II 272:main battle tank, 1219: 1218: 1211:List of tank guns 1206:British tank guns 1168:QF 20-pdr (84 mm) 1158:post-World War II 688: 687: 524:round. It uses a 457:The 20 pounder's 450: 449: 363: 362: 302:As fitted to the 276:medium tank, and 246: 245: 86: 85: 78: 49:quality standards 40:This article may 16:(Redirected from 1254: 1204: 1203: 1148: 1141: 1134: 1125: 1093: 1075: 1054: 1043: 1031: 1019: 1000: 982: 981: 963: 957: 956: 949: 943: 937: 928: 927: 925: 923: 908: 889: 888: 886: 884: 869: 863: 862: 860: 858: 843: 834: 833: 823: 817: 811: 805: 799: 793: 792: 766: 760: 754: 745: 739: 722: 719:KwK 36 8.8 cm AP 715: 709: 706: 600:Muzzle velocity 588: 538:propellant (WM). 445: 442: 424: 417: 409:North Vietnamese 358: 355: 337: 330: 105: 96: 91: 81: 74: 70: 67: 61: 35: 34: 27: 21: 1262: 1261: 1257: 1256: 1255: 1253: 1252: 1251: 1242:85 mm artillery 1222: 1221: 1220: 1215: 1192: 1159: 1154:United Kingdom 1152: 1122: 1100: 1079: 1072: 1057: 1046: 1040: 1023: 1016: 1003: 994: 991: 986: 985: 978: 965: 964: 960: 951: 950: 946: 938: 931: 921: 919: 910: 909: 892: 882: 880: 871: 870: 866: 856: 854: 851:Mike's Research 845: 844: 837: 825: 824: 820: 812: 808: 800: 796: 781: 768: 767: 763: 755: 748: 740: 736: 731: 726: 725: 716: 712: 707: 703: 698: 693: 548:DS/T PRAC Mk. 4 532:DS/T PRAC Mk. 2 494: 463:muzzle velocity 455: 446: 440: 437: 430:needs expansion 414: 368: 366:Service history 359: 353: 350: 343:needs expansion 297: 212: 188: 184: 180: 168: 166: 164: 162: 160: 158: 156: 154: 142:In service 137:Service history 114: 108:Charioteer tank 94: 89: 82: 71: 65: 62: 55: 36: 32: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1260: 1258: 1250: 1249: 1244: 1239: 1234: 1224: 1223: 1217: 1216: 1214: 1213: 1208: 1197: 1194: 1193: 1191: 1190: 1185: 1180: 1175: 1170: 1164: 1161: 1160: 1153: 1151: 1150: 1143: 1136: 1128: 1121: 1120:External links 1118: 1117: 1116: 1111: 1106: 1099: 1096: 1095: 1094: 1077: 1070: 1055: 1044: 1038: 1021: 1014: 1001: 990: 987: 984: 983: 977:978-9057024818 976: 958: 944: 929: 890: 864: 835: 818: 814:Dunstan (2003) 806: 804:, p. 121. 794: 779: 761: 746: 733: 732: 730: 727: 724: 723: 710: 700: 699: 697: 694: 692: 689: 686: 685: 682: 679: 676: 672: 671: 668: 665: 662: 658: 657: 654: 651: 648: 644: 643: 640: 637: 634: 630: 629: 626: 623: 620: 616: 615: 612: 609: 606: 602: 601: 598: 595: 592: 586: 585: 575: 565: 551: 545: 539: 529: 526:nitrocellulose 515: 493: 490: 482:high-explosive 454: 451: 448: 447: 427: 425: 367: 364: 361: 360: 340: 338: 325:L7 105 mm 321: 320: 314: 296: 293: 244: 243: 240: 234: 233: 230: 224: 223: 220: 214: 213: 209: 208: 205: 198: 197: 196:Specifications 193: 192: 175: 171: 170: 153:United Kingdom 151: 147: 146: 143: 139: 138: 134: 133: 132:United Kingdom 130: 126: 125: 120: 116: 115: 112:bore evacuator 106: 98: 97: 87: 84: 83: 39: 37: 30: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1259: 1248: 1245: 1243: 1240: 1238: 1235: 1233: 1230: 1229: 1227: 1212: 1209: 1207: 1199: 1198: 1195: 1189: 1186: 1184: 1181: 1179: 1176: 1174: 1171: 1169: 1166: 1165: 1162: 1157: 1149: 1144: 1142: 1137: 1135: 1130: 1129: 1126: 1119: 1115: 1112: 1110: 1107: 1105: 1102: 1101: 1097: 1091: 1087: 1083: 1078: 1073: 1071:0-7106-0595-1 1067: 1063: 1062: 1056: 1052: 1051: 1045: 1041: 1039:1-897884-29-X 1035: 1030: 1029: 1022: 1017: 1015:1-84176-387-X 1011: 1007: 1002: 998: 993: 992: 988: 979: 973: 969: 962: 959: 954: 948: 945: 942:, p. 12. 941: 940:Norman (1967) 936: 934: 930: 918: 914: 911:Heller, Urs. 907: 905: 903: 901: 899: 897: 895: 891: 878: 874: 868: 865: 852: 848: 842: 840: 836: 831: 830: 822: 819: 816:, p. 10. 815: 810: 807: 803: 798: 795: 790: 786: 782: 776: 772: 765: 762: 759:, p. 70. 758: 753: 751: 747: 744:, p. 34. 743: 738: 735: 728: 720: 714: 711: 705: 702: 695: 690: 683: 680: 678:22.5 kg 677: 674: 673: 669: 666: 663: 661:SMK BE Mk. 1 660: 659: 655: 652: 649: 646: 645: 641: 638: 636:15.1 kg 635: 633:APDS-T Mk. 3 632: 631: 627: 624: 622:16.4 kg 621: 618: 617: 613: 610: 608:20.6 kg 607: 604: 603: 599: 596: 593: 590: 589: 583: 582:canister shot 579: 576: 573: 569: 566: 563: 559: 555: 552: 549: 546: 543: 540: 537: 533: 530: 527: 523: 519: 516: 513: 510: 509: 506: 503: 498: 491: 489: 487: 486:canister shot 483: 478: 475: 470: 468: 464: 460: 452: 444: 435: 431: 428:This section 426: 423: 419: 418: 415: 412: 410: 406: 405:South Vietnam 402: 397: 395: 390: 388: 385:, during the 384: 379: 377: 373: 365: 357: 348: 344: 341:This section 339: 336: 332: 331: 328: 326: 318: 315: 312: 309: 308: 307: 305: 300: 294: 292: 290: 289:105 mm L7 gun 286: 283: 279: 275: 271: 267: 263: 259: 255: 251: 241: 239: 235: 231: 229: 225: 221: 219: 215: 210: 206: 203: 199: 194: 191: 187: 183: 179: 176: 172: 152: 148: 144: 140: 135: 131: 127: 124: 121: 117: 113: 109: 104: 99: 92: 80: 77: 69: 59: 54: 50: 46: 45: 38: 29: 28: 19: 1167: 1081: 1060: 1049: 1027: 1005: 989:Bibliography 967: 961: 952: 947: 920:. Retrieved 916: 881:. Retrieved 877:the original 867: 855:. Retrieved 850: 828: 821: 809: 797: 770: 764: 737: 713: 704: 681:9.5 kg 667:9.3 kg 647:Shell Mk. 1 591:Designation 577: 568:SMK BE Mk. 1 567: 553: 547: 542:APDS-T Mk. 3 541: 531: 517: 511: 479: 471: 456: 438: 434:adding to it 429: 413: 398: 391: 380: 369: 351: 347:adding to it 342: 322: 316: 310: 301: 298: 261: 257: 253: 249: 247: 204: length 169:South Africa 150:Used by 72: 63: 56:Please help 52: 41: 883:12 November 802:Ford (1997) 742:Pugh (1962) 664:18 kg 650:16 kg 619:APDS Mk. 1 605:Shot Mk. 1 572:smoke shell 556: : an 554:Shell Mk. 1 520: : an 453:Performance 401:Vietnam War 376:Suez Crisis 186:Six-Day War 182:Vietnam War 60:if you can. 1226:Categories 1183:120 mm L30 1178:120 mm L11 953:Aktennotiz 780:1841767921 729:References 580: : a 570: : a 518:APDS Mk. 1 512:Shot Mk. 1 492:Ammunition 441:April 2023 372:Korean War 354:April 2023 304:Charioteer 274:Charioteer 260:or simply 254:20 pounder 252:(known as 222:84×618mm R 178:Korean War 1173:105 mm L7 1156:tank guns 922:13 August 857:13 August 691:Footnotes 394:Panzer 58 270:Centurion 238:Elevation 155:Australia 145:1948–1976 1098:See also 1090:10010960 789:60834392 488:shells. 383:Budapest 378:(1956). 266:tank gun 123:Tank gun 88:Tank gun 66:May 2016 42:require 536:cordite 500:20 pdr 317:Model B 311:Model A 228:Calibre 167:Lebanon 161:Finland 157:Austria 44:cleanup 1088:  1068:  1036:  1012:  974:  787:  777:  721:round. 282:Soviet 258:20 pdr 202:Barrel 165:Jordan 163:Israel 159:Canada 18:20 pdr 696:Notes 505:round 459:APCBC 262:20-pr 218:Shell 1086:OCLC 1066:ISBN 1034:ISBN 1010:ISBN 972:ISBN 924:2023 885:2022 859:2023 785:OCLC 775:ISBN 675:CAN 562:fuze 484:and 474:APDS 472:The 374:and 323:The 285:T-54 248:The 174:Wars 119:Type 578:CAN 436:. 349:. 256:, 1228:: 932:^ 915:. 893:^ 849:. 838:^ 783:. 749:^ 653:/ 639:/ 611:/ 502:HE 291:. 1147:e 1140:t 1133:v 1092:. 1076:. 1074:. 1042:. 1020:. 1018:. 995:" 980:. 926:. 887:. 861:. 791:. 443:) 439:( 356:) 352:( 79:) 73:( 68:) 64:( 20:)

Index

20 pdr
cleanup
quality standards
improve this article
Learn how and when to remove this message

Charioteer tank
bore evacuator
Tank gun
Korean War
Vietnam War
Six-Day War
South African Border War
Barrel
Shell
Calibre
Elevation
tank gun
Centurion
Charioteer
Caernarvon Mark II
Soviet
T-54
105 mm L7 gun
Charioteer
L7 105 mm

adding to it
Korean War
Suez Crisis

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.