Desert Rats 25pdr Field Troop (Plastic x 4)

includes four plastic 25pdr guns, four large six-hole bases, two base plug sprues, four plastic Gun Crew sprues and two Unit cards.

The versatile Quick-Firing 25-pounder entered service just before the war began, and remains the main British field gun and howitzer throughout the desert war.

Its main ammunition is an 11.5kg (25lb) 87.6mm high-explosive shell, with solid armour-piercing rounds also available.

The Ordnance, Q.F., 25-pdr Mk 1 or more commonly known as the 18/25-pdr, was to see service in Europe and North Africa in the early stages of World War Two, it used the Mk 4P 18-pdr carriage, the P indicating the use of pneumatic tyres for motorised use. Because the 18-pdr carriage was not intended for use with the new 25lb round a reduction was made to the charge and as a consequence, the range was decreased from the desired 15,000 yards to 11,800 yards.

Many 18/25-pdrs were lost during the evacuation from Dunkirk and they needed to be replaced. The Mk 2 25-pdr saw the introduction of its own carriage. The trials were between the original split trail design and a Vickers box trail design that came with its own firing platform.

After test firing at the School of Artillery, it was unanimously decided to adopt the Vickers design. This new weapon was known as the 25-pdr Mk 2 on the Mk 1 carriage. The Mk 2 first saw action in Norway 1940 and by the end of the war over 12,000 had been made.

Many saw service in North Africa and were often pressed into the anti-tank role when the 2-pdr proved inadequate. The circular firing platform proved its worth in the anti-tank role—the 25-pdr was able to be repositioned by its crew with ease when faced with multiple direct-fire targets.