Pheasants

 Today's post is 4 "Pheasant" 17/25 pdr anti-tank guns for my Desert British.

In 1943 the British had a problem. They had developed the highly effective 17pdr anti-tank gun, and urgently wanted to get it into service to counter the Tiger tanks which were starting to appear. Unfortunately, they hadn't designed the carriage for the gun yet yet. The solution? Mount some of the guns on the carriage for the 25 Pdr artillery piece. While a tall mount for an anti tank gun and hard to conceal, it could handle the recoil generated by the new gun. 

These guns were christened the 17/25 pdr or "Pheasant" and used in Tunesia from February 43. Some probably survived into the Italian theatre and were likely eventually phased out and replaced by the 'proper' 17 pdr coming into British service from late 43.