Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic inert drill round for the U.S. 57mm 6 Pounder Anti-Tank gun, known as the 57mm M1. This was the U.S. version of the British Ordnance QF (Quick Firing) 6-pounder Anti-Tank gun, which uses cartridges with attached propellant, as opposed to separate shells and propellant bags. It is completely inert, and cannot be converted to any type of explosive device. The shell weighs 12 lbs (5.4kg) and measures 23 inches in overall length.

The shell is marked at the bottom with the following:

These markings show that the cartridge "shell" was made for both British and U.S. forces, as it has the designations of both are listed. However, the shell casing definitely bears the U.S. designation:

These shells were used during firing drills, so that the soldiers could get used to quickly loading and unloading the gun, so that when the time came to actual fire it, there were no questions as to how to load it.

This is an excellent piece of World War II Era artillery memorabilia which will make a very impressive display!

The Ordnance Quick-Firing 6-pounder 7 cwt, or just 6-pounder, was a British 57 mm gun, serving as a primary anti-tank gun of the British Army during World War II, as well as the main armament for a number of armored fighting vehicles.

Although planned before the start of the war, it did not reach service until the North African Campaign in April 1942. There, it replaced the 2-pounder as an anti-tank gun, allowing the 25 pounder gun-howitzer to revert to its intended artillery role. The United States Army also adopted the 6-pounder as their primary anti-tank gun as the 57 mm Gun M1.

In spring 1943, following the experience of the North African Campaign, the Infantry branch of the US Army recognised the need to field a heavier antitank gun than the 37 mm M3. The Ordnance QF 6-pounder was introduced into US service as the 57mm M1, following standard US nomenclature.

Introduction was made in the face of objections by the US Army Infantry Board, which believed it to be too heavy. The Ordnance Board, on the other hand, felt that a more powerful weapon should be introduced; the Airborne and Cavalry rejected it.

According to the Table of Organisation and Equipment (TO&E) from 26 May 1943, a regimental antitank company included nine 57 mm guns and each battalion had an antitank platoon with three guns, giving a total of 18 guns per regiment. Dodge WC-62/WC-63 6×6 1½ ton trucks were issued as artillery tractors in place of the 3/4 ton truck used with its predecessor the 37mm. Because of the unexpected adoption into service, the only ammunition type in production in the US was the AP ammunition.

By mid-1944, the M1 was the standard antitank gun of the US infantry in the Western Front and outnumbered the M3 in Italy.