During the 1930s the British Army began to re-equip ready for a war that was becoming increasingly inevitable. One area that it was clear would need improvement was in the area of anti-tank weapons. Whilst the infantry would be equipped with the Boy’s Anti Tank Rifle, there was also a need for something with a bit more ‘grunt’. The Quick Firing 2 pounder anti-tank gun was accepted into service in 1935 and today’s postcard shows an example of one of these guns on its Mk 1 carriage:

The carriage had an innovative three-legged construction. In the travelling position, one of the legs was used as a towing trail, and the other two were folded. When the gun was positioned for combat, the legs were emplaced on the ground and the wheels were lifted up. This Mk I carriage was quickly dropped in favour of a superior and simpler Mk II design. This image dates from the interwar years, probably 1936 from the code in the bottom right hand corner. The men manning the gun are from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and wear service dress with kilts and the 1908 pattern webbing set:

The Ordnance QF 2 pounder was the main anti-tank gun in service with the British Army at the outbreak of war and for the time it was adequate. An increase in the armour of German AFVs quickly saw it approach obsolescence in the European theatre, however it remained in production until 1944 and was still effective against other targets and in the Far East, where its small size made it easy to manoeuver and conceal for ambushes, although a lack of an HE shell limited its utility.