M1 57mm (Airborne) (x2) (US502) Contains two m1 57mm guns on British Mark 3 carriage and  command team When the US Army decided to upgrade it’s Glider borne anti-tank gun from the M3 37mm gun it was realised that they could not simply use the standard m1 57mm gun. Fortunately the British had already redesigned the 6pdr (which the M1 57mm is US manufactured version) to fit into a Horsa glider.   This product is no longer currently available for sale...

It also fitted the Waco glider, so rather than go through the design process independently the US Airborne troops adopted the 6pdr on the Mark 3 carriage as the M1 57mm (Airborne). The US airborne anti-tank units took delivery of British built M1 57mm before the Normandy landings. The first deliveries were the early version based on the early production 6 pdrs without muzzle brakes.

The Airborne anti-tank units were glider troops and were part the airborne divisions’ Anti-aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion. Each battalion was comprised of a headquarters unit, medical detachment and six batteries of about 80 men each. A, B and C batteries were anti-tank companies and D, E and F were anti-aircraft units. The anti-tank batteries each had eight 37mm guns, which were upgraded to 57mm guns for Normandy.

In Flames Of War The M1 57mm airborne anti-tank gun is part of the Glider Anti-tank Platoon from page 42 of D Minus 1. The 57mm is a handy anti-tank weapon, able to defeat any but the most heavily armoured German tanks.

It has range 24”/60cm, AT 10, FP 4+, a Gun shield, but no HE. Designed by Evan Allen Painted By Jeremy Painter