The 6pounder anti-tank gun was a mainstay of British forces in WWII. Designed after the conflict broke out, it reflected British needs identified in the painful early contact with German forces. Remarkably, only a few weeks are said to have been needed to finalize the design, which almost gives lie to its highly effective performance. It was 57-caliber and had a maximum range of 5km, with a firing rate of up to 20 shells per minute, and a muzzle velocity of 815m/second, enough to threaten even Tiger Is. Forces in North Africa were the first to receive the 6pounder; later in the conflict, it would serve on all British fronts.