The Ordnance QF 13-pounder “Shrapnel” was a British field gun used primarily during World War I. It fired 13-pound (5.9 kg) shrapnel shells designed to burst in the air and scatter lethal steel balls over enemy troops. With a range of about 5.9 km, it was mounted on a light, fast carriage and used mainly by the Royal Horse Artillery to support cavalry units. Its rapid-fire capability and mobility made it ideal for engaging exposed infantry, though it was later supplemented by high-explosive shells as trench warfare reduced the effectiveness of shrapnel fire.