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Naval gun From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The QF 14-pounder was a 3-inch medium-velocity naval gun used to equip warships for defence against torpedo boats. It was produced for export by Maxim-Nordenfelt (later Vickers, Sons and Maxim) in competition with the Elswick QF 12-pounder 12 cwt and QF 12-pounder 18 cwt guns.
Ordnance QF 14-pounder | |
---|---|
Type | Naval gun |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
In service | 1894-19?? |
Used by | Various countries Victorian Naval Forces |
Wars | World War I |
Production history | |
Designed | 189? |
Manufacturer | Maxim-Nordenfelt |
Specifications | |
Mass | 1,638 pounds (743 kg)[1] |
Barrel length | 135 inches (3.429 m)bore (45 calibres)[1] |
Shell | separate QF 14 pounds (6.35 kg) or 12.5 pounds (5.67 kg) |
Calibre | 3-inch (76.2 mm) |
Muzzle velocity | 2,100 feet per second (640 m/s) (14 lb shell)[2] |
Maximum firing range | 8,000 yards (7,320 m) (14 lb shell) |
The gun equipped ships built in Britain for various foreign navies including Chile.
2 guns were mounted on HMVS Cerberus in 1897. In 1900 they were removed, mounted on field carriages and went to China with the Victorian Naval Contingent to confront the Boxer Rebellion. These 2 guns were non-standard and fired QF fixed rounds (i.e. the cartridge was loaded with shell attached) unlike the standard guns which fired separate ammunition (i.e. shell and cartridge loaded as separate items). They were therefore left behind in China in favour of the standard QF 12-pounder.[3]
In Victorian naval service in the 1890s the gun is reported as firing a shell weighing 14 lbs to a range of 8,000 yards with a muzzle velocity of 2100 ft/second, using a 6.5 lb black powder charge.[4]
14-pounders were used for coastal defence at Fort Nepean, Fort Pearce and Fort Queenscliff.
In British service the guns fired the same 3-inch 12.5 lb shell as QF 12-pounder guns.
Cordite Cartridges circa. 1905 | Mk II Common pointed shell | Mk II & Mk III Common Lyddite shell | Mk IV Common Lyddite shell with internal night tracer, 1914 |
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