QF 14-pounder Maxim-Nordenfelt naval gun

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
On HMVS Cerberus circa. 1900. Note fixed-round cartridge with shell standing at gunner's feet in background. Photo courtesy of the Friends of the Cerberus
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)

Service

The gun equipped ships built in Britain for various foreign navies including Chile.

Victorian Colonial Navy

In 1897, two guns were mounted on HMVS Cerberus, of the Colonial Navy of Victoria (Australia). In 1900, these guns were removed, mounted on field carriages and went to China with the Victorian Naval Contingent – a part of British forces in the Boxer Rebellion. These two 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]

Victorian coastal artillery

14-pounders were used for coastal defence at Fort Nepean, Fort Pearce and Fort Queenscliff.

British ammunition

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

See also

• List of naval guns