QF 6-pounder Nordenfelt facts for kids
The QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt was a powerful but light 57 mm gun. It was used by many countries in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This gun was mainly used on ships and for defending coastlines.
It's important not to confuse this gun with a similar one called the 57 mm Cockerill-Nordenfelt. That one was shorter and used on the German A7V tank during World War I.
You could tell Nordenfelt guns apart from similar Hotchkiss guns because their barrels were thinner. This made the Nordenfelt gun much lighter.
Quick facts for kids QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt |
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A 48-calibre version of the gun at Gyltö, Finland, in 1999.
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| Type | Naval gun Coast defence gun |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1885 - 19?? |
| Used by | Many countries |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1885 |
| Manufacturer | Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Company Maxim-Nordenfelt |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | UK 42-cal version : 638 pounds (289 kg) barrel & breech |
| Length | various, 42-50 calibres |
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| Shell | Fixed QF 6 lb (2.7 kg) |
| Calibre | 57-millimetre (2.24 in) |
| Breech | Vertical sliding-block with locking wedge |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,818 ft/s (554 m/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 4,500–6,000 yd (4,100–5,500 m) |
Contents
The Nordenfelt Gun in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom started using a version of this gun in 1885. It was known as the Ordnance QF 6-pounder Nordenfelt Mk I, Mk II, and Mk III. The "QF" stands for "Quick-Firing," meaning it could shoot very fast.
These guns were first put on ships starting in 1885. Their main job was to protect against new, fast torpedo boats. Torpedo boats were small, speedy ships that carried torpedoes. They were a big threat to larger warships.
The British Navy also adopted a very similar gun called the QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss at the same time. However, the Navy wasn't happy with the special ammunition and fuses made for the Nordenfelt gun. A fuse is a device that makes a shell explode.
After an explosion on an ammunition ship in 1900, which was caused by faulty fuses, Britain decided to switch to the Hotchkiss fuse design for all their guns. Because of these issues, Nordenfelt guns were slowly replaced by Hotchkiss guns. By 1919, the Nordenfelt guns were considered too old to be used by the British Navy.
The Nordenfelt Gun in Finland
When Finland became independent from Russia in 1917, many QF 6-pounder Nordenfelt cannons were already in the country. After the Finnish Civil War in 1918, Finland's army had about 35 to 40 of these guns.
These Nordenfelt guns became the standard light coastal guns for Finland. They were used to defend the coast until the 1950s. During World War II, some of these guns were also placed in bunkers and fortifications along the Mannerheim Line. This was a line of defenses built to protect Finland.
Ammunition for the Nordenfelt Gun
The Nordenfelt gun used a special type of ammunition. The diagrams show how these shells were designed. The 6-pounder shells were about 2.2 inches wide. The gun was called "6 pounder" because of the weight of the shell it fired.
Where You Can Still See These Guns
- A Nordenfelt gun is on display at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron in Manly, Queensland, Australia.
- Another gun can be seen at the Manege Military Museum in Helsinki, Finland.
Related Weapons and Topics
- List of naval guns: A list of different guns used on ships.
Similar Guns from the Same Time
- QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss: This was a very similar gun made by a different company.