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The QF 3-pounder Nordenfelt was a light 47 mm quick-firing naval gun and coast defence gun of the late 19th century used by many countries.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom only deployed this gun for coast defence, and soon discarded it in favour of the similar QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss gun for both coast defence and naval use.

Ammunition

Ammunition was in "fixed rounds" : the projectile and brass cartridge case were loaded as a single unit. The gun used the same ammunition as the similar QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss, with either Nordenfelt or Hotchkiss fuzes. When introduced in the 1880s the propellant used was gunpowder, in British service Cordite Mark I was used as propellant from the mid-1890s onwards.

British steel shell round, 1891
British common shell round, 1891

Notes

References

^ Hogg & Thurston 1972, page 32
^ ^a ^b Hogg & Thurston 1972, Page 32 quote 4,000 yards (3,700 m) with muzzle velocity 1,959 ft/s (597 m/s), for the British 45-calibres model in 1914 using 6oz 6dr cordite Mk 1 propellant.

Bibliography

I.V. Hogg and L.F. Thurston, British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914–1918. London: Ian Allan, 1972.

External links

Handbook of the 3-pounder Nordenfelt quick-firing gun. Land service, 1891

[1] Hogg & Thurston 1972, page 32

[Hogg&Thurston1972Page32-2] Hogg & Thurston 1972, Page 32 quote 4,000 yards (3,700 m) with muzzle velocity 1,959 ft/s (597 m/s), for the British 45-calibres model in 1914 using 6oz 6dr cordite Mk 1 propellant.