QF 14-pounder Maxim-Nordenfelt naval gun

Ordnance QF 14-pounder
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)
Barrel length	135 inches (3.429 m)bore (45 calibres)
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)
Maximum firing range	8,000 yards (7,320 m) (14 lb shell)

Last updated June 14, 2025

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.

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

References

1 2 VSM Gun tables as published in Brasseys Naval Annual 1901
↑ 2100 ft/sec in Victorian Navy service, firing 14 lb projectile, using 6½ lb gunpowder propellant : Additions to 1890 Manual for Victorian naval forces circa. 1895
↑ HMVS Cerberus armament
↑ From additions to 1890 Manual for Victorian naval forces circa. 1895. HMVS Cerberus website

External links

QF 14-pounder slide show at Friends of the Cerberus website

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[autogenerated1-1] 1 2 VSM Gun tables as published in Brasseys Naval Annual 1901

[2] 2100 ft/sec in Victorian Navy service, firing 14 lb projectile, using 6½ lb gunpowder propellant : Additions to 1890 Manual for Victorian naval forces circa. 1895

[3] HMVS Cerberus armament

[4] From additions to 1890 Manual for Victorian naval forces circa. 1895. HMVS Cerberus website

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v t e British Empire naval weapons of the First World War
Monitor guns	BL 9.2-inch Mk VI BL 9.2-inch Mk VIII BL 9.2-inch Mk X BL 9.2-inch Mk XII BL 12-inch Mk VIII BL 14-inch Mk II (US built) BL 15-inch Mk I BL 18-inch Mk I
Capital ship main armament	Vickers 10-inch 45 cal. EOC 10-inch 45 cal. BL 12-inch Mk VIII BL 12-inch Mk IX BL 12-inch Mk X BL 12-inch Mk XI & XII EOC 12-inch 45 cal. Mk XIII BL 13.5-inch Mk I – IV BL 13.5-inch Mk V BL 13.5-inch Mk VI EOC 14-inch 45 cal. Mk I BL 15-inch Mk I
Armoured cruiser main armament	BL 7.5-inch Mk I BL 9.2-inch Mk X BL 9.2-inch Mk XI
Secondary armament and light cruiser main armament	QF 12-pounder 18 cwt QF 14-pounder Maxim-Nordenfelt QF 14-pounder Mk I & II QF 4-inch Mk III BL 4-inch Mk VII QF 4-inch Mk V BL 4-inch Mk IX BL 5.5-inch Mk I QF 6-inch Mk I – III BL 6-inch Mk VII BL 6-inch Mk XI BL 6-inch Mk XII BL 6-inch Mk XIII-XVIII BL 7.5-inch Mk II – Mk V
Destroyer and small cruiser armament	QF 12-pounder 12 cwt Mk II QF 4-inch Mk III BL 4-inch Mk VIII QF 4-inch Mk IV BL 4.7-inch Mk I
Merchant ship armament	QF 4.7-inch Mk I – IV QF 4.7-inch Mk V*
Submarine guns	BL 4-inch Mk XI QF 4-inch Mk XII
Anti-aircraft guns	QF 2-pounder "pom-pom" Mk II QF 3-inch 20 cwt QF 4-inch Mk V
Light weapons	.303 Vickers machine gun QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss QF 3-pounder Vickers QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss
Torpedoes	18-inch Mk V – VIII 21-inch Mk II 21-inch Mk IV
Mines	Spherical Mk I, II and III Vickers Elia mine Type H mine
Anti-submarine weapons	Type A Depth charge Type B Depth charge Type C Depth charge Type D Depth charge Type E Depth charge Type F Depth charge Type G Depth charge Cruiser Mine 7.5-inch howitzer
Landing guns	QF 12-pounder 8 cwt