QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun
| QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun Type 41 3-inch (7.62 cm) 40 calibre gun | |
|---|---|
Type 41 3-inch (7.62 cm) 40 calibre gun on the Japanese battleship Mikasa | |
| Type | Naval gun Coastal artillery |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1894–1945 |
| Used by | United Kingdom Kingdom of Italy Empire of Japan |
| Wars | Second Boer War British colonial conflicts Irish 1916 Easter Rising Boxer Rebellion Russo-Japanese War World War I World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1893 |
| Manufacturer | Elswick Ordnance Company, Vickers, Japan Steel Works Canadian Pacific Railway Gio. Ansaldo & C. |
| No. built | Mk I, Mk II 4,737 Mk V 3,494 |
| Variants | Mk I, Mk II, Mk V |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 12 cwt (0.6 tons, 510 kg) |
| Length | 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m) |
| Barrel length | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Shell | UK & Japan : Separate-loading QF Italy : Fixed QF |
| Calibre | 3-inch (7.62 cm) |
| Breech | single-motion screw |
| Elevation | mounting dependent |
| Traverse | mounting dependent |
| Rate of fire | 15 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,210 ft/s (670 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 11,750 yd (10,740 m) at 40° elevation |
| Feed system | Breech-loaded |
The QF 12-pounder 12-cwt gun (Quick-Firing) (abbreviated as Q.F. 12-pdr. [12-cwt.]) was a common, versatile 3-inch (76.2 mm) calibre naval gun introduced in 1894 and used until the middle of the 20th century. It was produced by Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick and used on Royal Navy warships, exported to allied countries, and used for land service. In British service "12-pounder" was the rounded value of the projectile weight, and "12 cwt (hundredweight)" was the weight of the barrel and breech, to differentiate it from other "12-pounder" guns.
As the Type 41 3-inch (7.62 cm)/40 it was used on most early battleships and cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy, though it was commonly referred to by its UK designation as a "12-pounder" gun. Italy built guns under licence as the 76.2 mm/40 (3") by Ansaldo.