| 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[1] |
| 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)[a] |
| 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.[4] It was produced by Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick and used on Royal Navy warships, exported to allied countries, and used for land service.[4] 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.
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