QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt gun
The QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt was a light 57 mm naval gun and coast defence gun of the late 19th century used by many countries. Note that this gun should not be confused with the short-barreled 57 mm Cockerill-Nordenfelt "Canon de caponnière" or fortification gun, which was used to arm the German A7V tank in World War I. Nordenfelt guns can be visually differentiated from equivalent and similar Hotchkiss guns by having slimmer barrels than the Hotchkiss, hence the Nordenfelt was considerably lighter.
QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt gun
Ove Enqvist · CC BY 2.0
- Name
- QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt
- Field
- quick-firing gun · rifled breech loader · naval artillery · coastal artillery weapon
- Region
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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Documentary summary
The QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt was a light 57 mm naval gun and coast defence gun of the late 19th century used by many countries. Note that this gun should not be confused with the short-barreled 57 mm Cockerill-Nordenfelt "Canon de caponnière" or fortification gun, which was used to arm the German A7V tank in World War I. Nordenfelt guns can be visually differentiated from equivalent and similar Hotchkiss guns by having slimmer barrels than the Hotchkiss, hence the Nordenfelt was considerably lighter.
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wikidata · Q177964
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — QF 6 pounder Nordenfelt • Origin — United Kingdom • Is Artillery — yes • Is Uk — yes • Is Ranged — yes • Used By — Many countries • Design Date — 1885 • Manufacturer — Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Company Maxim-Nordenfelt • Type — Naval gun Coast defence gun • Service — 1885 - 19?? • Caliber — 57 mm • Breech — Vertical sliding-block with locking wedge • Velocity — 1818 ft/s • Cartridge — Fixed QF 6 lb • Max Range — 4500 - • Weight — UK 42-cal version: 638 lb barrel & breech • Length — various, 42-50 calibres
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The UK adopted a 42-calibre version as Ordnance QF 6-pounder Nordenfelt Mk I, Mk II, Mk III.
United Kingdom Naval service
Finland
Finland
When Finland gained its independence from Russia in 1917 dozens of QF 6-pounder Nordenfelt cannons were stationed in Finland. After the Finnish Civil War in 1918 around 35 - 40 Nordenfelt cannons became available to the Finnish army. These guns were later used as a standard light coastal gun of the Finnish coastal artillery and were in service until the 1950s. During World War II some of these guns were also used as fortification artillery and bunker guns in the Mannerheim Line.
Ammunition
Ammunition
Diagrams showing the proprietary Nordenfelt 1-inch (top left) and 6-pounder (all others, labelled "2.2 inch") ammunition designs:
Surviving examples
Surviving examples
• A gun at Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Manly, Queensland, Australia • A gun at the Manege Military Museum, Helsinki, Finland • One used in the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898 is displayed at Denton, Maryland
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
• QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss: Hotchkiss equivalent
Citations
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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