QF 6 pounder 10 cwt gun
Encyclopedia
The British QF 6 pounder 10 cwt gun"6 pounder" refers to approximate weight of projectiles, which was a traditional British way of denoting small guns. "10 cwt" referred to the approximate weight of the gun and breech in cwt (hundredweight) rounded up : 10 cwt = 10 x 112 pounds = 1,120 pounds. It was standard British practice to differentiate guns of the same calibre by adding weight in cwt to the description. was a 57 mm twin-mount light coast defence and naval gun from the 1930s to 1950s.
during World War I
, it was decided that the British Royal Navy Dockyard
s were vulnerable to attack by Motor torpedo boat
s which had the speed to evade the heavy coast defence guns which defended them. In 1925, a design was adopted for a twin barrelled weapon capable of sustained semi-automatic fire. Both barrels of the weapon could be fired singly or they could be combined. The pedestal mounting accommodated the gun crew who were protected from the front, sides and overhead by a large shield. The first trials were in 1928 and production began at the Woolwich Ordnance Factory
in 1933 with formal War Office
acceptance on 28 February 1934. Baker Perkins
was asked to take over production in March 1939; the first examples leaving their Westwood, Peterborough
factory in March 1941. A Mark II version had a monobloc
barrel instead of the original lined barrel.
in 1937. The first UK installation was at Eastern Arm Battery in Dover
, just before the outbreak of World War II
. Also in 1939, nine pairs of guns were installed in Fort St. Elmo and Fort Ricasoli
in the Grand Harbour
at Valetta, Malta
. These were to play a vital role in the successful defence against an attack by 19 Italian MAS
boats on 26 July 1941. By the end of 1942, 155 of these weapons had been produced for 31 locations worldwide.
One of the problems that persisted throughout the war was lightning surface night attacks by E-boat
s. These would lie in wait for convoy and then at the appropriate moment sweep across the front, firing torpedoes and making a speedy escape into the darkness. The 4.7-inch and 4-inch guns of destroyers could not fire fast enough to deal with this form of attack, and the 20 mm Oerlikon cannon
did not fire a shell heavy enough to cripple the vessel. A remedy was offered in the form of the twin 6 pounder quick-firing coast-defence gun.
For naval use it was mounted in place of No 1 gun (A mount) on four W class destroyer
s and proved an effective countermeasure. However, since the need for an increased anti-submarine capability was critical, even on the coastal convoys, and the 6pdr competed for space with the new ahead-throwing Hedgehog mortar
, only four ships; , , and , were fitted with this twin-6-pdr mounting.
Development
Following the emergence of small fast attack craftFast Attack Craft
Fast Attack Craft are small, fast, agile and offensive warships, that are armed with anti-ship missiles, guns or torpedoes. These are usually operated in close proximity to land as they lack both the sea-keeping and all-round defensive capabilities to survive in blue water. The size of the vessel...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, it was decided that the British Royal Navy Dockyard
Royal Navy Dockyard
Royal Navy Dockyards are harbours where either commissioned ships are based, or where ships are overhauled and refitted. Historically, the Royal Navy maintained a string of dockyards around the world, although few are now operating today....
s were vulnerable to attack by Motor torpedo boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
s which had the speed to evade the heavy coast defence guns which defended them. In 1925, a design was adopted for a twin barrelled weapon capable of sustained semi-automatic fire. Both barrels of the weapon could be fired singly or they could be combined. The pedestal mounting accommodated the gun crew who were protected from the front, sides and overhead by a large shield. The first trials were in 1928 and production began at the Woolwich Ordnance Factory
Royal Arsenal
The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, originally known as the Woolwich Warren, carried out armaments manufacture, ammunition proofing and explosives research for the British armed forces. It was sited on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England.-Early history:The Warren...
in 1933 with formal War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
acceptance on 28 February 1934. Baker Perkins
Baker Perkins
Baker Perkins Ltd is a machine manufacturing company based mainly in Peterborough.-History:The company has its origins with Jacob Perkins , an American inventor. His son, Angier March Perkins , founded the firm of A. M. Perkins & Co Ltd to manufacture his inventions...
was asked to take over production in March 1939; the first examples leaving their Westwood, Peterborough
Westwood, Peterborough
Westwood is residential area of the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. For electoral purposes it forms part of Ravensthorpe ward. Manufacturers of industrial machinery, Baker Perkins, relocated here from London in 1903...
factory in March 1941. A Mark II version had a monobloc
Monobloc
Monobloc may refer to:*Monobloc engine: an internal combustion engine with the cylinder head and block formed as one unit.*Monobloc : a type of light-weight chair made of one-piece plastic.*Monobloc *Monobloc LNB...
barrel instead of the original lined barrel.
Coast Defence
The first twin 6-pounders were installed at SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 1937. The first UK installation was at Eastern Arm Battery in Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, just before the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Also in 1939, nine pairs of guns were installed in Fort St. Elmo and Fort Ricasoli
Fort Ricasoli
Fort Ricasoli is a large fortification on the island of Malta. The fort was built by the Knights of Malta between 1670 and 1693.-General:It occupies the promontory known as Gallows Point that forms the eastern arm of Grand Harbour, and the north shore of Rinella Creek. Together with Fort St...
in the Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
at Valetta, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. These were to play a vital role in the successful defence against an attack by 19 Italian MAS
Mas
Mas or Más may refer to:* Mas , a surnameIn arts:* Más , an album by Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz* "Más", a song by Kinky from their 2002 album Kinky...
boats on 26 July 1941. By the end of 1942, 155 of these weapons had been produced for 31 locations worldwide.
Naval Gun
It was fitted to:One of the problems that persisted throughout the war was lightning surface night attacks by E-boat
E-boat
E-boats was the designation for Motor Torpedo Boats of the German Navy during World War II. It is commonly held that the E stood for Enemy....
s. These would lie in wait for convoy and then at the appropriate moment sweep across the front, firing torpedoes and making a speedy escape into the darkness. The 4.7-inch and 4-inch guns of destroyers could not fire fast enough to deal with this form of attack, and the 20 mm Oerlikon cannon
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original design by Reinhold Becker of Germany, very early in World War I, and widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others...
did not fire a shell heavy enough to cripple the vessel. A remedy was offered in the form of the twin 6 pounder quick-firing coast-defence gun.
For naval use it was mounted in place of No 1 gun (A mount) on four W class destroyer
W class destroyer
Two classes of destroyers of the Royal Navy are known as the W class:*Ships beginning with "W" of the V and W class, built late in World War I.*Ships beginning with "W" of the W and Z class launched in 1943–1944....
s and proved an effective countermeasure. However, since the need for an increased anti-submarine capability was critical, even on the coastal convoys, and the 6pdr competed for space with the new ahead-throwing Hedgehog mortar
Hedgehog (weapon)
The Hedgehog was an anti-submarine weapon developed by the Royal Navy during World War II, that was deployed on convoy escort warships such as destroyers to supplement the depth charge. The weapon worked by firing a number of small spigot mortar bombs from spiked fittings...
, only four ships; , , and , were fitted with this twin-6-pdr mounting.
Further reading
- "Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
- "Warships of World War II" by H. T. Lenton and J. J. ColledgeJ. J. ColledgeJames Joseph Colledge was a British naval historian, author of Ships of the Royal Navy, the standard work on the fighting ships of the British Royal Navy from the 15th century to the 20th century....
External links
- Details of the 6pdr Naval and Coastal Gun by Tony DiGiulian
- Playhouse Rips Invasion Craft With Twin 6pdr Guns March 1944 article