QF 12-pounder 12 cwt AA gun

This article is about the World War I land-based anti-aircraft gun. For use as a naval gun, see QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval gun.
Ordnance QF 12 pounder 12 cwt anti-aircraft gun

Mk I* on World War I AA traveling platform mounting
Type Anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin United Kingdom
Service history
In service 1914 - 1918 (as land AA gun)
Used by UK
Kingdom of Italy
Empire of Japan
Wars World War I
World War II
Production history
Designed 1893
Manufacturer Elswick Ordnance Company
Vickers
Variants Mk I, Mk II
Specifications
Barrel length 12 ft

Shell Fixed or separate QF 12.5 lb (5.7 kg)
Calibre 3 inch (76.2 mm)
Breech single-motion screw
Recoil Hydro-spring, constant, 12 inch
Elevation 0° - 85°
Traverse 360°
Muzzle velocity 2,200 ft/s (670 m/s)
Maximum firing range 20,000 ft (6,100 m)[1]

The 12 pounder 12 cwt anti-aircraft gun was borrowed for AA use from the QF 12 pounder 12 cwt coast defence gun with the addition of a modified cradle for higher elevation, a retaining catch for the cartridge, and an additional spring recuperator above the barrel and high-angle sights. Writers commonly refer to it simply as "12 pounder anti-aircraft gun". 12 cwt referred to the weight of the barrel and breech (12 x 112 lb = 1,344 lb) to differentiate it from other "12 pounder" guns.

History

When World War I began Britain had no anti-aircraft artillery and had given little thought to it. Hence in 1914 when Germany occupied parts of Belgium and northern France, it faced the risk of air attack, and various medium calibre guns were adapted to high-angle mountings, including the 12 pdr 12 cwt. All QF 12 pounder ammunition at the time was "Separate loading QF" i.e. the propellant came in a brass cartridge case with primer ready installed, but the shell was loaded separately. For anti-aircraft firing, fixed QF rounds were quickly developed i.e. with the shell already attached to the cartridge case. This allowed slightly faster loading.

Combat use

12 pdr 12 cwt gun in use as improvised anti-aircraft gun on garrison mounting, Gallipoli 1915

For home air defence the gun was typically mounted on a high-angle mounting with an additional spring recuperator above the barrel, on a 2-wheel towed traveling platform, 7 ft (2.1 m) x 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) The 4 stabilising arms at the corners were swung out, rods at the ends screwed down to lift the platform off the wheels which were then removed and the platform lowered to the ground.[2]

It was also deployed on static mountings to defend prominent targets such as dockyards.

While the gun was much lighter than the QF 3 inch 20 cwt dedicated AA gun, for anti-aircraft use it lacked its range and shell weight. Hence the 3 inch 20 cwt gun became the heavy AA gun of choice both on land and ships from 1914 to 1937. The 12 pdr 12 cwt also proved only marginally superior to the much lighter QF 13 pounder 9 cwt as a light AA gun. Comparison:[3]-

Gun m/v ft/s Shell (lb) Time to 5,000 ft (1,500 m) at 25° (seconds) Time to 10,000 ft (3,000 m) at 40° (seconds) Time to 15,000 ft (4,600 m) at 55° (seconds) Max. height (ft)[4]
13 pdr 9 cwt 1990 12.5 10.1 15.5 22.1 19,000
12 pdr 12 cwt 2200 12.5 9.1 14.1 19.1 20,000
3 inch 20 cwt 1914 2500 12.5 8.3 12.6 16.3 23,500
3 inch 20 cwt 1916 2000 16 9.2 13.7 18.8 22,000[5]

At the end of World War I, 36 guns were still in service in the home air defense of Britain, 10 on the Western Front and 2 in Mesopotamia where it was typically mounted on river barges.[6]

The gun remained in Royal Navy anti-aircraft use, in the form of the new Mk V version, on smaller ships in World War II because of its dual capability of both low and high angle firing.

Ammunition

Mk II & Mk III cartridges, 1914 - original separate QF
Mk IV Common Lyddite AA shell, 1914

See also

Surviving Examples

There are no surviving examples

Notes and references

  1. Hogg & Thurston 1972, Page 57 quotes 22,000 ft. The same publication quotes 22,000 on page 234
  2. Hogg & Thurston 1972, Page 56
  3. Routledge 1994, Page 9
  4. Hogg & Thurston 1972, Page 234
  5. Routledge 1994, Page 13
  6. Routledge 1994, page 27

Bibliography

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