Hotchkiss Gun
Hotchkiss 6 Pounder QF Gun on Cone Mounting

The Hotchkiss 6-Pounder was a French designed gun. It was made for use against the fast steam powered torpedo boats coming into service during the late 1870s. In England, it was built under licence at the Armstrong Works, Elswick.

In Singapore, the Hotchkiss 6 Pounder QF Gun armed Berhala Reping, Batu Berlayar, Fort Pasir Panjang and Fort Teregah during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The type mounted was as in the illustration above, with a Cone Mounting.

A page from the Handbook
A Description of the gun from the Gun Handbook

A page from the Handbook
A Description of the Cone

QF Ammunition Round
6 Pounder QF
Ammunition

Ammunition

The Cartridge Quick Firing, 6 Pounder Shell Mark III, consisted of a capped cartridge case, with charge, wad, and steel shell filled with powder, and fuzed.

The shell was of forged steel, was 2.24 inches ( 57 mm) in diameter, and weighed 6 lbs (2·7 kg). The base of the shell was grooved for a copper driving band. A complete round of ammunition weighed 9 lbs 11 oz (4.4 kg). After firing, cartridge cases were examined, and where possible reused.

Shell filling
Make up of a 6 pounder QF round

Gun Detachment

The gun detachment consisted of five men.

The No.1, the gun commander. Responsible for setting the tangent sights for elevation and deflection, and firing the gun.
The No.2 opens and closes the breech.
The No.3 loads the gun.
The No.s 4 & 5 remove safety clips form the base of cartridges and supply ammunition to the loader.

A well trained crew could achieve a rate of fire of up to 25 rounds a minute. Range Tables gave a range of 4,500 yards (4115 metres). At a range of 4,500 yards, the shot could penetrate 1·6 inches (43 mm) of wrought iron, 33% greater than for the penetration of unbacked steel plate.

The breech
The Breech assembly

The Guns of Singapore