Sweden
12 cm/50 (4.7") Models 1924, 1924B and 1924C
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Netherlands
12 cm/50 (4.7") W-F Marks 4, 5, 6 and 7

Updated 16 June 2012

A Bofors design, this weapon was also used on Netherlands destroyers.  Models 1924 and 1924B were little different, but Model 1924C was of loose barrel construction.  Also built under license by Wilton-Fijenoord.

The Design 1047 battlecruisers would have used a similar design, but in twin mountings.  This may have been planned to be a more modern Bofors gun, but these weapons were not available for service use prior to the end of World War II.

All guns fired the same ammunition, which was semi-fixed.  Actual bore size was 12 cm (4.724").

After these destroyers were scrapped in the 1960s and 1970s, their guns were then used to arm thirteen fortifications in northern Sweden.  The guns were then given new ammunition for use against ground targets.  These fortifications have all now been demilitarized and some have been turned into museums.
WNSweden_47-50_m1924_Klas_Uggla_pic.jpg

Swedish Destroyer Klas Uggla
WNSweden_47-50_m1924_Evertsen_pic.jpg

Netherlands Destroyer Evertsen ca. mid-1930s
Photograph from Allan C. Green collection of glass negatives
State Library of Victoria Image H91.325/260
WNSweden_47-50_m1924_Rodbergs_pic.jpg

12 cm/50 (4.7") Mark 24 now at Rödbergsfortet in Northern Sweden
Photograph copyrighted by Johan Lupander
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Gun Characteristics
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Designation 12 cm/50 (4.7") Bofors 1924, 1924B, 1924C and Mark 4
12 cm/50 (4.7") Wilton-Fijenoord Marks 5, 6 and 7
Ship Class Used On Sweden
   Ehrensköld, Klas Horn, Göteborg and Visby Classes

Netherlands
   Van Ghent Class:  Mark 4
   Van Galen Class:  Mark 5
   Van Kinsbergen:  Mark 6
   Willem van der Zaan:  Mark 7
   Design 1047:  N/A
Date Of Design 1924
Date In Service 1928
Gun Weight Model 1924C:  2.95 tons (3.00 mt)
Gun Length about  251.6 in (6.390 m)
Bore Length about 236.2 in (6.000 m)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire 10 rounds per minute
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Ammunition
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Type Separate
Weight of Complete Round N/A
Projectile Types and Weights HE - 52.9 lbs. (24 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge 19.4 lbs. (8.8 kg)
Cartridge - 18.3 lbs. (8.3 kg) [empty]
Muzzle Velocity HE - 2,952 fps (900 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A
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Range
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Elevation With 52.9 lbs. (24 kg) HE Shell
Range @ 30 degrees 21,300 yards (19,500 m)
Note:  I have difficulty in believing this figure, as it is quite long for such a low elevation and this muzzle velocity.
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Mount / Turret Data
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Designation Destroyers and Sloops:  Single Half shield Mounts
   Sweden:  Ehrenskold (3), Klas Horn (3), Göteborg (3) and Visby (3)
   Netherlands:  Van Ghent (4), Van Galen (4), Van Kinsbergen (4) and Willem van der Zaan (2)

Design 1047 (6):  Twin mountings
Weight  Single Mountings
   Mark 4:  9.84 tons (10 mt)
   Others:  8.56 tons (8.7 mt)

Twin Mounting
   N/A
Elevation Single mountings
   -5 / +30 to +35 degrees
   Possibly -5 / +45 degrees in Van Kinsbergen

Twin Mountings
   -5 / +70 degrees
Elevation Rate Single mounts:  Manually operated, only
Twin mounts:  N/A
Train about +120 / -120 degrees
Train Rate N/A
Gun recoil N/A
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Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Destroyers of World War Two" by M.J. Whitley
Page History

21 May 2006 - Benchmark
18 May 2010 - Added information on coastal fortifications, number of guns on ships
16 June 2012 - Deleted picture of Kortenaer, added picture of Evertsen