The cartridge case used is 170mm in length, and is based on the Hispano-Suiza 831-L round. Unlike the belt-fed or drum-fed systems on many vehicle weapons, Rarden is loaded manually with three-round clips. Each three-round clip is loaded into the magazine as a unit, similar to the 5-round clips of the Bofors 40 mm cannon. The magazine can hold two 3-round clips at a time. This limits its capacity to fire in automatic mode to 6 rounds. The Rarden gun does not require an external power source and can therefore remain in action even if the vehicle is disabled, provided that provision is made for manual traverse and elevation of the turret or mount and for sighting the weapon.

The Rarden is, or has been, fitted to a number of armoured vehicles in the British Army:

• FV721 Fox armoured car

• FV107 Scimitar tracked reconnaissance vehicle (part of the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) or CVR(T) range)

• Sabre — FV101 Scorpion with turrets taken from Fox Armoured cars (also in the CVR(T) range)

• FV510 Warrior infantry fighting vehicle, and some of its variants