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Naval gun From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The BL 4-inch Mark VIII naval gun[note 1] was a British medium-velocity wire-wound naval gun introduced in 1908 as an anti-torpedo boat gun in smaller ships whose decks could not support the strain of the heavier and more powerful Mk VII gun.[2]
Ordnance BL-4-inch Mk VIII naval gun | |
---|---|
![]() Forward gun of HMS Defender | |
Type | Naval gun |
Service history | |
In service | 1908–1945 |
Used by | United Kingdom Australia |
Wars | World War I – World War II |
Production history | |
Designed | 1904[1] |
No. built | Mk VIII: 246 Mk XI: 30[1] |
Variants | Mk VIII – Mk XI[1] |
Specifications | |
Mass | 2,912 pounds (1,320 kg) (barrel & breech)[2] |
Barrel length | 159.2 inches (4.044 m) bore (40 calibres)[2] |
Shell | 31 pounds (14.06 kg) Common pointed, Common lyddite[2] |
Calibre | 4 inches (101.6 mm) |
Breech | Welin, single-motion screw[2] |
Elevation | -10° to +20°[1] |
Rate of fire | 6-8 RPM[1] |
Muzzle velocity | 2,287 feet per second (697 m/s)[3] |
Maximum firing range | 10,210 yards (9,340 m)[1] |
The gun succeeded the QF 4-inch Mk III, whose 25-pound (11 kg) shell had been considered insufficiently powerful for its intended role. The BL Mk VIII fired a 31-pound (14 kg) shell. It armed the following warships :
The gun was succeeded in its class from 1911 by the QF 4-inch Mk IV.
In World War II many guns were used to arm merchant ships.
A Mark XI-variant was adapted to arm the K-class submarines laid down 1915.
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