BL 12 inch naval gun Mk I – VII
| Ordnance BL 12 inch gun Mk I - VII | |
|---|---|
| 300px On HMS Conqueror | |
| Type | Naval gun Coast defence gun |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1882 - 1920 |
| Used by | Royal Navy |
| Production history | |
| Variants | Mks I - VII |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | Mk I : 47 tons barrel & breech Mk II - V 45 tons[1] Mk VI, VII : 46 tons |
| Barrel length | Mk I & II : 301.7 inches (7.663 m) bore (25.14 calibres) Mk III - VII 303 inches (7.696 m) bore (25.25 calibres)[2] |
| | |
| Shell | 714 pounds (324 kg)[1] |
| Calibre | 12-inch (304.8 mm) |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,910 feet per second (582 m/s)[3] |
| Effective range | 8,000 yards (7,300 m) at 9° 57'[4] |
The BL 12 inch naval gun Mk I was Britain's first attempt to match the large breech-loading naval guns being installed in rival European navies, particularly France. Mks I - VII all had a barrel of approximately 303 inches bore (25.25 calibres) and similar performance.
Contents
Mk II was installed on battleships HMS Colossus from 1882, HMS Collingwood and the coastal service ironclad HMS Conqueror. Mk II guns failed in service and were quickly replaced by Mks III. IV and V, with many changes and improvements. The later Marks were also mounted on HMS Hero, sistership of Conqueror, and on HMS Edinburgh, sistership of Colossus.
Coast Defence gun
Mks I, VI and VII were coast defence versions with trunnions for mounting on recoil slides. They were installed in forts in England at Spitbank Fort, No Man's Land Fort and Horse Sand Fort from 1884 onward and were in active service during World War I.[5]
Ammunition
- BL 12 inch Palliser shot Mk II diagram.jpg
Mk II Palliser shot
See also
- 12px Media related to BL 12 inch naval gun Mk I - VII at Wikimedia Commons
- List of naval guns
Notes
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- Hogg, I.V. and Thurston, L.F. (1972). British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914-1918. Ian Allan, London. ISBN 7110 0381 5
- Text Book of Gunnery, 1887. LONDON : PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE
- Text Book of Gunnery, 1902. LONDON : PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE
External links
- Rob Brassington, Dreadnought Project : detailed Mk IV gun description and diagrams
- Tony DiGiulian, British 12"/25 (30.5 cm) Marks I and II
- Tony DiGiulian, British 12"/25 (30.5 cm) Marks III, IV, V and Vw
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Text Book of Gunnery, 1887. Table XVI, Pages 312 - 313
- ↑ Text Book of Gunnery 1902, Table XII, Page 336
- ↑ 1910 ft/second firing a 714 lb projectile, with 295 lb Brown Prismatic powder Text Book of Gunnery, 1887. Table XVI, Page 313. Text Book of Gunnery 1902 gives muzlle velocity 1914 ft/second with 295 lb brown powder or 88 lb 8 oz cordite size 30 charge.
- ↑ Text Book of Gunnery, 1887, Table XIV, Page 308.
- ↑ Hogg & Thurston 1972, pages 188-189.
