BL 12 inch Mk XI – XII naval gun
| BL 12 inch gun Mk XI, Mk XII | |
|---|---|
| 300px Aft Mk XI guns of HMS Vanguard | |
| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin |  United Kingdom
|
| Service history | |
| In service | 1910 - 1920 |
| Wars | World War I |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Vickers |
| Manufacturer | Vickers |
| Specifications | |
| Barrel length | 600 inches (15.24 m) bore (50 cal) |
| | |
| Shell | 850 pounds (385.6 kg) Lyddite, Armour-piercing, Shrapnel[1] |
| Calibre | 12 inches (304.8 mm) |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,825 feet per second (861 m/s)[2] |
| Maximum range | 19,380 metres (21,190 yd)[3] |
The BL 12 inch Gun Mark XI and Mark XII were British 50-calibres naval guns that were mounted as primary armament on dreadnought battleships from 1910.
History
Mk XI had a longer (50 calibres, 600 inches) barrel than the previous Mk X gun (45 calibres), and was an attempt to increase the muzzle velocity, and hence armour-piercing capability and range, of a 12 inch gun. Problems such as bore erosion, which led to short barrel life, and poor accuracy due to inconsistent cordite propellant burning, meant the gun was not entirely satisfactory. The subsequent Mk XII gun suffered from the same problems.
Instead of attempting to improve the 12-inch gun, the British developed the 13.5-inch Mk V gun of 45-calibres, as it could achieve greater range at lower muzzle velocities due to its larger shell.
Mk XI guns were mounted in the following ships :
- St. Vincent class battleships laid down 1907, commissioned 1910
- HMS Neptune laid down 1909, commissioned 1911
Mk XII guns were mounted in the following ships :
- Colossus class battleships laid down 1909, commissioned 1911
Surviving examples
| 20px | This section requires expansion. |
See also
- 12px Media related to BL 12 inch Mk XI - XII naval gun at Wikimedia Commons
- Obukhovskii 12"/52 Pattern 1907 gun Russian equivalent
- 30.5 cm SK L/50 gun German equivalent
- List of naval guns
Notes
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 | This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (July 2009) |
- Tony DiGiulian, British 12"/50 (30.5 cm) Marks XI, XI* and XII
External links
Template:GreatWarBritishNavalWeapons
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- ↑ 850 lb shells : Treatise on Ammunition, 1915
- ↑ 2825 ft/second with 4 C.R.H. 850 lb projectile : As quoted in Range Tables for His Majesty's Fleet, Vol. I., 1918 9.2-Inch Guns and Above April, 1918 2825 ft/second using 307 lb cordite MD size 45 propellant : Treatise on Ammunition, 1915
- ↑ http://navalhistory.flixco.info/H/76743x53535/8330/a0.htm
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