BL 13.5 inch naval gun Mk I – IV
| Ordnance BL 13.5 inch gun Mk I - IV | |
|---|---|
| 300px Forward turret of HMS Hood | |
| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| Used by |  United Kingdom23x15px Italy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Elswick Ordnance Company |
| Designed | 1880 |
| Variants | Mk I, II, III, IV |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 67-69 tons barrel & breech[1] |
| Barrel length | 405 inches (10.29 m) bore (30 calibres) [1] |
| | |
| Shell | 1,250 pounds (570 kg)[1] |
| Calibre | 13.5-inch (342.9 mm) |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,016 feet per second (614 m/s)[2] |
| Effective range | 12,000 yards (11,000 m)[1] |
The BL 13.5 inch naval gun Mk I ("67-ton gun") was Britain's first successful large breechloading naval gun. Mks I - IV were all of 30 calibres length and of similar construction and performance.
Contents
United Kingdom Service
The gun was designed to match the new large guns of the French Amiral Baudin class battleships. Development and manufacture occurred very slowly. It was originally intended to equip the Admiral class battleships,[citation needed] begun in 1880, but delays led to Collingwood being equipped with inferior 12 inch guns and Benbow with the subsequently unsuccessful 16.25 inch guns.
The remaining Admiral class ships Anson, Camperdown, Howe and Rodney were eventually completed in 1889 equipped with 4 13.5 inch guns each, in twin barbettes on the centreline at each end of the superstructure.
The guns also equipped the subsequent Trafalgar class laid down in 1886 and Royal Sovereign class battleships laid down in 1889.
Coast defence service
A single Mk III gun was mounted as a disappearing gun for coast defence at Penlee Battery, Plymouth.[3]
Italian Service
Guns were also sold to Italy to arm the Re Umberto class battleships Re Umberto, Sicilia and Sardegna, laid down in 1884 and finally commissioned in 1893 - 1895.
See also
- 12px Media related to BL 13.5 inch naval gun Mk I - IV at Wikimedia Commons
- 340mm/28 Modèle 1881 gun French equivalent
- List of naval guns
Notes
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External links
- Tony DiGiulian, British 13.5"/30 (34.3 cm) Marks I, II, III and IV
- Diagram showing gun on disappearing mounting, as mounted at Penlee Battery, Plymouth at Palmerston Forts Society website
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Text Book of Gunnery 1902, Table XII, Page 336
- ↑ 1,250 lb shell, with 630 lb Slow-burning Brown Prismatic powder or 187 lb cordite size 44. Text Book of Gunnery, 1902.
- ↑ Palmerston Forts Society
