BL 16.25 inch Mk I naval gun

Infobox Weapon
name= Ordnance BL 16.25 inch gun Mk I


caption=
origin= United Kingdom
type= Naval gun
is_ranged=YES
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=YES
is_vehicle=
is_UK=YES
service=1888 - 190?
used_by=Royal Navy
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=Elswick Ordnance Company
production_date=
number=12
variants=no two guns were identical
weight= 111 tons
length=
part_length=convert|487.5|in|m|sigfig=4 bore (30 calibres)
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge= convert|1800|lb|kg Armour-piercing, Common, Shrapnel
caliber=convert|16.25|in|mm|sing=on|sigfig=4
action=
rate=
velocity= convert|2087|ft/s|m/s|sigfig=3 [1800lb shell, with 960lb S.B.C. (slow burning Brown "cocoa" powder - a form of gunpowder) charge. Text Book of Gunnery, 1902. Table XII, Page 336]
range=
max_range= convert|12000|yd|m|sigfig=3 [Text Book of Gunnery, 1902. Table XII, Page 336]
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=-5° - 13°
traverse=The Elswick BL 16.25 inch naval gun was an early British superheavy naval gun, commonly known as the 110-ton gun.

ervice

Elswick had already supplied similar guns to Italy's Regia Marina and fitted in the "Andrea Doria" of 1885 and the Royal Navy required parity for its Mediterranean fleet. The adoption of this gun was influenced by the slow rate of production of the preferred new 13.5 inch guns : the Royal Navy had the option of delaying the completion of the new Admiral class battleships until sufficient 13.5 inch guns were available to equip them with four guns in two twin barbettes as planned; to use 12-inch guns, or to equip them with the new 16.25 inch guns.

The decision made was to install 16.25 inch guns in HMS "Benbow" in 1887 in single barbettes fore and aft, each gun substituting for two 13.5 inch guns. For the following HMS "Victoria" and HMS "Sans Pareil" the 16.25 inch guns were mounted in pairs in a single turret placed forward.

Weaknesses such as droop and cracking were discovered in the early design, and the many subsequent changes meant that none of the 12 guns built were identical, so the Mk I denomination was discontinued and the individual guns were referred to by their serial numbers. The great weight, low rate of fire and short life of less than 75 rounds meant that the guns were less than successful and were in fact never fired in action.

ee also

*List of artillery#Naval guns

Notes

References

* [http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/u?/p4013coll11,230 Text Book of Gunnery, 1902. LONDON : PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE]

External Links

* [http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/11736 "FIRING TRIAL OF THE 110½ TON B.L. ELSWICK GUN" in Scientific American supplement, No. 586, March 26, 1887. Transcribed by Project Gutenberg.]
*NJM Campbell, [http://abakus.narod.ru/bg/biggun.htm BRITISH SUPER-HEAVY GUNS]
*Tony DiGiulian, [http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_162-30_mk1.htm British 16.25"/30 (41.2 cm) Mark I]