BL 12 inch naval gun Mk I - VII

Infobox Weapon
name= Ordnance BL 12 inch gun Mk I - VII


caption=On HMS "Conqueror"
origin= United Kingdom
type= Naval gun
Coast defence gun
is_ranged=YES
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=YES
is_vehicle=
is_UK=YES
service=1882 - 1920
used_by=Royal Navy
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=
variants=Mks I - VII
weight=Mk I : 47 tons barrel & breech
Mk II - V 45 tonsText Book of Gunnery, 1887. Table XVI, Pages 312 - 313]
Mk VI, VII : 46 tons
length=
part_length=Mk I & II : convert|301.7|in|m|sigfig=4 bore (25.14 calibres)
Mk III - VII convert|303|in|m|sigfig=4 bore (25.25 calibres)Text Book of Gunnery 1902, Table XII, Page 336]
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge= convert|714|lb|kg
caliber=convert|12|in|mm|sing=on|sigfig=4
action=
rate=
velocity= convert|1910|ft/s|m/s|sigfig=3 [714 lb shell, with 295 lb Brown Prismatic powder Text Book of Gunnery, 1887. Table XVI, Page 313. Text Book of Gunnery 1902 gives mv 1914 ft/second with 295 lb brown powder or 88 lb 8 oz cordite size 30 charge.]
range= convert|8000|yd|m at 9° 57'Text Book of Gunnery, 1887, Table XIV, Page 308.]
max_range=
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=
traverse=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.

Naval service

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 Spithead, No Mans Land and Horse Sand from 1884 onward and were in active service during World War I.Hogg & Thurston 1972, pages 188-189.]

ee also

*List of artillery#Naval guns

Notes

References

*Hogg, I.V. and Thurston, L.F. (1972). British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914-1918. Ian Allan, London. ISBN 7110 0381 5
* [http://cgsc.cdmhost.com/u?/p4013coll11,222 Text Book of Gunnery, 1887. LONDON : PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE]
* [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

*Tony DiGiulian, [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_12-25_mk1.htm British 12"/25 (30.5 cm) Marks I and II]
*Tony DiGiulian, [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_12-25_mk3.htm British 12"/25 (30.5 cm) Marks III, IV, V and Vw]