BL 4 inch naval gun Mk VIII

Infobox Weapon
name= Ordnance BL 4 inch gun Mk VIII


caption=
type= Naval gun
is_ranged=yes
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_UK=yes
service=1910 - 1945
used_by=UK
AUS
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight=convert|2912|lb|kg|sigfig=3 (barrel & breech)
length=
part_length=convert|159.2|in|m|sigfig=4 bore (40 calibres)HANDBOOK for the 4" Mark VII. and VIII. B.L. Guns 1913]
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=convert|31|lb|kg|sigfig=4 Common pointed, Common lyddite
caliber=convert|4|in|mm|sigfig=4
action=
rate=
velocity=convert|2287|ft/s|m/s [2287 ft/second firing a 31 lb 3 C.R.H. projectile, using 5 lb 4 oz cordite MD size 16 propellant. HANDBOOK for the 4" Mark VII. and VIII. B.L. Guns 1913.]
range=
max_range= convert|10210|yd|m [DiGiulian]
sights=
breech=Welin, single-motion screw
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=
traverse=The BL 4-inch gun Mk VIII was a British medium-velocity naval gun introduced in 1908 as an anti-torpedo craft gun in smaller ships whose decks could not support the strain of the heavier and more powerful Mk VII gun.

Mk VIII History

The guns armed the following warships :
*HMS "Swift" laid down 1905
*Tribal (F) class destroyers from "Saracen" (1908) onwards.
*"Beagle" (G) class destroyers of 1909
*"Acorn" (H) class destroyers of 1910
*"Acheron" (I) class destroyers of 1910
*River class destroyers (Australia) of 1910

In World War II many guns were used to arm merchant ships.

Mk XI submarine gun

A Mk XI variant was adapted to arm submarines :
*K class submarines laid down 1915

ee also

*List of artillery#Naval_guns

Notes

References

* [http://www.gwpda.org/naval/hb4_inch.htm HANDBOOK for the 4" Mark VII. and VIII. B.L. Guns 1913 (Corrected to September 1913.) ADMIRALTY Gunnery Branch, G.8652/13]
*Tony DiGiulian, [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_4-40_mk8.htm British 4"/40 (10.2 cm) BL Mark VIII and Mark XI]

External links