BL 16 inch Mk I naval gun

Infobox Weapon
name=Ordnance BL 16 inch Mark I


caption=Guns of HMS Rodney at maximum elevation, 1940
origin= UK
type= naval gun
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=yes
service= 1927-1948
used_by=UK
wars=
designer=
design_date=1922
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=
variants=
weight= 108 tons (109.7 tonnes)
length= 61 ft 10 in (18.85 m)
part_length= 60 ft (18.3 m)
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge= separate charge, AP shell 2,048 lb (929 kg)
caliber=16 inch (406 mm)
action=
rate= 1.5 rounds per minute as fitted
velocity= 2,586 feet/second (788 m/s)
range= 35,000 yards (32,000 m) at 32° elevation
max_range= 39,780 yards (36,375 m)
feed=
sights=
breech=Welin
recoil=
carriage=
elevation=40° in mounting Mark I
traverse=

The BL 16 inch Mark I, BL standing for breech loading, was a British naval gun introduced in the 1920s and used on the "Nelson" class battleships. The barrel was 45 calibres long, /45 in shorthand, meaning it was 45 x 16 inches = 720 inches long.

These weapons had originally been planned for the cancelled G3 battlecruiser design upon which the "Nelson" class drew.

An improved weapon, the BL 16 inch Mark II was designed, but not produced, for the cancelled "Lion" class battleships.

Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth & Company at Elswick, Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness, William Beardmore & Company at Dalmuir and the Royal Gun Factory at Woolwich made a total of 29 guns of which 18 would be required for both ships at any time.

ee also

*List of artillery#Naval_guns

References

*Tony DiGiulian, [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_16-45_mk1.htm British 16"/45 (40.6 cm) Mark I]
*Terry Duncan, [http://www.bobhenneman.info/British16.htm The British 16" Mark I Gun and Mounting]