QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun

Infobox Weapon
name=Ordnance QF 4 inch gun Mk V


caption=ON Polish destroyer ORP Piorun, formerly HMS Nerissa, 1940
origin=UK
type= Naval gun
Heavy anti-aircraft gun
Coast defence gun
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=yes
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=yes
service=1914 - 1940s
used_by=Royal Navy
wars=World War I
World War II
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=
number=944 [Tony DiGiulian quotes 283 Mk VC built for the navy during WWII; 554 earlier types built for the navy; about 107 earlier types built for the Army in WWI.]
variants=
weight=Barrel & breech convert|4890|lb|abbr=on
length=
part_length=Bore convert|180|in|m|sigfig=2 (45 cal) Total convert|187.8|in|m|sigfig=2Hogg & Thurston 1972, Page 101]
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=Separate-loading QF or fixed QF convert|31|lb|kg|sigfig=4
caliber=convert|4|in|mm|sigfig=4|sing=on
action=
rate=
velocity= convert|2350|ft/s|m/s|sigfig=3
range=
max_range=convert|16300|yd|m|sigfig=2 [WWI 3 c.r.h. HE shell. Tony DiGiulian, [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_4-45_mk5.htm "British 4"/45 (10.2 cm) QF Mark V and Mark XV"] ]
AA convert|28750|ft|m|sigfig=2
feed=
sights=
breech=horizontal sliding block
recoil=hydro - pneumatic convert|15|in|mm|sigfig=2
carriage=
elevation=mounting dependent
traverse=mounting dependent
filling=Lyddite, Amatol
filling_weight=convert|5|lb|kg|sigfig=3
detonation=
yield=

The QF 4 inch Mk V gun was a Royal Navy gun of World War I which was adapted on dual HA-LA mountings to the heavy anti-aircraft role both at sea and on land, and as a coast defence gun.

ervice

Royal Navy service

Mk V was superseded by the QF 4 inch Mk XVI as the HA (i.e. anti-aircraft) gun on new warships in the 1930s, but it served on many ships such as destroyers and light cruisers in World War II. [Tony DiGiulian's webpage provides comprehensive information on this gun's Naval service. cite web|url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_4-45_mk5.htm|title=British 4"/45 (10.2 cm) QF Mark V and Mark XV|date=January 13, 2008|accessdate=2008-03-29|author=Tony DiGiulian ]

Army anti-aircraft gun

Early in World War I several guns were supplied by the Navy for evaluation as anti-aircraft guns for the home defence of key installations in Britain. They were mounted on static platforms and proved fairly successful after a fixed round was developed to replace the original separate round, and more followed. The AA mounting allowed elevation to 80° but loading was not possible above 62°, which slowed the maximum rate of fire. [Hogg & Thurston 1972, Page 100] At the Armistice a total of 24 guns were employed in AA defences in Britain and 2 in France. [Routledge 1994, Page 27] After World War I the guns were returned to the Navy.

Coast Defence gun

From 1915 to 1928 several guns were mounted in forts to guard the estuary of the River Humber. [Hogg & Thurston 1972, Page 98]

Performance

The following tableRoutledge 1994, Page 9] compares the gun's performance with the other British WWI anti-aircraft guns:-

urviving guns

ee also

*List of artillery#Anti-aircraft guns
*List of artillery#Naval_guns

Notes

References

*I.V. Hogg & L.F. Thurston, British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914-1918. London: Ian Allan, 1972.
*Brigadier N.W. Routledge, History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Anti-Aircraft Artillery, 1914-55. London: Brassey's, 1994

External links

*Tony DiGiulian, [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_4-45_mk5.htm British 4"/45 (10.2 cm) QF Mark V and Mark XV]