| As extracted from Jane's Fighting Ships © for 1919 |
| BRITISH NAVAL ORDNANCE, HEAVY, B.L. |
Page 37
Capt. R,. V. WALLANG, R.G.A., retired) |
|
NOTE.-All details are unofficial, but believed to be approximately correct. Particulars given, for reference purposes, of some older marks of guns, now dismounted from H.M. Ships
| Designation, Calibre, ins. |
Mark |
Length |
Weight of piece without B.M. |
Weight of Projectile. |
M.V. |
M.E. |
Weight Of Charge |
Max. R.P.M. |
Remarks |
| |
|
cals. |
tons cwts. qrs. |
Ibs. |
f. s. |
f. t. |
Ibs. |
|
|
|
18 |
I |
35 ? |
150 0 0 ? |
3,600 ? |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Monitors and Furious originally mounted these pieces, but they have been removed. |
|
15 |
"B" |
45 |
96 0 00 |
1950 |
2500 |
84,500 |
450 |
1.2 |
Particulars doubtful. Mk. I also reported to be 42 cals. long. |
|
15 |
1 |
45 |
96 0 00 |
1920 |
2655 |
84,070 |
428 |
1.2 |
|
|
13.5 |
V |
45 |
74 18 1 |
1250 |
2 700 |
63,190 |
296 |
1.5 |
With tapered inner " A "tube, without forward step, weighs 1 cwt. more. Obsolete Marks : 1 ; II ; III ; IIIa, h, c, d, e, and f ; IV. |
|
12 |
XI I |
50 |
65 13 1 |
850 |
3010 |
53,400 |
307 |
2 |
|
|
12 |
XI I |
50 |
65 13 1 |
850 |
3010 |
53,046 |
307 |
2 |
'Dreadnoughts and Battle Cruisers. |
|
12 |
XI* |
50 |
65 13 1 |
850 |
3010 |
53,046 |
307 |
2 |
|
|
12 |
X |
45 |
56 16 1 |
850 |
2800 |
47,800 |
258 |
2 |
|
|
12 |
X * |
45 |
56 12 1 |
850 |
2800 |
47,800 |
258 |
2 |
Mk. IX guns in " King Edward " class only :-Wt. of Charge, 254 Ibs. |
|
12 |
IX |
40 |
50 0 0 |
850 |
2650 |
39,200 |
246 |
2 |
Marks : VI, IV, V, Vw VIII. VIIIe, VIIIv IX, IXe, IXv, IXw, X, X*, XI, XI* and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XII have been introduced into the Naval Service. |
|
10 |
VII |
45 |
30 4 2 |
500 |
2850 |
26,945 |
146 2/3 |
3 |
Only mounted in " Triumph," now sunk. |
|
|
VI |
45 |
36 10 0 |
500 |
2800 |
27,181 |
1463 |
3 |
Only mounted on "Swiftsure." Mk. VI* land guns. Wt. given is that without "Ring
Connecting hydraulic buffer." |
|
|
VI* |
45 |
36 10 0 |
500 |
2800 |
27,181 |
1463 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Mk. V pattern was sealed, but the gun was never made. |
|
9.2 |
XI |
50 |
28 0 0 |
380 |
3000 |
23,700 |
128112- |
4 |
|
|
|
XI * |
50 |
27 15 2 |
380 |
3000 |
22,930 |
1281 |
4 |
|
|
|
XV |
46 |
27 19 0 |
380 |
2800 |
20,685 |
! 120 |
4 |
Only two Mk. Xv guns in the Service. |
|
|
X |
46 |
27 19 0 |
380 |
2800 |
20,685 |
120 |
4 |
There is one Mk. X/IX gun for Naval Service. |
|
|
VIII |
40 |
24 6 3 |
380 |
2347 |
14,520 |
66 |
4 |
"Terrible" only; two guns from " Powerful " mounted in R.G.A. Battery at Scapa Flow. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Twenty different Marks have been made and fourteen introduced in Naval Service. |
| I4 |
I |
45 |
85 0 0 |
1400 |
2700 |
70,770 |
324 |
2 |
Elswick Ordnance Co., " Armstrong design. H.M.S. " Canada " only. |
| 14 |
? |
45 |
70 6 0 |
1400 |
2600 |
65,700 |
? |
? |
Bethlehem guns. mounted in monitors only ("Abercrombie " class). |
|
MEDIUM, B.L. |
| Designation, Calibre, ins. |
Mark |
Length |
Weight of piece without B.M. |
Weight of Projectile. |
M.V. |
M.E. |
Weight Of Charge |
Max. R.P.M. |
Remarks |
| 7.5 |
III |
50 |
15 9 3 |
200 |
3000 |
12,481 |
54 1/4 |
5 |
Monitors, removed from "Swiftsure," ' Mks lV and IV* were for "Triumph," sunk.
New Mark in " Hawkins " and " Raleigh," of which no details available. |
7.5 |
III* |
50 |
15 9 3 |
200 |
3000 |
12,481 |
54 1/4 |
5 |
| 7.5 |
II** |
50 |
14 16 2 |
200 |
2800 |
12,500 |
61 |
5 |
|
|
7.5 |
V |
50 |
14 16 2 |
200 |
2800 |
12,500 |
61 |
5 |
| 7.5 |
I |
45 |
13 9 2 |
200 |
2600 |
9340 |
61 |
5 |
Devonshire " class only. Other Marks in Naval Service : I* and I** of 45 cal. 'L: II and II* of 50 cal./L. |
| 6 |
XVIII |
50 |
? |
100 |
? |
? |
? |
7 |
New ships. |
| 6 |
XIV |
50 |
? |
100 |
3100 `' |
6665 |
? |
7 |
" Cleopatra " class. |
| 6 |
XI* |
50 |
8 8 2 |
100 |
3000 |
6240 |
32 1/12 |
7 |
|
|
6 |
XI |
50 |
8 8 2 |
100 |
3000 |
6240 |
32 1/12 |
7 |
|
| 6 |
VIII |
45 |
7 7 2 |
100 |
2750 |
5250 |
23 |
7 |
Mk. VIII left hand guns for " T " mounting in "County " class.
:Many new Marks of 6 ill. introduced during the War, including a short Mk. XIX for L.S. (Travelling Carriage.) |
| 6 |
VII |
45 |
7 7 2 |
100 |
2750 |
5250 |
23 |
7 |
| 5.5 |
I |
50 |
6 10 0 |
115 |
2870 |
6000 (?) |
? |
8 |
Woolwich Arsenal. Details doubtful. Mounted in "Furious" and "Hood,"
" Birkenhead " and " Chester " 5. 5 guns and mountings by Coventry Ordnance Co. |
| 4.7 |
I |
50 |
3 14 0 |
45 |
3000 |
2800 |
14 |
12 |
Woolwich Arsenal. Modified 4.7 inch Q.F. V (L.S.). New T.B.D's. |
| Also :- |
|
| Q.F. 6 in., many marks |
quite obsolete but were mounted in D.A.M.S.,
and S.D.V. during the War. |
| Q.F.C. 6 in., many marks |
| Q.F. 4.7 in. Mk. V, Land Service only. |
|
| Mk. IV, |
three-motion B.M., |
Mk. IV " B,". |
same, converted to single-motion |
| Mk. III, |
three-motion B.M., |
Mk. III " B " |
same, converted to single-motion |
| Mk. II |
three-motion B.M., |
Mk. II "B" |
same, converted to single-motion |
| Mk. I, |
three-motion B.M., |
Mk. I " B " |
same, converted to single-motion |
|
Designation,
Calibre, ins. |
Mark |
Length. |
Weight of piece
without B.M.
|
Weight
Projectile
|
M.V. |
M.E. |
Weight of
Charge. |
Max. R. P. M. |
Remarks |
| |
- - |
cals. |
tons Cwts. qrs. |
Ibs. |
f. s. |
f. t. |
Ibs. |
|
|
|
4 |
IX |
50 |
? |
31 |
3000 |
1934 |
11 1/4 |
? |
B. L . |
|
4 |
VIII |
50 |
2 2 0 |
31 |
3000 |
? |
5 3/8 |
12 |
B. L. |
|
4 |
VII |
40 |
1 6 0 |
31 |
3000 |
? |
9 15/16 |
12 |
B. L.. |
|
4 |
V |
45 |
2 2 3 3/4 |
31 |
3000 |
1934 |
7 11/16 |
20 |
Semi-automatic; extensively used on AA mountings. |
|
4 |
IV |
40 |
1 3 0 |
31 |
2300 |
11:3 7 |
? |
20 |
Semi-automatic; lighter model of Mk. V.
Obsolete Marks: I, II and III Q.F. and four mark, Q.F.C. |
|
3 |
III |
50 |
1 3 0 |
14 1/2 |
3050 |
992 |
5 3/4 |
30 |
Semi-automatic ; for A.A. mounting. |
|
3 |
II |
40 |
1 0 0 |
12 1/2 |
? |
? |
? |
? |
Q.F. ; for submarines |
|
3 |
I |
30 |
0 19 0 |
12 1/2? |
? |
? |
? |
25 |
Q.F. : for A.A.C. mountings. |
Torpedoes.
No official details available. Various Marks of 21 inch, 18 inch and 14 inch torpedoes said to he in service; the first two with heaters, the third without. Also a specially light 14 inch mark for use by "Cuckoo " type Torpedo-dropping Seaplanes and C.M.B.
Mines.
No official figures available. Among the various Marks of mines produced during the War, the following are said to exist :
(a) Spherical types - with swinging-bar contact, either above or below mine ;
(b) " British Elia " type - may he the same as (a) just described ;
(c) Pear-shaped and spherical types with horn contacts ; reported to very like German mines ;
(d) Special types for laying by Destroyers, Submarines and C.M.B.
Aircraft Bombs.
There are only vague and unofficial references to these types : Experimental 3300 lb. type ; 1650 lb. type (with bursting charge of 1110 lbs. T.N.T.), 530 lb., 230 lb. (with A.P. nose ?), 112 lb. and 100 lb. Fuzes said to impact, delay action and special types for use against submarines
Depth Charges.
Only mark reported is 300 lb. type.
Searchlights.
36 inch, 24 inch, 20 inch (all controlled in latest ships). About 8 - 36 inch and 2 - 24 inch (Signalling) in Dreadnoughts and Battle Cruisers ; 4 - 36 inch in Light Cruisers; 1 - 24 inch or 20 inch in T.B.D. Twin 24 inch mountings were used in Iron Duke, King George, Orion, Colossus, Neptune, Lion and New Zealand Classes, but these are said to have been replaced by single 36 inch controlled S.L.
Paravanes (PVs.)
No official details available. Reported that there are about twenty marks, roughly divided into "M" "B" and "C" patterns. "M" type said to be "otter gear" of simple design for use by mercantile craft up to 18 kts. speed, keeping depth by ordinary form of hydrostatic valve. "B" type said to be for Battleships and older Cruisers up to 22 kts. speed; "C" pattern for Light Cruisers, &c., up to 28 kts. speed. Depth kept in these by hydrostatic valves, plus "mercury oscillators," the hydrostatic valve by itself being too sluggish to prevent the PVs. "porpoising" Length about 12 feet, breadth about 7 feet across spread of 'planes. Destroyers reported to use special type of PVs., viz., H.S.S.S. and H.S.M.S. PVs. towed in large ships by chains from skeg (or PV. plate) attached to forefoot, under stem; also by sliding bar shoes at stem. Destroyers and vessels of light draught can tow their PVs. from stern.
Also (for Anti-Submarine purposes) :-
11 inch howitzer mounted in some ships of " Devonshire " and " County Classes.".
200 lb. stick bomb howitzer in some Special Service Vessels.
Thornycroft Depth Charge Thrower in Destroyers. P-boats, some Sloops and Special Service Vessels.
Also :
Q.F., 12 pr. 12 cwt. Mk. I.
Q.F., 12 pr. 12 cwt. Mk. I I (war model) : mostly for merchantmen
Q.F., 12 pr. 18 cwt. Mk. I, for " G," " H " and " I " classes of T.B.D.
Q.F., 12 pr. 8 cwt. Mk. I (boat gun).
Q.F., 14 pr. Mk. I (H.M.S. " Swiftsure, " now removed).
Q.F., 6 pr.
Q.F., 3 pr. }have been Used as AA. runs.
Q.F., 3 pr. (semi-automatic, Vickers design) }Saluting guns in big ships.
Q.F., 2 1/4 pdr. (automatic) modified " pom-pom." for AA. work.
Q.F., 77 mm.- captured German field guns, adapted for use in some submarines.
Machine Guns :
.303 inch Vickers.
.303 inch Maxim.
.303 inch Lewis.
Rifles:-
.303 inch Lee-Enfield (Long),
Pistols:-
.45 inch Webley automatic (H.V.)
Source: As extracted from Jane's Fighting Ships for 1919 - Page 37
© Jane's Information Group
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