The BL 4-inch Mark VIII naval gun[note 1] was a British medium-velocity wire-wound naval gun introduced in 1908 as an anti-torpedo boat gun in smaller ships whose decks could not support the strain of the heavier and more powerful Mk VII gun.[2]
Ordnance BL-4-inch Mk VIII naval gun | |
---|---|
Type | Naval gun |
Service history | |
In service | 1908–1945 |
Used by | United Kingdom Australia |
Wars | World War I – World War II |
Production history | |
Designed | 1904[1] |
No. built | Mk VIII: 246 Mk XI: 30[1] |
Variants | Mk VIII – Mk XI[1] |
Specifications | |
Mass | 2,912 pounds (1,320 kg) (barrel & breech)[2] |
Barrel length | 159.2 inches (4.044 m) bore (40 calibres)[2] |
Shell | 31 pounds (14.06 kg) Common pointed, Common lyddite[2] |
Calibre | 4 inches (101.6 mm) |
Breech | Welin, single-motion screw[2] |
Elevation | -10° to +20°[1] |
Rate of fire | 6-8 RPM[1] |
Muzzle velocity | 2,287 feet per second (697 m/s)[3] |
Maximum firing range | 10,210 yards (9,340 m)[1] |
Mk VIII history edit
The gun succeeded the QF 4-inch Mk III, whose 25-pound (11 kg) shell had been considered insufficiently powerful for its intended role. The BL Mk VIII fired a 31-pound (14 kg) shell. It armed the following warships :
- HMS Swift laid down 1905
- Tribal-class destroyers from HMS Saracen (1908) onwards.
- Beagle-class destroyer of 1909
- Acorn-class destroyers of 1910
- Acheron-class destroyers of 1910
- River-class torpedo-boat destroyers (Australia) of 1910.
The gun was succeeded in its class from 1911 by the QF 4-inch Mk IV.
In World War II many guns were used to arm merchant ships.
Mk XI submarine gun edit
A Mark XI-variant was adapted to arm the K-class submarines laid down 1915.
See also edit
- List of naval guns
- German 10.5 cm SK L/40 naval gun – firing slightly heavier shell
Notes edit
- ^ Mark VIII = Mark 8. Mark XI = Mark 11. Britain used Roman numerals to denote marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. This was the eighth model of British BL 4-inch gun.
References edit
Sources edit
External links edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BL 4 inch Mk VIII naval gun.
- Tony DiGiulian, British 4"/40 (10.2 cm) BL Mark VIII and Mark XI
🔥 Top keywords: Akademia e Shkencave e RPS te ShqiperiseAlexandria Ocasio-CortezBilderberg GroupCristiano RonaldoDong XiaowanMinecraftOperation GladioPrimal cutRiot FestStrictly Come Dancing (series 7)Main PageSpecial:SearchWikipedia:Featured picturesMohan Charan MajhiHunter BidenChatGPT2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)Melissa Cohen BidenChirag PaswanCleopatraDeaths in 2024.xxx2024 Indian general electionUEFA Euro 20242024 ICC Men's T20 World CupHit Man (2023 film)Lynn ConwayJoe BidenKalki 2898 ADProject 2025Beau Biden2026 FIFA World Cup qualificationYouTubeMichael Mosley (broadcaster)Ronald Reagan2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third roundNeilia Hunter Biden2024 European Parliament electionAmerican Airlines Flight 587Sabrina CarpenterImber friendly fire incidentHallie Olivere BidenBad Boys: Ride or DieThreat actorThe Acolyte (TV series)Biggest ball of twineRam Vilas PaswanLester C. Hunt2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round