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BL 12-inch Mk XI – XII naval gun

October 28, 2023

The BL 12-inch Mark XI and Mark XII gun[note 1] were British breech loading (BL) naval guns of 50-calibres length mounted as primary armament on dreadnought battleships from 1910.

BL 12-inch Mk XI and Mk XII gun
Aft Mk XII guns of HMS Hercules
TypeNaval gun
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1910–1922
WarsWorld War I
Production history
DesignerVickers
ManufacturerVickers

Armstrong Whitworth Coventry Ordnance Works

William Beardmore and Company
Specifications
Barrel length50 ft (15.24 m) bore (50 calibers)
Shell850 lb (385.6 kg) Lyddite, Armour-piercing, Shrapnel[1]
Calibre12 inches (304.8 mm)
Muzzle velocity2,825 ft/s (861 m/s)[2]
Maximum firing range19,380 m (21,190 yd)[3]

History edit

 
Vice-Admiral Doveton Sturdee in front of the Mk XII guns of a wing turret on HMS Hercules

In an effort to increase the armour-piercing capability and range of a 12-inch gun, the 50 calibres/600 inches Mk XI's barrel was 5 calibres/60 inches longer than the previous Mk X gun's 45 calibres. As a result, muzzle velocity increased from 2,700 feet per second (820 m/s) to 2,825 feet per second (861 m/s), but bore erosion, which led to short barrel life, and poor accuracy due to inconsistent cordite propellant burning, hampered the gun. The Mk XII derived from it suffered from the same problems.

Instead of attempting to improve their 12-inch gun, the British developed the 13.5-inch Mk V gun of 45-calibres, which could achieve greater range at lower muzzle velocities due to its larger shell.

Mk XI guns were mounted on:

Mk XII guns were mounted on:

See also edit

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. These were the eleventh and twelfth models of BL 12-inch guns.

References edit

  1. ^ 850 lb shells : Treatise on Ammunition, 1915
  2. ^ 2825 ft/second with 4 CRH 850 lb projectile : As quoted in Range Tables for His Majesty's Fleet, Vol. I., 1918 9.2-Inch Guns and Above April, 1918 2825 ft/second using 307 lb cordite MD size 45 propellant : Treatise on Ammunition, 1915
  3. ^ "Gun Model: BR 12in 50cal Mk XI XI* XII". Retrieved 8 June 2023.

Bibliography edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BL 12 inch Mk XI - XII naval gun.
  • Tony DiGiulian, British 12"/50 (30.5 cm) Marks XI, XI* and XII

October 28, 2023
inch, naval, inch, mark, mark, note, were, british, breech, loading, naval, guns, calibres, length, mounted, primary, armament, dreadnought, battleships, from, 1910, inch, gunaft, guns, herculestypenaval, gunplace, originunited, kingdomservice, historyin, serv. The BL 12 inch Mark XI and Mark XII gun note 1 were British breech loading BL naval guns of 50 calibres length mounted as primary armament on dreadnought battleships from 1910 BL 12 inch Mk XI and Mk XII gunAft Mk XII guns of HMS HerculesTypeNaval gunPlace of originUnited KingdomService historyIn service1910 1922WarsWorld War IProduction historyDesignerVickersManufacturerVickers Armstrong Whitworth Coventry Ordnance Works William Beardmore and CompanySpecificationsBarrel length50 ft 15 24 m bore 50 calibers Shell850 lb 385 6 kg Lyddite Armour piercing Shrapnel 1 Calibre12 inches 304 8 mm Muzzle velocity2 825 ft s 861 m s 2 Maximum firing range19 380 m 21 190 yd 3 Contents 1 History 2 See also 2 1 Weapons of comparable role performance and era 3 Notes 4 References 5 BibliographyHistory edit nbsp Vice Admiral Doveton Sturdee in front of the Mk XII guns of a wing turret on HMS HerculesIn an effort to increase the armour piercing capability and range of a 12 inch gun the 50 calibres 600 inches Mk XI s barrel was 5 calibres 60 inches longer than the previous Mk X gun s 45 calibres As a result muzzle velocity increased from 2 700 feet per second 820 m s to 2 825 feet per second 861 m s but bore erosion which led to short barrel life and poor accuracy due to inconsistent cordite propellant burning hampered the gun The Mk XII derived from it suffered from the same problems Instead of attempting to improve their 12 inch gun the British developed the 13 5 inch Mk V gun of 45 calibres which could achieve greater range at lower muzzle velocities due to its larger shell Mk XI guns were mounted on St Vincent class battleships laid down 1907 commissioned 1910 HMS Neptune laid down 1909 commissioned 1911Mk XII guns were mounted on Colossus class battleships laid down 1909 commissioned 1911See also editList of naval gunsWeapons of comparable role performance and era edit Obukhovskii 12 52 Pattern 1907 gun Russian equivalent 30 5 cm SK L 50 gun German equivalent Skoda 30 5 cm 45 K10 Austro Hungarian equivalentNotes edit Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks models of ordnance until after World War II These were the eleventh and twelfth models of BL 12 inch guns References editThis article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations July 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message 850 lb shells Treatise on Ammunition 1915 2825 ft second with 4 CRH 850 lb projectile As quoted in Range Tables for His Majesty s Fleet Vol I 1918 9 2 Inch Guns and Above April 1918 2825 ft second using 307 lb cordite MD size 45 propellant Treatise on Ammunition 1915 Gun Model BR 12in 50cal Mk XI XI XII Retrieved 8 June 2023 Bibliography edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to BL 12 inch Mk XI XII naval gun Tony DiGiulian British 12 50 30 5 cm Marks XI XI and XII Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BL 12 inch Mk XI XII naval gun amp oldid 1159099140, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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