The BL 16-inch Mark I was a British naval gun introduced in the 1920s and used on the two Nelson-class battleships. A breech-loading gun, the barrel was 45 calibres long ("/45" in shorthand) meaning 45 times the 16-inch (406 mm) bore – 60 ft (18 m) long.
HMS Nelson firing a salvo during gunnery trials, 1942
These guns broke with the example offered by the earlier 15-inch Mk I gun, which fired a heavy shell at a rather low muzzle velocity, and instead fired a rather light shell at a high muzzle velocity; this was not a success, as at the initial muzzle velocity the gun wore down rapidly and the accuracy was unsatisfactory, so much that it was lowered. Furthermore, a heavier shell was proposed but not adopted because of stringent budget policies of the 1930s; therefore, this naval gun wasn't seen as particularly successful.[1]
An improved weapon, the BL 16-inch Mark II was designed for the Lion-class battleship which was a successor to the King George V class taking advantage of the larger weapon allowed under the London Naval Treaty from March 1938. This "new design" of 16-inch gun fired a shell that weighed 2,375 pounds (1,077 kg). Construction of first two Lion-class battleships - each of which was to have nine 16-inch guns - was halted at the start of the Second World War; only a few months after they were laid down.[2] Work on the armament continued for a while but that was also stopped after only four guns and no turrets were produced.
Brown, David K. (2006). Nelson to Vanguard: Warship Design and Development 1923-1945. London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN1-59114-602-X.
Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-459-4.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BL 16 inch Mk I naval gun.
Tony DiGiulian, British 16"/45 (40.6 cm) Mark I
Terry Duncan, British 16" Mark I Gun and Mounting
January 06, 2023
inch, naval, inch, mark, british, naval, introduced, 1920s, used, nelson, class, battleships, breech, loading, barrel, calibres, long, shorthand, meaning, times, inch, bore, long, ordnance, inch, mark, iguns, rodney, maximum, elevation, 1940typenaval, gunplace. The BL 16 inch Mark I was a British naval gun introduced in the 1920s and used on the two Nelson class battleships A breech loading gun the barrel was 45 calibres long 45 in shorthand meaning 45 times the 16 inch 406 mm bore 60 ft 18 m long Ordnance BL 16 inch Mark IGuns of HMS Rodney at maximum elevation 1940TypeNaval GunPlace of originUKService historyIn service1927 1948Used byUKProduction historyDesigned1922SpecificationsMass108 tons 109 7 tonnes Length61 ft 10 in 18 85 m Barrel length60 ft 18 3 m L 45Shellseparate charge AP shellShell weight2 048 pounds 929 kg Calibre16 inch 406 mm BreechWelinElevation40 3 in mounting Mark IRate of fire1 5 rounds per minute as fittedMuzzle velocity2 586 feet second 788 m s Effective firing range35 000 yards 32 000 m at 32 elevationMaximum firing range39 780 yards 36 375 m Contents 1 Description 2 See also 2 1 Weapons of comparable role performance and era 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditThese wire wound built up guns had originally been planned for the cancelled G3 class battlecruiser design upon which the Nelson class drew Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth amp Company at Elswick Vickers at Barrow in Furness William Beardmore amp 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 HMS Rodney firing a salvo 1936 HMS Nelson firing a salvo during gunnery trials 1942 These guns broke with the example offered by the earlier 15 inch Mk I gun which fired a heavy shell at a rather low muzzle velocity and instead fired a rather light shell at a high muzzle velocity this was not a success as at the initial muzzle velocity the gun wore down rapidly and the accuracy was unsatisfactory so much that it was lowered Furthermore a heavier shell was proposed but not adopted because of stringent budget policies of the 1930s therefore this naval gun wasn t seen as particularly successful 1 An improved weapon the BL 16 inch Mark II was designed for the Lion class battleship which was a successor to the King George V class taking advantage of the larger weapon allowed under the London Naval Treaty from March 1938 This new design of 16 inch gun fired a shell that weighed 2 375 pounds 1 077 kg Construction of first two Lion class battleships each of which was to have nine 16 inch guns was halted at the start of the Second World War only a few months after they were laid down 2 Work on the armament continued for a while but that was also stopped after only four guns and no turrets were produced See also Edit Loading 16 inch shells onto HMS Rodney Installing 16 inch gun on HMS Rodney 1942 Weapons of comparable role performance and era Edit 41 cm 45 3rd Year Type naval gun Japanese equivalent 16 45 caliber Mk 1 5 amp 8 gun American equivalentNotes Edit Campbell p 21 Brown p 36References EditBrown David K 2006 Nelson to Vanguard Warship Design and Development 1923 1945 London Chatham Publishing ISBN 1 59114 602 X Campbell John 1985 Naval Weapons of World War II Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 459 4 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to BL 16 inch Mk I naval gun Tony DiGiulian British 16 45 40 6 cm Mark I Terry Duncan British 16 Mark I Gun and Mounting Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BL 16 inch Mk I naval gun amp oldid 1120036106, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
