The BL 4-inch Mk IX naval gun[note 1] was a British medium-velocity naval gun introduced in 1917 as secondary armament on the Renown-class battlecruisers and Glorious-class "large light cruisers", but which served most notably as the main armament on Flower-class corvettes throughout World War II.
Ordnance BL 4-inch Mk IX gun
On Flower-class corvette HMCS Calgary in World War II
Original aft triple mounts on HMS Repulse c. 1916–1917
The gun was based on the barrel of the QF 4-inch Mk V and the breech mechanism of the BL 4-inch Mk VIII[4] and was first introduced in World War I on capital ships as secondary armament in triple-gun mountings, intended to provide rapid concentrated fire. This turned out to be unworkable in practice. Jane's Fighting Ships of 1919 commented, "4-inch triples are clumsy and not liked. They are not mounted in one sleeve; have separate breech mechanism, a gun crew of 23 to each triple".[5] Guns were thereafter used in single-gun mountings, typically on smaller ships as the main armament.
World War IIedit
Coast defence gun and crew at Fort Crosby near Liverpool, UK, August 1940
Cleaning the breech on transport St Essylt, Suez 1942
This was the last BL 4 inch gun in British service: all subsequent guns have used charges in metal cartridges "QF". It was succeeded on new small warships built in World War II by the QF 4-inch Mk XIX gun which fired a slightly heavier shell at much lower velocity and had a high-angle mounting which added anti-aircraft capability.
^Mk IX = Mark 9. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. Mark IX indicates this was the ninth model of BL 4-inch gun.
^. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
Bibliographyedit
Tony DiGiulian, British 4"/45 (10.2 cm) BL Marks IX and X
Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-459-4.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BL 4 inch Mk IX naval gun.
January 01, 1970
inch, naval, note, british, medium, velocity, naval, introduced, 1917, secondary, armament, renown, class, battlecruisers, glorious, class, large, light, cruisers, which, served, most, notably, main, armament, flower, class, corvettes, throughout, world, ordna. The BL 4 inch Mk IX naval gun note 1 was a British medium velocity naval gun introduced in 1917 as secondary armament on the Renown class battlecruisers and Glorious class large light cruisers but which served most notably as the main armament on Flower class corvettes throughout World War II Ordnance BL 4 inch Mk IX gunOn Flower class corvette HMCS Calgary in World War IITypeNaval gunService historyIn service1917 1945Used by Royal Navy Royal Canadian Navy Free French Navy Hellenic Navy Royal Indian Navy Netherlands Navy Royal New Zealand Navy Norwegian Navy South African NavyWarsWorld War IWorld War IIProduction historyNo built2 382 1 SpecificationsMass2 tons barrel amp breech 2 Barrel length180 inches 4 572 m bore 45 calibres Shell31 pounds 14 1 kg Calibre4 inches 101 6 mm BreechWelin interrupted screwElevation 10 degrees to 30 degrees 3 Rate of fire10 12 rpm 3 Muzzle velocity800 metres per second 2 600 ft s 2 Maximum firing range12 660 metres 13 850 yd 2 Contents 1 History 1 1 World War I 1 2 World War II 2 Surviving examples 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksHistory editWorld War I edit nbsp Original aft triple mounts on HMS Repulse c 1916 1917 The gun was based on the barrel of the QF 4 inch Mk V and the breech mechanism of the BL 4 inch Mk VIII 4 and was first introduced in World War I on capital ships as secondary armament in triple gun mountings intended to provide rapid concentrated fire This turned out to be unworkable in practice Jane s Fighting Ships of 1919 commented 4 inch triples are clumsy and not liked They are not mounted in one sleeve have separate breech mechanism a gun crew of 23 to each triple 5 Guns were thereafter used in single gun mountings typically on smaller ships as the main armament World War II edit nbsp Coast defence gun and crew at Fort Crosby near Liverpool UK August 1940 nbsp Cleaning the breech on transport St Essylt Suez 1942 In World War II the gun was employed on many small warships such as Flower class corvettes and minesweepers primarily for action against surfaced submarines This was the last BL 4 inch gun in British service all subsequent guns have used charges in metal cartridges QF It was succeeded on new small warships built in World War II by the QF 4 inch Mk XIX gun which fired a slightly heavier shell at much lower velocity and had a high angle mounting which added anti aircraft capability Surviving examples editOn board HMCS Sackville the last surviving Flower class corvette at Halifax Nova Scotia Canada A gun at the entrance to the marina in Hull UK A gun at Port Isaac Cornwall UK Leith Harbour South Georgia See also editList of naval gunsNotes edit Mk IX Mark 9 Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks models of ordnance until after World War II Mark IX indicates this was the ninth model of BL 4 inch gun References edit Campbell Naval Weapons of WWII pp 42 43 a b c http navalhistory flixco info H 77826x53535 8330 a0 htm dead link a b Campbell Naval Weapons of WWII p 38 DiGiulian Jane s Fighting Ships 1919 page 62 Archived from the original on 6 October 2008 Retrieved 18 December 2008 Bibliography editTony DiGiulian British 4 45 10 2 cm BL Marks IX and X Campbell John 1985 Naval Weapons of World War Two Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 459 4 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to BL 4 inch Mk IX naval gun Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BL 4 inch Mk IX naval gun amp oldid 1211738564, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
