The QF 4.7-inch Mk XI gun, on the Mk XX twin mounting, was introduced to the RN aboard the L and M class destroyers, in commission from 1941 onwards. It featured a 62 lb (28.1 kg) shell fired at 2,538 ft/second (774 m/s) to a maximum range of 21,240 yards (19,420 m) at 45 degrees of elevation.[1] The Mk XX mounting was fully enclosed, but the hoists did not revolve with the turret. The gun's firing cycle was six seconds[2][3] and the separate shell and cordite hoists for each gun provided shells and cartridges at a rate of 10 per minute. The shells and cartridges were transferred from the hoists to the tilting tray of the fuze-setting machine by hand. Once the fuzes were set, they slid forward to the loading tray from which they were rammed forward into the breech by a hydraulic rammer.[4] The horizontal sliding-block breech opened semi-automatically after the guns fired.[1]
The guns could be loaded at any angle of elevation. The Mk XX mounting could elevate to a maximum of 50° and depress to −10°. The turret had a maximum powered training rate of 10° per second, but was manually elevated. Including the crew and ammunition, the revolving weight of the mounting was 37.363 long tons (37.963 t). It was protected by a gun shield .25 inches (6.4 mm) thick,[2] too thin to hold a direct hit, but still appreciable versus small splinters, explosions, small caliber rifles.
With a shell 24% heavier, the new gun was far more powerful than the previous 45 calibre long 4.7 inch gun making it a match for a weapon such as the Italian 120/50 mm,[5] whilst also improving its anti-aircraft capacity. It could now penetrate 3 in (76 mm) of armour at a range of 6.2 mi (10 km) rather than 3.7 mi (5.9 km). In the Battle of Pantelleria on 15 June 1942, HMS Marne, Matchless) and Ithuriel engaged a superior Italian task force. Marne fired 704 shells, Matchless 746 shells, while Ithuriel (with four 4.7 /45) managed to fire only 246 shells[clarification needed]. Marne hit the cruiser Eugenio di Savoia with a shell at around 5.50 a.m. Matchless failed to hit Raimondo Montecuccoli, but later hit the large destroyer Ugolino Vivaldi. The new 120/50 mm shell was heavy and powerful and the Italian destroyer was soon lying dead in the water, with a furious fire amidships. That destroyer was saved only by towing her to a near naval base, where the fire was finally extinguished.[6]
In the words of Tony DiGiulian, the 120/50 Mark XI gun was perhaps the finest destroyer gun made by British during World War II, but it was also heavy and costly, as were the ships equipped with it. Wartime production required a much greater production of ships and guns, so cheaper weapons were installed in many other classes, like the 'O' and 'P' (102 mm) and furthers (with the old 120 mm), until the 113 mm (4.5 in) began to replace them, as the first, powerful dual purpose destroyer gun.[1]
Notes
^Mark XI = Mark 11. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (i.e. models) of ordnance until after World War II. Hence this article covers the eleventh model of British QF 4.7-inch gun.
^March, p. 507: "The guns in the Mk XI mounting in the "L"s fired 12 rounds per minute, as each shell or cartridge was taken from the top of the hoist another automatically took its place."
Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-459-4.
Hodges, Peter; Friedman, Norman (1979). Destroyer Weapons of World War 2. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-87021-929-4.
March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
Smith, Peter C (2010). Fighting Flotilla: RN Laforey Class Destroyers in WW2. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Books. ISBN978-1-84884-273-1.
Cernuschi, Enrico C (2010). Acque di Pantelleria, 15 giugno 1942. Parma: Albertelli editions.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to QF 4.7 inch Mk XI naval gun.
QF Mark XI 4.7"/50 (12 cm) on Navweaps.com
January 31, 2023
inch, naval, inch, mark, note, calibre, inch, naval, mounted, royal, navy, allied, destroyers, during, world, inch, mark, xiforward, turrets, matchlesstypedual, purpose, gunplace, originunited, kingdomservice, historyin, service1941, 1970used, byroyal, navytur. The 4 7 inch QF Mark XI Note 1 was a 50 calibre 4 7 inch 120 mm naval gun mounted on Royal Navy RN and Allied destroyers during World War II 1 QF 4 7 inch Mark XIForward turrets on HMS MatchlessTypeDual purpose gunPlace of originUnited KingdomService historyIn service1941 1970Used byRoyal NavyTurkish NavyWarsWorld War IIKorean WarProduction historyDesigned1937 39 No built87SpecificationsMass3 351 long tons 3 405 kg Length247 7 in 6 29 m Barrel lengthBore 236 2 in 6 00 m L 50 cal ShellSeparate loadingShell weight62 pounds 28 1 kg SAP or HECalibre4 724 inches 120 0 mm BreechSemi automatic horizontal sliding blockRecoilHydro pneumaticElevation 10 to 50 Rate of fire10 rounds per minuteMuzzle velocity2 538 ft s 774 m s Maximum firing range21 240 yards 19 420 m at 45 Contents 1 Description and history 2 Notes 3 Footnotes 4 References 5 External linksDescription and history EditThe QF 4 7 inch Mk XI gun on the Mk XX twin mounting was introduced to the RN aboard the L and M class destroyers in commission from 1941 onwards It featured a 62 lb 28 1 kg shell fired at 2 538 ft second 774 m s to a maximum range of 21 240 yards 19 420 m at 45 degrees of elevation 1 The Mk XX mounting was fully enclosed but the hoists did not revolve with the turret The gun s firing cycle was six seconds 2 3 and the separate shell and cordite hoists for each gun provided shells and cartridges at a rate of 10 per minute The shells and cartridges were transferred from the hoists to the tilting tray of the fuze setting machine by hand Once the fuzes were set they slid forward to the loading tray from which they were rammed forward into the breech by a hydraulic rammer 4 The horizontal sliding block breech opened semi automatically after the guns fired 1 The guns could be loaded at any angle of elevation The Mk XX mounting could elevate to a maximum of 50 and depress to 10 The turret had a maximum powered training rate of 10 per second but was manually elevated Including the crew and ammunition the revolving weight of the mounting was 37 363 long tons 37 963 t It was protected by a gun shield 25 inches 6 4 mm thick 2 too thin to hold a direct hit but still appreciable versus small splinters explosions small caliber rifles With a shell 24 heavier the new gun was far more powerful than the previous 45 calibre long 4 7 inch gun making it a match for a weapon such as the Italian 120 50 mm 5 whilst also improving its anti aircraft capacity It could now penetrate 3 in 76 mm of armour at a range of 6 2 mi 10 km rather than 3 7 mi 5 9 km In the Battle of Pantelleria on 15 June 1942 HMS Marne Matchless and Ithuriel engaged a superior Italian task force Marne fired 704 shells Matchless 746 shells while Ithuriel with four 4 7 45 managed to fire only 246 shells clarification needed Marne hit the cruiser Eugenio di Savoia with a shell at around 5 50 a m Matchless failed to hit Raimondo Montecuccoli but later hit the large destroyer Ugolino Vivaldi The new 120 50 mm shell was heavy and powerful and the Italian destroyer was soon lying dead in the water with a furious fire amidships That destroyer was saved only by towing her to a near naval base where the fire was finally extinguished 6 In the words of Tony DiGiulian the 120 50 Mark XI gun was perhaps the finest destroyer gun made by British during World War II but it was also heavy and costly as were the ships equipped with it Wartime production required a much greater production of ships and guns so cheaper weapons were installed in many other classes like the O and P 102 mm and furthers with the old 120 mm until the 113 mm 4 5 in began to replace them as the first powerful dual purpose destroyer gun 1 Notes Edit Mark XI Mark 11 Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks i e models of ordnance until after World War II Hence this article covers the eleventh model of British QF 4 7 inch gun Footnotes Edit a b c Campbell p 46 a b Campbell p 47 March p 507 The guns in the Mk XI mounting in the L s fired 12 rounds per minute as each shell or cartridge was taken from the top of the hoist another automatically took its place Smith p 206 italian 120 50 guns Cernuschi p 10 12References EditCampbell John 1985 Naval Weapons of World War II Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 459 4 Hodges Peter Friedman Norman 1979 Destroyer Weapons of World War 2 London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 87021 929 4 March Edgar J 1966 British Destroyers A History of Development 1892 1953 Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records amp Returns Ships Covers amp Building Plans London Seeley Service OCLC 164893555 Smith Peter C 2010 Fighting Flotilla RN Laforey Class Destroyers in WW2 Barnsley South Yorkshire Pen amp Sword Books ISBN 978 1 84884 273 1 Cernuschi Enrico C 2010 Acque di Pantelleria 15 giugno 1942 Parma Albertelli editions External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to QF 4 7 inch Mk XI naval gun QF Mark XI 4 7 50 12 cm on Navweaps com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title QF 4 7 inch Mk XI naval gun amp oldid 1070467264, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
