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QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XVI

January 20, 2023

The QF 4 inch Mk XVI gun[note 1] was the standard British Commonwealth naval anti-aircraft and dual-purpose gun of World War II.

Ordnance QF 4 inch gun Mk XVI
Twin Mk XVI on HMCS Haida
TypeNaval gun
Naval anti-aircraft gun
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1936-[1]-1950s
Used byRoyal Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
South African Navy Royal Malaysian Navy
WarsWorld War II
Korean War
Production history
No. built2,555
VariantsMk XVI* and Mk XXI[2]
Specifications
MassBarrel & breech 4,495 lb (2,039 kg)
Barrel length180 inches (4,572 mm) (45 cal)
ShellFixed QF 35 pounds (15.88 kg) HE
38.25 pounds (17.35 kg) S.A.P.
Calibre4-inch (101.6 mm)
Breechvertical sliding-block
Recoilhydro - pneumatic 831 millimetres (33 in)
Elevationmounting dependent (-10 to 80 deg on H.A. twin mark XIX mount)[3]
Traversemounting dependent
Rate of fire15–20 rounds per minute[4]
Muzzle velocity2,660 feet per second (811 m/s)
Maximum firing range19,850 yards (18,150 m) at 45 degrees elevation
AA Range: 39,000 feet (11,890 m) at 80 degrees elevation[4]
Filling weight9 pounds (4.08 kg)

Service

 
Crew of a dual 4-inch at action stations aboard HMS Berwick while in screening the Atlantic Convoys in May 1943.

The Mk XVI superseded the earlier QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun on many Royal Naval ships during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The ammunition fired by the Mk V gun and the Mk XVI guns was different. The Mk V ammunition was 44.3 inches (1.13 m) long and weighed 56 pounds (25 kg), while the ammunition fired by the Mk XVI gun was 42.1 inches (1.07 m) long and weighed 66.75 pounds (30.28 kg). The weight of the high-explosive projectile grew from 31 pounds (14 kg) for the Mk V to 35 pounds (16 kg) for the Mk XVI.

There were three variants of the gun produced with differing construction methods. The original Mk XVI had an A tube, jacket to 63.5 inches (1.61 m) from the muzzle and a removable breech ring. The Mk XVI* replaced the A tube with an autofretted loose barrel with a sealing collar at the front of the jacket. The Mk XXI was a lighter version with an autofretted monobloc barrel and a removable breech ring. The total number of Mk XVI and XVI* guns produced was 2,555 while there were 238 Mk XXI guns produced. Of those totals 604 Mk XVI* and 135 of the Mk XXI guns were produced in Canada and 45 of the Mk XVI* were produced in Australia. These guns were usually mounted on HA/LA Mark XIX twin mountings, although several Australian frigates and corvettes had single-gun Mk XX mountings.[2]

The last Royal Navy ship to operate with a Mark XIX twin mounting was HMS Mermaid (F76), which had originally been designed for the Ghana Navy and so required a simple and inexpensive main armament. Acquired by the British Government in 1972, she served until 1977 when she was purchased by the Royal Malaysian Navy and renamed KD Hang Tuah.[5]

List of equipped vessels

As secondary armament (list not complete)

As main armament (list not complete)

Allied ships modified in the United Kingdom

The South African Navy Loch-class frigates (HMSAS Good Hope, HMSAS Natal and HMSAS Transvaal) each had two of these guns mounted on a twin Mark XIX on their foredeck between 1944 and 1976.

Ammunition

  •  

    Twin guns of HMAS Swan bombarding shore positions in New Guinea, February 1945

  •  

    Single Mk XX mounting on HMAS Barcoo, 1945

  •  

    Gunners of HMS Glasgow clearing empty cartridges after a shoot

  •  
    Gunners of V-class destroyer HMS Vivien displaying anti-aircraft rounds, 1940
  •  
    A round in a fuze setter on HMS Belfast

See also

Surviving examples

  • On HMCS Haida, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
  • Naval Museum of Alberta, Canada
  • Trenton Park, Trenton, Nova Scotia, Canada
  • On HMS Belfast, London, which retains four twin guns.
  • Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower, Gosport, Hampshire, UK
  • On ORP Błyskawica, Gdynia (re-bored to 100 mm).
  • A pair at South African National Museum of Military History, Johannesburg
  • A pair in a turret from INS Haifa (K-38), at Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum, Haifa, Israel.
  • Two single guns on HMAS Diamantina, Brisbane, Australia
  • One twin gun at the Marinemuseet, Horten, Norway.
  • One twin gun in the Aldhurst military vehicles collection, Surrey England. Further research has proven the left gun was installed on the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire from 1943 till she was scrapped in 1954.

Notes

  1. ^ Mk XVI = Mark 16. Britain used Roman numerals to denote marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. Mark XVI indicates this was the sixteenth model of QF 4 inch gun.

References

  1. ^ "British 4"/45 (10.2 cm) QF HA Marks XVI, XVII, XVIII and XXI". NavWeaps. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  2. ^ a b Campbell, Naval Weapons of WWII, p.56.
  3. ^ "THE 4-in. Q.F. MARK XVI* GUNS ON THE H.A. TWIN MARK XIX MOUNTING". maritime.org. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  4. ^ a b Britain: 4"/45 (10.2 cm) QF Mark XVI and Mark XVI* NavWeapons. Updated 21 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  5. ^ Marriott, Leo (1990). Royal Navy Frigates since 1945, Second Edition. London: Ian Allan Ltd. p. 102. ISBN 0-7110-1915-0.

Bibliography

  • Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun.
  • B.R. 257. Handbook for the 4 inch Q.F. Mark XVI* Gun on the H.A. Twin Mark XIX And Single Mark XX Mountings. G3821/41 Naval Ordnance Department, Admiralty, July 1941.
  • Tony DiGiulian, British 4"/45 (10.2 cm) QF HA Marks XVI, XVII, XVIII and XXI
  • Youtube video clip of demonstration of loading and firing on HMS Belfast
  • Youtube video clip of demonstration of loading and firing on HMS Belfast : closeup Note : for safety reasons, cartridges are seen being loaded without the normal attached shell.

January 20, 2023
inch, naval, inch, note, standard, british, commonwealth, naval, anti, aircraft, dual, purpose, world, ordnance, inch, xvitwin, hmcs, haidatypenaval, gunnaval, anti, aircraft, gunplace, originunited, kingdomservice, historyin, service1936, 1950sused, byroyal, . The QF 4 inch Mk XVI gun note 1 was the standard British Commonwealth naval anti aircraft and dual purpose gun of World War II Ordnance QF 4 inch gun Mk XVITwin Mk XVI on HMCS HaidaTypeNaval gunNaval anti aircraft gunPlace of originUnited KingdomService historyIn service1936 1 1950sUsed byRoyal NavyRoyal Canadian NavyRoyal Australian NavySouth African Navy Royal Malaysian NavyWarsWorld War IIKorean WarProduction historyNo built2 555VariantsMk XVI and Mk XXI 2 SpecificationsMassBarrel amp breech 4 495 lb 2 039 kg Barrel length180 inches 4 572 mm 45 cal ShellFixed QF 35 pounds 15 88 kg HE38 25 pounds 17 35 kg S A P Calibre4 inch 101 6 mm Breechvertical sliding blockRecoilhydro pneumatic 831 millimetres 33 in Elevationmounting dependent 10 to 80 deg on H A twin mark XIX mount 3 Traversemounting dependentRate of fire15 20 rounds per minute 4 Muzzle velocity2 660 feet per second 811 m s Maximum firing range19 850 yards 18 150 m at 45 degrees elevationAA Range 39 000 feet 11 890 m at 80 degrees elevation 4 Filling weight9 pounds 4 08 kg Contents 1 Service 2 List of equipped vessels 2 1 As secondary armament list not complete 2 2 As main armament list not complete 2 3 Allied ships modified in the United Kingdom 3 Ammunition 4 See also 5 Surviving examples 6 Notes 7 References 8 Bibliography 9 External linksService Edit Crew of a dual 4 inch at action stations aboard HMS Berwick while in screening the Atlantic Convoys in May 1943 The Mk XVI superseded the earlier QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun on many Royal Naval ships during the late 1930s and early 1940s The ammunition fired by the Mk V gun and the Mk XVI guns was different The Mk V ammunition was 44 3 inches 1 13 m long and weighed 56 pounds 25 kg while the ammunition fired by the Mk XVI gun was 42 1 inches 1 07 m long and weighed 66 75 pounds 30 28 kg The weight of the high explosive projectile grew from 31 pounds 14 kg for the Mk V to 35 pounds 16 kg for the Mk XVI There were three variants of the gun produced with differing construction methods The original Mk XVI had an A tube jacket to 63 5 inches 1 61 m from the muzzle and a removable breech ring The Mk XVI replaced the A tube with an autofretted loose barrel with a sealing collar at the front of the jacket The Mk XXI was a lighter version with an autofretted monobloc barrel and a removable breech ring The total number of Mk XVI and XVI guns produced was 2 555 while there were 238 Mk XXI guns produced Of those totals 604 Mk XVI and 135 of the Mk XXI guns were produced in Canada and 45 of the Mk XVI were produced in Australia These guns were usually mounted on HA LA Mark XIX twin mountings although several Australian frigates and corvettes had single gun Mk XX mountings 2 The last Royal Navy ship to operate with a Mark XIX twin mounting was HMS Mermaid F76 which had originally been designed for the Ghana Navy and so required a simple and inexpensive main armament Acquired by the British Government in 1972 she served until 1977 when she was purchased by the Royal Malaysian Navy and renamed KD Hang Tuah 5 List of equipped vessels EditAs secondary armament list not complete Edit Aircraft carriers HMS Furious HMS Unicorn Escort carriers Nairana class escort carriers HMS Pretoria Castle HMS Activity HMS Hood C class cruisers converted to anti aircraft cruisers HMS Barham HMS Malaya HMS Warspite Revenge class battleships County class cruisers HMS Exeter Swiftsure class cruisers Crown Colony class cruisers Edinburgh class cruisers Southampton class cruisers Town class Arethusa class cruisers Perth class cruisers Leander class cruisers HMS Effingham HMS Danae ORP Conrad Roberts class monitorAs main armament list not complete Edit Abdiel class minelayers HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck Tribal class destroyers L and M class destroyer the first series L HMS Gurkha Lance Legion Lively HMS Petard modified Weapon class destroyers V and W class destroyers after WAIR modification 15 ships HMS Wallace after WAIR modification Hunt class destroyers Some Bathurst class corvettes single gun Mk XX mounting Black Swan class sloops Egret class sloops Bittern class sloop modified Grimsby class sloop modified Bay class frigates River class frigates part of Canadian built 8 auxiliary AA defence ships Some landing shipsAllied ships modified in the United Kingdom Edit ORP Blyskawica Polish HNLMS Jacob van Heemskerck Dutch HNLMS Isaac Sweers Dutch 4 French Elan class avisos and Chamois class avisosThe South African Navy Loch class frigates HMSAS Good Hope HMSAS Natal and HMSAS Transvaal each had two of these guns mounted on a twin Mark XIX on their foredeck between 1944 and 1976 Ammunition Edit Twin guns of HMAS Swan bombarding shore positions in New Guinea February 1945 Single Mk XX mounting on HMAS Barcoo 1945 Gunners of HMS Glasgow clearing empty cartridges after a shoot Gunners of V class destroyer HMS Vivien displaying anti aircraft rounds 1940 A round in a fuze setter on HMS BelfastSee also EditQF 4 inch Mk V naval gun Royal Navy anti aircraft predecessor List of naval anti aircraft guns List of naval gunsSurviving examples EditOn HMCS Haida Hamilton Ontario Canada Naval Museum of Alberta Canada Trenton Park Trenton Nova Scotia Canada On HMS Belfast London which retains four twin guns Explosion Museum of Naval Firepower Gosport Hampshire UK On ORP Blyskawica Gdynia re bored to 100 mm A pair at South African National Museum of Military History Johannesburg A pair in a turret from INS Haifa K 38 at Clandestine Immigration and Naval Museum Haifa Israel Two single guns on HMAS Diamantina Brisbane Australia One twin gun at the Marinemuseet Horten Norway One twin gun in the Aldhurst military vehicles collection Surrey England Further research has proven the left gun was installed on the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire from 1943 till she was scrapped in 1954 Notes Edit Mk XVI Mark 16 Britain used Roman numerals to denote marks models of ordnance until after World War II Mark XVI indicates this was the sixteenth model of QF 4 inch gun References Edit British 4 45 10 2 cm QF HA Marks XVI XVII XVIII and XXI NavWeaps Retrieved 25 August 2008 a b Campbell Naval Weapons of WWII p 56 THE 4 in Q F MARK XVI GUNS ON THE H A TWIN MARK XIX MOUNTING maritime org Retrieved 25 August 2008 a b Britain 4 45 10 2 cm QF Mark XVI and Mark XVI NavWeapons Updated 21 September 2014 Retrieved 21 September 2015 Marriott Leo 1990 Royal Navy Frigates since 1945 Second Edition London Ian Allan Ltd p 102 ISBN 0 7110 1915 0 Bibliography EditCampbell John 1985 Naval Weapons of World War Two Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 459 4 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun B R 257 Handbook for the 4 inch Q F Mark XVI Gun on the H A Twin Mark XIX And Single Mark XX Mountings G3821 41 Naval Ordnance Department Admiralty July 1941 Tony DiGiulian British 4 45 10 2 cm QF HA Marks XVI XVII XVIII and XXI Youtube video clip of demonstration of loading and firing on HMS Belfast Youtube video clip of demonstration of loading and firing on HMS Belfast closeup Note for safety reasons cartridges are seen being loaded without the normal attached shell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title QF 4 inch naval gun Mk XVI amp oldid 1117739536, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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