3"/23 caliber gun | |
---|---|
Type |
|
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1913—1946 |
Used by | US Navy |
Wars |
World War I World War II |
Production history | |
Manufacturer |
|
Variants | Mark 9, 13, and 14 |
Specifications | |
Mass |
|
Length |
|
Barrel length |
|
Shell | 16.5 lb (7.5 kg) 76.2x234 mm R |
Caliber | 3-inch (76 mm) |
Elevation | -15° to +65° or +75° |
Traverse | 365° |
Rate of fire | 8 – 9 rounds per minute |
Muzzle velocity | 1,650 feet per second (500 m/s) |
Effective firing range |
|
The 3"/23 caliber gun (spoken "three-inch-twenty-three-caliber") was the standard anti-aircraft gun for United States destroyers through World War I and the 1920s. United States naval gun terminology indicates the gun fired a projectile 3 inches (76 mm) in diameter, and the barrel was 23 calibers long (barrel length is 3" x 23 = 69" or 1.75 meters.) [1]
The built-up gun with vertical sliding breech block weighed about 531 pounds (241 kg) and used fixed ammunition (case and projectile handled as a single assembled unit) with a 13-pound (6 kg) projectile at a velocity of 1650 feet per second (500 m/s). [2] Range was 10100 yards (9235 meters) at 45 degrees elevation. [2] Ceiling was 18000 feet (5500 meters) at the maximum elevation of 75 degrees. [2]
The 3"/23 caliber cannon was the first purposely-designed anti-aircraft cannon to reach operational service in the US military, and was a further development of a 1 pounder cannon concept designed by Admiral Twining to meet the possible threat from airships being built by various navies. [3]
A partially retractable version was mounted as a deck gun on the US L-class, M-1 (SS-47), AA-1 class, and O-class submarines.
When World War II began, the 3"/23 caliber gun was outdated, and surviving United States destroyers built during the World War I era that were armed with the 3"/23 caliber were rearmed with dual-purpose 3"/50 caliber guns. Where there was no air threat during World War II, the 3"/23 caliber gun was employed in the surface to surface role for use against submarines, and was mounted on submarine chasers, armed yachts, and various auxiliaries. [2] Some major warships carried 3"/23 caliber guns temporarily while awaiting installation of quad 1.1"/75 caliber guns. [2]
The 3"/23 caliber gun was mounted on:
3"/23 caliber gun | |
---|---|
Type |
|
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1913—1946 |
Used by | US Navy |
Wars |
World War I World War II |
Production history | |
Manufacturer |
|
Variants | Mark 9, 13, and 14 |
Specifications | |
Mass |
|
Length |
|
Barrel length |
|
Shell | 16.5 lb (7.5 kg) 76.2x234 mm R |
Caliber | 3-inch (76 mm) |
Elevation | -15° to +65° or +75° |
Traverse | 365° |
Rate of fire | 8 – 9 rounds per minute |
Muzzle velocity | 1,650 feet per second (500 m/s) |
Effective firing range |
|
The 3"/23 caliber gun (spoken "three-inch-twenty-three-caliber") was the standard anti-aircraft gun for United States destroyers through World War I and the 1920s. United States naval gun terminology indicates the gun fired a projectile 3 inches (76 mm) in diameter, and the barrel was 23 calibers long (barrel length is 3" x 23 = 69" or 1.75 meters.) [1]
The built-up gun with vertical sliding breech block weighed about 531 pounds (241 kg) and used fixed ammunition (case and projectile handled as a single assembled unit) with a 13-pound (6 kg) projectile at a velocity of 1650 feet per second (500 m/s). [2] Range was 10100 yards (9235 meters) at 45 degrees elevation. [2] Ceiling was 18000 feet (5500 meters) at the maximum elevation of 75 degrees. [2]
The 3"/23 caliber cannon was the first purposely-designed anti-aircraft cannon to reach operational service in the US military, and was a further development of a 1 pounder cannon concept designed by Admiral Twining to meet the possible threat from airships being built by various navies. [3]
A partially retractable version was mounted as a deck gun on the US L-class, M-1 (SS-47), AA-1 class, and O-class submarines.
When World War II began, the 3"/23 caliber gun was outdated, and surviving United States destroyers built during the World War I era that were armed with the 3"/23 caliber were rearmed with dual-purpose 3"/50 caliber guns. Where there was no air threat during World War II, the 3"/23 caliber gun was employed in the surface to surface role for use against submarines, and was mounted on submarine chasers, armed yachts, and various auxiliaries. [2] Some major warships carried 3"/23 caliber guns temporarily while awaiting installation of quad 1.1"/75 caliber guns. [2]
The 3"/23 caliber gun was mounted on: