BL 12-inch Mk XI and Mk XII gun | |
---|---|
Type | Naval gun |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
In service | 1910–1922 |
Wars | World War I |
Production history | |
Designer | Vickers |
Manufacturer |
Vickers
Armstrong Whitworth Coventry Ordnance Works William Beardmore and Company |
Specifications | |
Barrel length | 50 ft (15.24 m) bore (50 calibers) |
Shell | 850 lb (385.6 kg) Lyddite, Armour-piercing, Shrapnel [1] |
Calibre | 12 inches (304.8 mm) |
Muzzle velocity | 2,825 ft/s (861 m/s) [2] |
Maximum firing range | 19,380 m (21,190 yd) [3] |
The BL 12-inch Mark XI and Mark XII gun [note 1] were British breech loading (BL) naval guns of 50- calibres length mounted as primary armament on dreadnought battleships from 1910.
In an effort to increase the armour-piercing capability and range of a 12-inch gun, the 50 calibres/600 inches Mk XI's barrel was 5 calibres/60 inches longer than the previous Mk X gun's 45 calibres. As a result, muzzle velocity increased from 2,700 feet per second (820 m/s) to 2,825 feet per second (861 m/s), but bore erosion, which led to short barrel life, and poor accuracy due to inconsistent cordite propellant burning, hampered the gun. The Mk XII derived from it suffered from the same problems.
Instead of attempting to improve their 12-inch gun, the British developed the 13.5-inch Mk V gun of 45-calibres, which could achieve greater range at lower muzzle velocities due to its larger shell.
Mk XI guns were mounted on:
Mk XII guns were mounted on:
This article includes a list of general
references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding
inline citations. (July 2009) |
BL 12-inch Mk XI and Mk XII gun | |
---|---|
Type | Naval gun |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
In service | 1910–1922 |
Wars | World War I |
Production history | |
Designer | Vickers |
Manufacturer |
Vickers
Armstrong Whitworth Coventry Ordnance Works William Beardmore and Company |
Specifications | |
Barrel length | 50 ft (15.24 m) bore (50 calibers) |
Shell | 850 lb (385.6 kg) Lyddite, Armour-piercing, Shrapnel [1] |
Calibre | 12 inches (304.8 mm) |
Muzzle velocity | 2,825 ft/s (861 m/s) [2] |
Maximum firing range | 19,380 m (21,190 yd) [3] |
The BL 12-inch Mark XI and Mark XII gun [note 1] were British breech loading (BL) naval guns of 50- calibres length mounted as primary armament on dreadnought battleships from 1910.
In an effort to increase the armour-piercing capability and range of a 12-inch gun, the 50 calibres/600 inches Mk XI's barrel was 5 calibres/60 inches longer than the previous Mk X gun's 45 calibres. As a result, muzzle velocity increased from 2,700 feet per second (820 m/s) to 2,825 feet per second (861 m/s), but bore erosion, which led to short barrel life, and poor accuracy due to inconsistent cordite propellant burning, hampered the gun. The Mk XII derived from it suffered from the same problems.
Instead of attempting to improve their 12-inch gun, the British developed the 13.5-inch Mk V gun of 45-calibres, which could achieve greater range at lower muzzle velocities due to its larger shell.
Mk XI guns were mounted on:
Mk XII guns were mounted on:
This article includes a list of general
references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding
inline citations. (July 2009) |