QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XIX
Appearance
Ordnance QF 4 inch gun Mk XIX | |
---|---|
![]() Crew of HMAS Cowra at gun drill, Tarakan Island, June 1945 | |
Type | Dual-purpose gun |
Service history | |
In service | 1939[1] |
Used by | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Wars | World War II |
Production history | |
Designed | 1938[1] |
No. built | 2,023[2] |
Specifications | |
Barrel length | 160 inches (4.064 m) bore (40 calibres) |
Shell | Fixed QF HE, Starshell |
Shell weight | 35 pounds (16 kg) |
Calibre | 4-inch (101.6 mm) |
Breech | horizontal sliding-block |
Elevation | -10° to +60°[2] |
Muzzle velocity | 396 metres per second (1,300 ft/s)[2] |
Maximum firing range | 8,870 metres (9,700 yd) at +40°[2] |
The QF 4-inch Mk XIX gun[note 1] was a British low-velocity 4-inch 40-calibre naval gun used to arm small warships such as Bathurst and Castle-class corvette and some River-class frigate in World War II, mainly against submarines.[3]
Description
[edit]It succeeded the higher-velocity World War I-era BL 4-inch Mk IX (typically deployed on Flower-class corvettes in the escort role). The Mk XIX fired fixed ammunition which was 38.5 inches (0.98 m) long and weighed 50 pounds (23 kg).[3] The weight of the projectile was increased from 31 pounds (14 kg) for the Mk IX to 35 pounds (16 kg) for the Mk XIX. The high-angle mounting used for the XIX added some anti-aircraft capability and allowed it to fire starshells to illuminate the battle area at night.[2]
Ammunition
[edit]-
Canadian gunners with fixed rounds
Surviving examples
[edit]- On HMAS Castlemaine at Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.
- On the parade ground at the Irish Naval Service Base, Haulbowline, Co. Cork, Ireland
Notes
[edit]- ^ Mk XIX = Mark 19. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. This was the nineteenth model of British QF 4-inch gun
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e http://navalhistory.flixco.info/H/119171x53535/8330/a0.htm : quotes from John Campbell, "Naval Weapons Of World War Two", Annapolis : Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN 0-87021-459-4
- ^ a b DiGiulian
Bibliography
[edit]- John Campbell, "Naval Weapons Of World War Two", Annapolis : Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN 0-87021-459-4
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to QF 4 inch Mk XIX naval gun.
- Tony DiGiulian, Britain 4"/40 (10.2 cm) QF Mark XIX