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BL 4-inch Mk VII naval gun

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}

{{Infobox weapon

| name = Ordnance BL 4-inch gun Mk VII

| image = BL4inchMkVIIGunHMASAustralia1918.jpg

| image_size = 300

| caption = On {{HMAS|Australia|1911|6}}, 1918

| origin = United Kingdom

| type = Naval gun

| is_ranged = yes

| is_explosive =

| is_artillery = yes

| is_UK = yes

| service = 1908–1945

| used_by = United Kingdom

| wars = World War I
World War II

| designer =

| design_date =

| manufacturer =

| production_date =

| number = 600Campbell, Naval Weapons of WWII, p. 43.

| variants =

| weight = {{convert|4704|lb|kg|sigfig=3}} (barrel & breech)

| length =

| part_length = {{convert|201.25|in|m|sigfig=4}} bore (50.3 calibres)HANDBOOK for the 4" Mark VII. and VIII. B.L. Guns 1913

| width =

| height =

| crew =

| cartridge = {{convert|31|lb|kg|sigfig=4}} Common pointed, Common lyddite

| caliber = {{convert|4|in|mm|sigfig=4}}

| action =

| rate = 6-8 rpm

| velocity = {{convert|2852|ft/s|m/s}}2852 ft/second firing a 31 lb 3 CRH projectile, using 9 lb 5 oz 15 drams cordite MD size 16 propellant. HANDBOOK for the 4" Mark VII. and VIII. B.L. Guns 1913.

| range =

| max_range = {{convert|11600|yd|m}} at 15°Campbell, Warship Volume X, p. 53.

| sights =

| breech = Welin, Single-motion screw

| recoil =

| carriage =

| elevation = -10 degrees to +15 degreesCampbell, Naval Weapons of WWII, p. 43.

| traverse =

}}

The BL 4-inch gun Mk VIIMk VII = Mark 7. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. Mark VII indicates this was the seventh model of BL 4-inch gun. was a British high-velocity naval gun introduced in 1908 as an anti-torpedo boat gun in large ships, and in the main armament of smaller ships. Of the 600 produced, 482 were still available in 1939Campbell, Naval Weapons of WWII, p. 43. for use as coastal artillery and as a defensive weapon on Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (DEMS) during the Second World War.

Naval history

The guns armed the following warships :

  • {{sclass|Bellerophon|battleship|2}}s, laid down 1906
  • {{sclass|St. Vincent|battleship|2}}s, laid down 1907
  • {{sclass|Boadicea|cruiser|0}} scout cruisers, laid down 1907
  • {{HMS|Neptune|1909|6}}, laid down 1909
  • {{sclass|Colossus|battleship (1910)|0}} battleships, laid down 1909
  • {{sclass|Indefatigable|battlecruiser|2}}s, laid down 1909
  • {{sclass|Orion|battleship|2}}s, laid down 1909
  • {{sclass|Lion|battlecruiser|2}}s, laid down 1909
  • Bristol-class light cruisers, laid down 1909
  • {{sclass|Blonde|cruiser|0}} scout cruisers, laid down 1909
  • {{sclass|Active|cruiser|0}} scout cruisers, laid down 1910
  • {{sclass|King George V|battleship (1911)|0}} battleships, laid down 1911

File:BL 4-inch Mk VII gun DEM 1943 LAC 3394508.jpg, 1943]]

The gun was succeeded in the "heavy" 4-inch class on new warships commissioned from 1914 onwards by the QF 4-inch Mk V. This new generation of warships were more heavily armed, and the BL Mk VII's role as secondary armament on capital ships and primary armament on cruisers was taken over by the BL 6-inch Mk VII and BL 6-inch Mk XII while the 4-inch calibre became the secondary armament on cruisers and primary armament on destroyers.

In World War II many guns were used to arm merchant ships.

World War I field gun service

File:BL 4-inch Mk VII gun East Africa WWI.jpg

A battery of 4 guns mounted on field carriages was first deployed with the South African Heavy Artillery in the German South West Africa campaign in 1915 and returned to England in September. They were then deployed in the East African Campaign from February 1916 with 11th Heavy Battery (renumbered 15th Battery from April 1916) manned by the Royal Marine Artillery.Farndale 1988, page 318

Surviving examples

File:4-inch gun from HMS New Zealand in front of the Auckland Museum in June 2012 2.jpg.]]

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027123448/http://www.geocities.com/kelburn.geo/4inchguns.html 2 Mk VII guns from HMS New Zealand] outside the Auckland War Memorial Museum

See also

= Weapons of comparable role, performance and era =

Notes

{{Reflist|group=note}}

References

{{reflist}}

Sources

  • [http://www.gwpda.org/naval/hb4_inch.htm HANDBOOK for the 4" Mark VII. and VIII. B.L. Guns 1913 (Corrected to September 1913.) ADMIRALTY Gunnery Branch, G.8652/13]
  • {{cite journal |last=Campbell |first=John |editor=Lambert, Andrew D. |year=1987 |title=British Naval Guns, 1880–1945, No. 17 |journal=Warship |volume=10 |pages=53–55}}
  • DiGiulian, Tony. [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_4-50_mk7.htm British 4"/50 (10.2 cm) BL Mark VII]
  • Farndale, General Sir Martin. [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1870114051 History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery : Forgotten Fronts and the Home Base 1914–18. London:The Royal Artillery Institution, 1988]
  • {{cite book |title=Naval Weapons of World War II |author=Campbell, John |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1985 |isbn=0-87021-459-4}}

{{Commons category|BL 4 inch Mk VII naval gun}}

{{GreatWarBritishNavalWeapons}}

{{GreatWarBritishWeapons}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:BL 04-inch Mk 07 gun}}

Category:Naval guns of the United Kingdom

Category:World War I naval weapons of the United Kingdom

Category:100 mm artillery