• Source: BL 4-inch Mk IX naval gun

The BL 4-inch Mk IX naval gun was a British medium-velocity naval gun introduced in 1917 as secondary armament on the Renown-class battlecruisers and Glorious-class "large light cruisers", but which served most notably as the main armament on Flower-class corvettes throughout World War II.




History






= World War I

=

The gun was based on the barrel of the QF 4-inch Mk V and the breech mechanism of the BL 4-inch Mk VIII and was first introduced in World War I on capital ships as secondary armament in triple-gun mountings, intended to provide rapid concentrated fire. This turned out to be unworkable in practice. Jane's Fighting Ships of 1919 commented, "4-inch triples are clumsy and not liked. They are not mounted in one sleeve; have separate breech mechanism, a gun crew of 23 to each triple". Guns were thereafter used in single-gun mountings, typically on smaller ships as the main armament.




= World War II

=

In World War II, the gun was employed on many small warships such as Flower-class corvettes and minesweepers, primarily for action against surfaced submarines.
This was the last BL 4 inch gun in British service: all subsequent guns have used charges in metal cartridges "QF". It was succeeded on new small warships built in World War II by the QF 4-inch Mk XIX gun which fired a slightly heavier shell at much lower velocity and had a high-angle mounting which added anti-aircraft capability.




Surviving examples


On board HMCS Sackville, the last surviving Flower-class corvette, at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
A gun at the entrance to the marina in Hull, UK
A gun at Port Isaac, Cornwall, UK
Leith Harbour, South Georgia.




See also


List of naval guns




Notes






References






Bibliography


Tony DiGiulian, British 4"/45 (10.2 cm) BL Marks IX and X
Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.




External links

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Daftar meriam laut menurut kaliber
• BL 18-inch Mk I naval gun
• BL 4-inch Mk IX naval gun
• BL 15-inch Mk I naval gun
• QF 4.7-inch Mk IX & XII naval gun
• BL 6-inch Mk VII naval gun
• BL 12-inch Mk X naval gun
• BL 16-inch Mk I naval gun
• BL 9.2-inch Mk IX – X naval gun
• BL 14-inch Mk VII naval gun
• BL 8-inch Mk VIII naval gun