| Ordnance BL 16 inch Mark I | |
|---|---|
 Guns of HMS Rodney at maximum elevation, 1940 | |
| Type | naval gun |
| Place of origin | UK |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1927-1948 |
| Used by | UK |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1922 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 108 long ton (109.7 tonnes) |
| Length | 61 ft 10 in (18.85 m) |
| Barrel length | 60 ft (18.3 m) |
| Shell | separate charge, AP shell 2,048 lb (929 kg) |
| Calibre | 16 inch (406 mm) |
| Breech | Welin |
| Elevation | 40° in mounting Mark I |
| Rate of fire | 1.5 rounds per minute as fitted |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,586 feet/second (788 m/s) |
| Effective range | 35,000 yards (32,000 m) at 32° elevation |
| Maximum range | 39,780 yards (36,375 m) |
The BL 16 inch Mark I was a British naval gun introduced in the 1920s and used on the two Nelson-class battleships. The barrel was 45 calibres long ("/45" in shorthand) meaning 45 times the bore (16 in) - 60 ft (18 m) long.
These wire-wound built-up guns had originally been planned for the cancelled G3-class battlecruiser design upon which the Nelson class drew.
An improved weapon, the BL 16 inch Mark II was designed for the cancelled Lion-class battleships; only four guns and no turrets were produced.
Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth & Company at Elswick, Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness, William Beardmore & Company at Dalmuir and the Royal Gun Factory at Woolwich made a total of 29 guns of which 18 would be required for both ships at any time.
See also
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to BL 16 inch Mk I naval gun. |
References
- Tony DiGiulian, British 16"/45 (40.6 cm) Mark I
- Terry Duncan, The British 16" Mark I Gun and Mounting
| This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors). |
