Military Wiki
EOC 4-inch 50 caliber
Type Naval gun
Place of origin Great Britain
Service history
Used by Republic of China
Greece
Wars Balkan Wars
World War I
Greco-Turkish War
World War II
Production history
Designer Elswick Ordnance Company
Designed 1911
Manufacturer Armstrong Whitworth
Produced 1911
Specifications
Mass 4,816 lb (2,185 kg)
Barrel length 16.7 ft (5.1 m) 50 caliber

Shell Fixed QF ammunition
57.7 lb (26.2 kg)
Shell weight 31 lb (14 kg)
Calibre 4 inches (100 mm)
Breech Horizontal sliding wedge breech
Rate of fire 10-12 rpm
Muzzle velocity 3,000 ft/s (910 m/s)[1]

The EOC 4-inch 50 caliber was a British naval gun designed by the Elswick Ordnance Company for export customers in the years before World War I that armed warships of the Republic of China and the Greek Navy. These ships served in both World War I and later World War II.

History[]

The EOC 4-inch 50 caliber began life as a design produced by the parent company of Elswick, Armstrong Whitworth for export customers called the Pattern P. These guns did not serve aboard ships of the Royal Navy.[1]

Construction[]

The EOC 4-inch 50 caliber was constructed of an A tube and wire wound with a protective outer jacket. It also had a horizontal sliding-wedge breech and fired fixed quick fire ammunition.[1]

Naval use[]

EOC 4-inch 50 caliber guns armed coastal defense ships, destroyers and protected cruisers.

Coastal defense ships:

  • Yongfeng class - Two of the four ships of this class Yongjian and Yongji were armed with a single bow mounted EOC 4-inch gun. While Yongfeng and Yongxiang were similar in configuration they carried a single bow mounted Krupp 10.5 cm SK L/40 gun instead.[2][3]

Destroyers:

  • Aetos class - The four ships of this class had a primary armament of four EOC 4-inch guns. One was bow mounted, one was amidships and two were at the stern.[4][5]

Protected cruisers:

  • Chao Ho class - Two ships of this class Chao Ho and Ying Swei had a secondary armament of four shielded EOC 4-inch guns on sponsons amidships. The third ship of the class named Elli was sold to Greece before completion and had a different armament scheme.[6][7][8]

References[]

  • Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7. 

Notes[]

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The original article can be found at EOC 4-inch 50 caliber and the edit history here.