3-inch/70-caliber Mark 26 gun: Difference between revisions

3 Inch / 70 Mark 26
3 Inch / 70 Mark 26
	3"/70 turret on USS Carpenter in 1962
Type	Anti-aircraft gun
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1958–1999
Used by	United States Navy; Turkish Navy
Production history
Designed	1945
Produced	1957
Specifications
Mass	2,650 lb (1,202 kg)
Barrel length	210 inches (5.3 m) bore (70 calibres)
Shell	AA
Caliber	3-inch (76.20 mm)
Recoil	15.62 inches (40 cm)
Elevation	-15 to 90 degrees
Rate of fire	90-100 rpm
Muzzle velocity	3,400 feet per second (1,000 m/s)
Maximum firing range	19,500 yards (17,830 m)

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The 3"/70 Mark 26 Gun was a US post war naval anti-aircraft gun. Developed as a joint project with the United Kingdom, which called it the QF 3-inch Mark N1 gun, it had a water-cooled barrel combined with an automatic loader to deliver high rates of fire.

The gun design was based on experience defending United States warships from Japanese kamikaze attacks in World War II and based on the 3-inch/50 caliber gun. The name indicates in US Navy terminology that this piece of naval artillery fires a projectile 3 in (76 mm) in diameter and has a barrel length of 70 calibers [barrel length = 3" × 70 = 210 in (18 ft; 5.3 m)]. "Mark 26" refers to the gun mounting rather than the gun itself.

Due to the long development period, the gun did not enter service until 1956 and the mounts proved problematic; the gun was removed from most US warships after a short service life.

The British mountings, known as Mark 6 in the Royal Navy, were to a different design and though also complex and subject to feed problems were more effective.

History

Development of the 3"/70 Mark 26 gun began from observations by the US Navy that the Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and the Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns were too small to 'kill-stop' Japanese kamikaze aircraft. As a joint project between the United States and the United Kingdom, its design being finalized in 1956, the Mark 26 missed any wartime action.^[2] It was an essential improvement over the previous version, the 3-inch/50-caliber Marks 27, 33, and 34, increasing the barrel length by 60 in (1.5 m) and improving range by over 5,000 ft (1,500 m) and elevation by 5 degrees. The 3-inch round was chosen because it was the smallest caliber ammunition that could be fitted with a VT radar proximity fuze. The twin barrel mount was believed to be more effective against faster aircraft and guided missiles than the single mounted 5"/54 caliber Mark 42 gun, hence, the single barrel version of the Mark 26 never saw service use.

Versions

The Mark 26 was the last of four versions of the 3"/50 caliber AA (anti-aircraft) artillery. The Mark 23 was the initial prototype on USS Carpenter to test the fully automatic firing of the artillery. The next version (Mark 24) was exactly the same despite an overall weight loss of the actual gun. The Mark 25's improvement was based on a rapid-fire horizontal-wedge breech. The final, and service ready, version incorporated all of these improvements (with the exception of being much heavier than the Mark 24 version) as well as a water cooled monoblock system with a horizontally sliding breech mechanism.

The British mounting for the guns built by Vickers was the twin 3-inch/70 Mark 6. This was used on the British Tiger-class cruisers (three mountings, one fore and two broadside and Canadian Restigouche-class and Mackenzie-class destroyer escorts (one mounting forward). The mounting could elevate to 90° at 30° per second and train at 60° per second.

Ammunition


	US	UK
Type	AA Mark 34 Mod 1	HE Fuze NC101
Shell weight	15 lbs. (6.8 kg)	15 lb (6.8 kg)
Cartridge	76.2 mm x 669R (Mark 10)	76.2 mm x 662R
Propellant charge	11.2 lb (5.1 kg) SPD	11.2 lb (5.1 kg)
Overall weight	36.2 lbs (16.4 kg)	36 lb (16 kg)
Muzzle velocity	3,400 ft/s (1,000 m/s)	3,400 ft/s (1,000 m/s)
Barrel Life	approx 2,050 rounds
Range	19,500 yards (17,830 meters) at 45 degrees elevation
AA Ceiling	38,000 feet (11,580 meters)

The ammunition used in the Mark 26 is heavier than its earlier 3-inch rounds used by the US Navy. Although it was a joint project by the United States and the United Kingdom, the two countries used cartridges that differed slightly.

The UK also had a non-fragmenting round for practice and an inert training round.

Usage

Mark 26 (US Mount)
- escort destroyers: USS Carpenter (DDE-825), USS Robert A. Owens (DDE-827)
- destroyer leader: USS Norfolk (DL-1),
- Mitscher-class destroyer leaders - USS Mitscher (DL-2), USS John S. McCain (DL-3), USS Willis A. Lee (DL-4), USS Wilkinson (DL-5)
- command cruiser: USS Northampton (CLC-1)
- light cruiser: CL-154-class cruiser (canceled)
Mark 6 (British mount)

Notes

^ DiGiulian
^ US Naval Weapons, at "NavWeaps" website

References

Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
Tony DiGiulian, United States of America 3"/70 (7.62 cm) Mark 37
Tony DiGiulian, United States of America 3"/50 (7.62 cm) Mark 27, 33, and 34
DiGiulian, Tony (2 February 2022). "3"/70 (7.62 cm) Mark 6". NavWeaps. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
Friedman, Norman (2003). US Naval Weapons. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-442-5.
Grulich, Fred (2004). "Question 37/00: Effectiveness of Shipboard Anti-Aircraft Fire". Warship International. XLI (1): 31–33. ISSN 0043-0374.

[1] DiGiulian

[2] US Naval Weapons, at "NavWeaps" website

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{null|date=May 2011}}
-{{Infobox Weapon
+{{Infobox weapon
 |name= 3 Inch / 70 Mark 26
-|image= [[File:USS Carpenter (DD-825) refueling in 1962.jpg|300px]]
+|image=USS Carpenter (DD-825) refueling in 1962.jpg
-|caption= 3''/70 turret on USS Carpenter (DDE-825) in 1962
+|caption= 3"/70 turret on {{USS|Carpenter|DDE-825|6}} in 1962
 |origin= United States
-|type= Anti-Aircraft Naval Gun
+|type= [[Anti-aircraft gun]]
 <!-- Type selection -->
 |is_ranged=
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 |is_UK=
 <!-- Service history -->
-|service= 1958
+|service= 1958–1999
-|used_by= [[US Navy]]
+|used_by=[[United States Navy]]<br>[[Turkish Navy]]
 |wars=
 <!-- Production history -->
 |designer=
 |design_date= 1945
 |manufacturer=
 |production_date= 1957
 |number=
 |variants=
 <!-- General specifications -->
 |weight= 2,650 lb (1,202 kg)
 |length=
 |part_length= {{convert|210|in|m}} bore (70 [[Caliber#Caliber as measurement of length|calibres]])
 |width=
 |height=
 |crew=
 <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
 |cartridge= AA
-|caliber= {{convert|3|in|mm|sing=on|sigfig=4}}
+|caliber= {{convert|3|in|mm|adj=on|sigfig=4}}
 |action=
 |rate= 90-100 rpm
 |velocity= {{convert|3400|ft/s|m/s}}
 |range=
 |max_range= 19,500 yards (17,830 m)<ref>DiGiulian</ref>
 |feed=
 |sights=
 <!-- Artillery specifications -->
 |breech=
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 |elevation= -15 to 90 degrees
 |traverse=
 <!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->
 |blade_type=
 |hilt_type=
@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 |head_type=
 |haft_type=
 <!-- Explosive specifications -->
 |diameter=
 |filling=
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 |speed=
 }}
-The '''3"/70 Mark 26 Gun''' was developed to protect United States Warships from [[kamikaze]] attacks in [[World War II]], based off the [[3"/50 caliber gun]].  The name indicates in US Navy terminology that this piece of [[naval artillery]] fires a 3" projectile (7.62&nbsp;cm) in diameter and has a caliber length of 70 (barrel length = 3" x 70 = 210" or 5.33 meters).
+The '''3"/70 Mark 26 Gun''' was a US post war naval anti-aircraft gun. Developed as a joint project with the United Kingdom, which called it the '''QF 3-inch Mark N1 gun''', it had a water-cooled barrel combined with an automatic loader to deliver high rates of fire.
+The gun design was based on experience defending United States warships from Japanese [[kamikaze]] attacks in [[World War II]] and based on the [[3-inch/50-caliber gun|3-inch/50 caliber gun]].  The name indicates in [[US Navy]] terminology that this piece of [[naval artillery]] fires a [[Shell (projectile)|projectile]] {{cvt|3|in|mm}} in diameter and has a barrel length of 70 [[Caliber (artillery)|caliber]]s [barrel length = 3" × 70 = {{cvt|210|in|ft+m}}]. "Mark 26" refers to the gun mounting rather than the gun itself.
+Due to the long development period, the gun did not enter service until 1956 and the mounts proved problematic; the gun was removed from most US warships after a short service life.
+The British mountings, known as '''Mark 6''' in the Royal Navy, were to a different design and though also complex and subject to feed problems were more effective.
 ==History==
-The 3"/70 Mark 26 Gun saw its development when the [[US Navy]] realized that the [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]] and the [[Bofors 40 mm]] artillery were too small to kill-stop Japanese kamikaze planes.  As a joint project between the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom]], its design being finalized in 1956, the Mark 26 missed any wartime action.<ref>[http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-70_mk37.htm US Naval Weapons, at "NavWeaps" website]</ref> It was an essential improvement over the previous version, the 3"/50 Marks 27, 33, and 34, increasing the barrel length by 60 inches and improving range by over 5,000 feet (approximately 1,500 meters) and elevation by 5 degrees.  The 3" round was chosen because it was the smallest ammunition that could still be equipped with a VT radar [[proximity fuze]].  The twin barrel mount was believed to be more effective against faster aircraft and guided missiles than the single mounted [[5"/54 caliber Mark 42 gun]], hence, the single barrel version of the Mark 26 never saw service use.
+Development of the 3"/70 Mark 26 gun began from observations by the [[US Navy]] that the [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]] and the [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm]] anti-aircraft guns were too small to 'kill-stop' Japanese [[kamikaze]] aircraft.  As a joint project between the United States and the United Kingdom, its design being finalized in 1956, the Mark 26 missed any wartime action.<ref>[http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-70_mk37.htm US Naval Weapons, at "NavWeaps" website]</ref> It was an essential improvement over the previous version, the [[3-inch/50-caliber gun|3-inch/50-caliber]] Marks 27, 33, and 34, increasing the barrel length by {{convert|60|in|m|abbr=on}} and improving range by over {{convert|5,000|ft|m|abbr=on}} and elevation by 5 degrees.  The 3-inch round was chosen because it was the smallest caliber ammunition that could be fitted with a VT radar [[proximity fuze]].  The twin barrel mount was believed to be more effective against faster aircraft and guided missiles than the single mounted [[5"/54 caliber Mark 42 gun]], hence, the single barrel version of the Mark 26 never saw service use.
-===Versions===
+==Versions==
-The Mark 26 was the last of four versions of the [[3"/50 caliber gun|3"/50 caliber AA (anti-aircraft) artillery]].  The Mark 23 was the initial prototype on the {{USS|Carpenter|DD-825|0}} to test the fully automatic firing of the artillery.  The next version (Mark 24) was exactly the same despite an overall weight loss of the actual gun.  The Mark 25's improvement was based on a rapid-fire horizontal-wedge breech.  The final, and service ready, version incorporated all of these improvements (with the exception of being much heavier than the Mark 24 version) as well as a water cooled monoblock system with a horizontally sliding breech mechanism.
+The Mark 26 was the last of four versions of the [[3"/50 caliber gun|3"/50 caliber AA (anti-aircraft) artillery]].  The Mark 23 was the initial prototype on {{USS|Carpenter|DD-825|6}} to test the fully automatic firing of the artillery.  The next version (Mark 24) was exactly the same despite an overall weight loss of the actual gun.  The Mark 25's improvement was based on a rapid-fire horizontal-wedge breech.  The final, and service ready, version incorporated all of these improvements (with the exception of being much heavier than the Mark 24 version) as well as a water cooled monoblock system with a horizontally [[Rifled breech loader#The sliding block|sliding breech]] mechanism.
+The British mounting for the guns built by Vickers was the twin '''3-inch/70 Mark 6'''. This was used on the British [[Tiger-class cruiser|''Tiger''-class cruiser]]s (three mountings, one fore and two broadside and Canadian [[Restigouche-class destroyer|''Restigouche''-class]] and [[Mackenzie-class destroyer|''Mackenzie''-class]] destroyer escorts (one mounting forward). The mounting could elevate to 90° at 30° per second and train at 60° per second.
 ==Ammunition==
@@ Line 82: / Line 91: @@
 {| class="wikitable" border="1"
 |-
+|+
 |-
+!
-| Type
+! US
-| AA Mark 34 Mod 1 - 15&nbsp;lbs. (6.8&nbsp;kg)
+! UK
 |-
+! Type
-| Weight
+| AA Mark 34 Mod 1
-| 36.2&nbsp;lbs (16.4&nbsp;kg) (complete shell)
+| HE Fuze NC101
 |-
+!Shell weight
-| Barrel Life
+|15&nbsp;lbs. (6.8&nbsp;kg)
-| 2,050 Rounds
+|{{convert|15|lb|abbr=on}}
 |-
+!Cartridge
-| Maximum Distance
-| 19,500 yards (17,830 meters)
+| 76.2 mm x 669R (Mark 10)
+| 76.2 mm x 662R
 |-
+!Propellant charge
-| AA Ceiling
+| {{convert|11.2| lb|abbr=on}} SPD
+| {{convert|11.2|lb|abbr=on}}
+|-
+! Overall weight
+| 36.2&nbsp;lbs (16.4&nbsp;kg)
+| {{convert|36| lb|abbr=on}}
+|-
+! Muzzle velocity
+| {{convert|3,400|ft/s|abbr=on}}
+| {{convert|3,400|ft/s|abbr=on}}
+|-
+! Barrel Life
+| approx 2,050 rounds
+|
+|-
+! Range
+| 19,500 yards (17,830 meters) at 45 degrees elevation
+|
+|-
+! AA Ceiling
 | 38,000 feet (11,580 meters)
+|
 |}
-The ammunition used in the Mark 26 is heavier than its earlier 3" rounds used by the US Navy.  Although it was a joint project by the United States and the United Kingdom, the two countries used cartridges that differed slightly.
+The ammunition used in the Mark 26 is heavier than its earlier 3-inch rounds used by the US Navy.  Although it was a joint project by the United States and the United Kingdom, the two countries used cartridges that differed slightly.
+The UK also had a non-fragmenting round for practice and an inert training round.
 ==Usage==
+* Mark 26 (US Mount)
-*escort destroyers: {{USS|Carpenter|DDE-825}}, {{USS|Robert A. Owens|DDE-827}};
+** escort destroyers: {{USS|Carpenter|DDE-825}}, {{USS|Robert A. Owens|DDE-827}}
-*destroyer leaders: {{USS|Norfolk|DL-1}}, {{USS|Mitscher|DL-2}}, {{USS|John S. McCain|DL-3}}, {{USS|Willis A. Lee|DL-4}}, {{USS|Wilkinson|DL-5}};
-*command ship: {{USS|Northampton|CLC-1}}.
+** destroyer leader: {{USS|Norfolk|DL-1}},
+** [[Mitscher-class destroyer|''Mitscher''-class]] destroyer leaders - {{USS|Mitscher|DL-2}}, {{USS|John S. McCain|DL-3}}, {{USS|Willis A. Lee|DL-4}}, {{USS|Wilkinson|DL-5}}
+** command cruiser: {{USS|Northampton|CLC-1}}
+** light cruiser: [[CL-154-class cruiser]] (canceled)
+* Mark 6  (British mount)
+** [[Tiger-class cruiser|''Tiger''-class cruiser]]
+** [[Restigouche-class destroyer|''Restigouche''-class destroyer]]
+** [[Mackenzie-class destroyer|''Mackenzie''-class destroyer]]
 ==Notes==
@@ Line 110: / Line 154: @@
 == References ==
+* {{cite book| title=Naval Weapons of World War Two |last=Campbell |first= John |publisher=US Naval Institute Press |year=1985 |isbn=0-87021-459-4}}
-*Tony DiGiulian, [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-70_mk37.htm United States of America 3"/70 (7.62 cm) Mark 37]
-*Tony DiGiulian, [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-50_mk27-33-34.htm United States of America 3"/50 (7.62 cm) Mark 27, 33, and 34]
+* Tony DiGiulian, [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-70_mk37.htm United States of America 3"/70 (7.62 cm) Mark 37]
+* Tony DiGiulian, [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-50_mk27-33-34.htm United States of America 3"/50 (7.62 cm) Mark 27, 33, and 34]
+* {{Cite web |last=DiGiulian |first=Tony |date=2 February 2022 |title=3"/70 (7.62 cm) Mark 6 |url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_3-70_mk6.php |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=NavWeaps}}
-===Books===
-* {{cite book| title=Naval Weapons of World War Two |author=Campbell, John |publisher=US Naval Institute Press |year=1985 |isbn=0-87021-459-4}}
 * {{cite book| title=US Naval Weapons |author=Friedman, Norman|publisher=US Naval Institute Press |year= 2003 |isbn=978-1-55750-442-5}}
+* {{cite journal|last1=Grulich|first1=Fred|year=2004|title=Question 37/00: Effectiveness of Shipboard Anti-Aircraft Fire|journal=Warship International|volume=XLI|issue=1|pages=31–33 |issn=0043-0374}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:3 70 Mark 26 gun}}
@@ Line 122: / Line 166: @@
 [[Category:Naval guns of the United States]]
 [[Category:76 mm artillery]]
+[[Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1950s]]