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==Mark 5==
==Mark 5==
Mark 5 was a new 40 caliber design intended for armored cruisers and battleship secondaries and constructed of tube, jacket, three hoops and one locking ring. This gun had a muzzle bell. Unfortunately, the Mark 5 proved to be unable to handle the transition from black powder to nitrocellulose propellants as the new propellant burned more slowly, which allowed pressure to build up to unsafe levels as the projectile traveled down the bore. This problem was illustrated when {{USS|Colorado|ACR-7|2}} blew off the muzzle of one of her 8"/40 (20.3 cm) guns during gunnery practice off [[Yantai|Chefoo]], [[Shantung]], on 22 June 1907. All Mark 5 guns were subsequently removed from service, lengthened to 45 calibers by adding a new liner and rehooped to the muzzle, redesignated as Mod 1 and then placed into reserve. Two of these Mod 1 guns were given a slightly different breech mechanism and gas seat and then designated as Mod 2. {{sclass-|Pennsylvania|cruiser|0}} were subsequently rearmed with the stronger [[8"/45 caliber gun|{{convert|8|in|mm|sigfig=3}}/45]] Mark 6 guns.<ref name="navweaps" />
Mark 5 was a new 40 caliber design intended for armored cruisers and battleship secondaries and constructed of tube, jacket, three hoops and one locking ring. This gun had a muzzle bell. Unfortunately, the Mark 5 proved to be unable to handle the transition from black powder to nitrocellulose propellants as the new propellant burned more slowly, which allowed pressure to build up to unsafe levels as the projectile traveled down the bore. This problem was illustrated when {{USS|Colorado|ACR-7|2}} blew off the muzzle of one of her 8"/40 (20.3&nbsp;cm) guns during gunnery practice off [[Yantai|Chefoo]], [[Shantung]], on 22 June 1907. All Mark 5 guns were subsequently removed from service, lengthened to 45 calibers by adding a new liner and rehooped to the muzzle, redesignated as Mod 1 and then placed into reserve. Two of these Mod 1 guns were given a slightly different breech mechanism and gas seat and then designated as Mod 2. {{sclass-|Pennsylvania|cruiser|0}} were subsequently rearmed with the stronger [[8"/45 caliber gun|{{convert|8|in|mm|sigfig=3}}/45]] Mark 6 guns.<ref name="navweaps" />


==Naval Service==
==Naval Service==
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{{Commons category|8"/35 caliber gun}}
{{Commons category|8"/35 caliber gun}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:8 35 Caliber Mark 3 & 4 Gun}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:8 35 Caliber Mark 3 and 4 Gun}}
[[Category:Naval guns of the United States]]
[[Category:Naval guns of the United States]]
[[Category:203 mm artillery]]
[[Category:203 mm artillery]]

Revision as of 04:21, 11 November 2015

8"/35 caliber Mark 3 & 4 / 8"/40 caliber Mark 5 Naval Gun
Crewmen standing atop USS Indiana forward port side 8-inch gun turret, circa the later 1890s.
TypeNaval gun
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service
  • Mark 3: 1889
  • Mark 5: 1894
Used by United States Navy
Wars
Production history
DesignerBureau of Ordnance
Designed1890
ManufacturerU.S. Naval Gun Factory
VariantsMark 3, Mark 4 and Mark 5
Specifications
MassMark 3 29,400 lb (13,300 kg)
Length
  • Marks 3 & 4: 299 in (7.6 m)
  • Mark 5: 343 in (8.7 m)
Barrel length
  • Marks 3 & 4: 280 in (7.1 m) bore (35 calibers)
  • Mark 5: 320 in (8.1 m) bore (30 calibers)
Shell260 lb (120 kg) A.P.
Caliber8 inches (203 mm)
Elevation
  • Marks 3 and 4:-5° to +20°
  • Marks 5 and 6:−4° to +13°
  • Marks 7, 8, and 9:−7° to +14°
Traverse
  • Bow and Stern Mountings:−150° to +150°
  • New York Amidships Mountings:140°
  • Brooklyn Amidships Mountings:140°
Rate of fire
  • 1890s: 0.5 to 0.8 rounds per minute
  • 1900s: 2 –2.8 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity
  • 8"/35: 2,100 ft/s (640 m/s)
  • 8"/40: 2,000 ft/s (610 m/s)
Effective firing range8"/35: 16,000-yard (14,630 m) at 20.1° elevation

The 8"/35 caliber gun (spoken "eight-inch-thirty-five--caliber") were used for the primary batteries of the United States Navy's first armored cruisers and the secondary batteries for their first battleships.[1]

Mark 3

The Mark 3 Experimental was a 30 caliber gun that used trunnions and had 11 hoops with the outer hoop starting 4 in (100 mm) from the breech and running out to the muzzle. The production Mark 3 Mod 0 was a trunnioned 35 caliber gun that had 11 hoops with the outer hoop starting 4 in (100 mm) from the breech and running out to 43.5 in (110 cm) from the muzzle. This gun was removed from service prior to World War I. The Mark 3 Mod 1 was constructed of tube, jacket and eight hoops while Mod 2 was identical to Mod 1 but with different steps under the chase hoops. Mod 3 was for one gun lengthened to 40 calibers and was removed from service prior to the start of World War I. Mod 4 was for one gun with minor changes from Mod 3. Mod 5 had the trunnions removed and the outer jacket threaded to accept a sleeve.[1]

Mark 4

The original Mark 4 guns were identical to Mark 3 Mod 1 guns with the trunnion hoop and elevating band removed and with the threads formerly under the trunnion hoop being continued to the rear of the gun. This allowed these guns to be screwed into the sleeve of a two-gun turret mount. Mark 4 Mod 1 was one Mark 4 gun shortened by 0.66 in (1.7 cm) in rear of the threads. Mods 2 through 9 were for minor differences primarily for testing different mounting techniques. Mod 10 was for one gun cut down to 23 calibers and used for experimental work with high-explosive shells.[1]

Mark 5

Mark 5 was a new 40 caliber design intended for armored cruisers and battleship secondaries and constructed of tube, jacket, three hoops and one locking ring. This gun had a muzzle bell. Unfortunately, the Mark 5 proved to be unable to handle the transition from black powder to nitrocellulose propellants as the new propellant burned more slowly, which allowed pressure to build up to unsafe levels as the projectile traveled down the bore. This problem was illustrated when Colorado blew off the muzzle of one of her 8"/40 (20.3 cm) guns during gunnery practice off Chefoo, Shantung, on 22 June 1907. All Mark 5 guns were subsequently removed from service, lengthened to 45 calibers by adding a new liner and rehooped to the muzzle, redesignated as Mod 1 and then placed into reserve. Two of these Mod 1 guns were given a slightly different breech mechanism and gas seat and then designated as Mod 2. Template:Sclass- were subsequently rearmed with the stronger 8 inches (203 mm)/45 Mark 6 guns.[1]

Ship Gun Installed Gun Mount
USS New York (ACR-2) Mark 3 and Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 3 and Mark 4: 2 × Single center-pivots; Mark 5: 2 × Twin Turrets
USS Brooklyn (ACR-3) Mark 3 and Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 8: 4 × Twin Turrets
USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4) Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber 2 × Twin Turrets
USS West Virginia (ACR-5) Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber 2 × Twin Turrets
USS California (ACR-6) Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber 2 × Twin Turrets
USS Colorado (ACR-7) Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber 2 × Twin Turrets
USS Maryland (ACR-8) Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber 2 × Twin Turrets
USS South Dakota (ACR-9) Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber 2 × Twin Turrets
USS Charleston (C-2) Mark 3 and Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 3 and Mark 4: 2 × Single center-pivots
USS Baltimore (C-3) Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 3 and Mark 4: 4 × Single center-pivots
USS Olympia (C-6) Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 6: 2 × Twin Turrets
USS Indiana (BB-1) Mark 3 and Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 7: 4 × Twin Turrets
USS Massachusetts (BB-2) Mark 3 and Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 7: 4 × Twin Turrets
USS Oregon (BB-3) Mark 3 and Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 7: 4 × Twin Turrets
USS Iowa (BB-4) Mark 3 and Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 7: 4 × Twin Turrets
USS Kearsarge (BB-5) Mark 3 and Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 9 (superimposed turret): 2 × Dual-Caliber Turret
USS Kentucky (BB-6) Mark 3 and Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber Mark 9 (superimposed turret): 2 × Dual-Caliber Turret

References

  1. ^ a b c d "United States of America 8"/35 (20.3 cm) Marks 3 and 4 8"/40 (20.3 cm) Mark 5". Navweaps. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
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