8-inch/35-caliber gun: Difference between revisions
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The '''8"/35 caliber gun Mark 3 and Mark 4''' (spoken "eight-inch-thirty-five--caliber") were used for the primary batteries of the [[United States Navy]]'s first [[armored cruiser]]s and the secondary batteries for their first [[battleship]]s, the {{sclass-|Indiana|battleship|0}}.<ref name="navweaps">{{cite web |url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_8-35_mk3.htm|title=United States of America 8"/35 (20.3 cm) Marks 3 and 4 8"/40 (20.3 cm) Mark 5 |publisher=Navweaps |date=11 May 2015 |accessdate=9 November 2015}}</ref |
The '''8"/35 caliber gun Mark 3 and Mark 4''' (spoken "eight-inch-thirty-five--caliber") were used for the primary batteries of the [[United States Navy]]'s first [[armored cruiser]]s and the secondary batteries for their first [[battleship]]s, the {{sclass-|Indiana|battleship|0}}. The '''8"/40 caliber gun Mark 5''', the {{sclass-|Pennsylvania|cruiser}} armored cruisers.<ref name="navweaps">{{cite web |url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_8-35_mk3.htm|title=United States of America 8"/35 (20.3 cm) Marks 3 and 4 8"/40 (20.3 cm) Mark 5 |publisher=Navweaps |date=11 May 2015 |accessdate=9 November 2015}}</ref> |
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==Mark 3== |
==Mark 3== |
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Revision as of 10:25, 25 May 2016
| 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. | |
| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Service history | |
| In service |
|
| Used by |  United States Navy |
| Wars | |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Bureau of Ordnance |
| Designed | 1889 |
| Manufacturer | U.S. Naval Gun Factory |
| No. built | 75 |
| Variants | Mark 3, Mark 4 and Mark 5 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass |
|
| Length |
|
| Barrel length |
|
| Shell | 260 lb (120 kg) armor-piercing |
| Caliber | 8 inches (203 mm) |
| Elevation |
|
| Traverse |
|
| Rate of fire |
|
| Muzzle velocity |
|
| Effective firing range | Marks 3 & 4: 16,000-yard (14,630 m) at 20.1° elevation |
The 8"/35 caliber gun Mark 3 and Mark 4 (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, the Template:Sclass-. The 8"/40 caliber gun Mark 5, the Template:Sclass- armored cruisers.[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 Mark 3's consisted of gun Nos. 9 – 27, 33 – 37, and 51. The production Mark 3 Mod 0 had removable trunnions, 96–97 in (2.4–2.5 m) from the breech, 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, also for one gun only, different from other Mods in having a ring shrunk onto the breech end, tapering the breech, and with a small balancing hoop screwed onto the front chase hoop. Mod 5 had the trunnions removed and the outer jacket threaded to accept a sleeve. Mod 6, gun Nos. 52 and 82–83, were constructed of nickel-steel in a simplified three-piece construction.[1][2]
Mark 4
The Mark 4's were Nos. 22 – 32, 38 – 50, and 52 – 83. The original Mark 4 Mod 0 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, No. 27, 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. Mod 11 was a Mod 4 gun, No. 72, with an alloy steel liner, uniformed rifling and modified chamber.[1][2]
Mark 5
The Mark 5, Nos. 84 – 107, 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 by 1908, 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 in (203 mm)/45 Mark 6 guns.[1][2]
Naval Service
| Ship | Gun Installed | Gun Mount |
|---|---|---|
| USS Chicago (1885) | Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber (Nos. 69 – 72) refit 8"/30's in 1899 | Mark 2: 4 × Single "Half-turret" |
| USS New York (ACR-2) | Mark 3: 8"/35 caliber (Nos. 16 – 21) | Mark 3 and Mark 4: 2 × Single center-pivots; Mark 5: 2 × Twin Turrets |
| USS Brooklyn (ACR-3) | Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber (Nos. 53 – 60) | Mark 8: 4 × Twin Turrets |
| USS Pennsylvania (ACR-4) | Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber | Mark 12: 2 × Twin Turrets |
| USS West Virginia (ACR-5) | Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber | Mark 12: 2 × Twin Turrets |
| USS California (ACR-6) | Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber | Mark 12: 2 × Twin Turrets |
| USS Colorado (ACR-7) | Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber | Mark 12: 2 × Twin Turrets |
| USS Maryland (ACR-8) | Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber | Mark 12: 2 × Twin Turrets |
| USS South Dakota (ACR-9) | Mark 5: 8"/40 caliber | Mark 12: 2 × Twin Turrets |
| USS Charleston (C-2) | Mark 3: 8"/35 caliber (Nos. 13 and 14) | 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 3: 8"/35 caliber (Nos. 34 – 37) | Mark 6: 2 × Twin Turrets |
| USS Columbia (C-12) | Mark 3: 8"/40 caliber (No. 33) | Mark 3 or Mark 4: 1 × Single center-pivot |
| USS Minneapolis (C-13) | Mark 3: 8"/40 caliber (No. 51) | Mark 3 or Mark 4: 1 × Single center-pivot |
| USS Indiana (BB-1) | Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber (Nos. 81 and 82 in 1906) | Mark 7: 4 × Twin Turrets |
| USS Massachusetts (BB-2) | Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber | Mark 7: 4 × Twin Turrets |
| USS Oregon (BB-3) | Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber | Mark 7: 4 × Twin Turrets |
| USS Iowa (BB-4) | Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber (Nos. 61 – 68) (No. 83 in 1908) | Mark 7: 4 × Twin Turrets |
| USS Kearsarge (BB-5) | Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber | Mark 9 (superimposed turret): 2 × Dual-Caliber Turret |
| USS Kentucky (BB-6) | Mark 4: 8"/35 caliber | Mark 9 (superimposed turret): 2 × Dual-Caliber Turret |
References
- ^ a b c Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Seaforth Publishing. p. 173. ISBN 978 1 84832 100 7.
External links
Bluejackets Manual, 1917, 4th revision: US Navy 14-inch Mark 1 gun
