The EOC 10-inch 45 calibre gun were various similar 10-inch naval guns designed and manufactured by Elswick Ordnance Company to equip ships they built and/or armed for several countries before World War I.
| EOC 10 inch 45-calibre naval gun | |
|---|---|
 Forward 10-inch turret of HMS Swiftsure | |
| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1904–45 |
| Used by |  Italy Empire of Japan United Kingdom |
| Wars | World War I World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Elswick Ordnance Company |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 34.5 tons |
| Barrel length | 37 ft 6 in (11.430 m) (45 cal) |
| Shell | 500 pounds (227 kg) |
| Calibre | 10 inches (254 mm) |
| Elevation | -5° to +25°[1] |
| Muzzle velocity | UK : 2,625 ft/s (800 m/s)[2] Italy: 850 m/s (2,800 ft/s)[3] |
| Maximum firing range | UK : 18,850 yd (17,240 m)[4] Italy : 25,000 m (27,000 yd)[3] @ 25°[5] |
History
editItalian service
editElswick supplied later, more powerful "Pattern W" models of its 10-inch 45-calibre guns for the San Giorgio-class armoured cruisers. In Italian service these were known as the Cannone da 254/45 A Modello 1906.[6]
Japanese service
editThe Katori-class battleship Kashima had a secondary armament of four single-gun turrets positioned on each side of the ships superstructure. In Japanese service these guns were known as 10-inch/45 Type 41 naval guns.
UK service
editElswick supplied 5 of their 10-inch 45-calibre guns for use on the battleship Constitución that they were building for Chile. Britain took the ship over in 1903 as HMS Swiftsure, and the guns were designated BL 10 inch Mk VI in UK service. These guns fired a 500-pound (227 kg) projectile using 146 pounds 12 ounces (66.6 kg) of cordite MD propellant.[7]
See also
editWeapons of comparable role, performance and era
edit- Vickers 10-inch /45 naval gun : Vickers equivalent
Notes
edit- ^ Campbell, Naval Weapons of WWII, p.324.
- ^ "The Dreadnought Project". dreadnoughtproject.org. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Gun Model: IT 10in 25cm 45cal Model 1906 1907". Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ UK mountings limited to 13.5°
- ^ DiGiulian
- ^ Friedman, p. 238
- ^ Treatise on Ammunition 10th edition 1915
References
edit- Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
- Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
External links
edit- Tony DiGiulian, British 10"/45 (25.4 cm) Marks VI and VII
- Tony DiGiulian, Italy 10"/45 (25.4 cm) Model 1908