The QF 4.7 inch Gun Mark VIII[1] was a British naval anti-aircraft gun designed in the 1920s for the Royal Navy. This was the largest caliber fixed ammunition gun ever in service in the RN, though the round was considerably shorter and lighter than the round for the QF 4.5-inch Mk I – V naval gun. It was carried in powered HA XII mountings on the two Nelson-class battleships, two of the three Courageous-class aircraft carriers, the minelayer HMS Adventure, and the Australian seaplane tender HMAS Albatross.[2]
| QF 4.7 inch Gun Mk VIII | |
|---|---|
 One gun on HMS Rodney before 1940 | |
| Type | Naval anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1927–1945 |
| Used by | British Empire |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| No. built | 84 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 6,636 pounds (3,010 kg) |
| Barrel length | 189 inches (4.8 m) L/40 |
| Shell weight | Complete 76 pounds (34.5 kg) Projectile 50 pounds (22.7 kg) |
| Calibre | 4.724 inches (120 mm) |
| Elevation | –5° to +90 |
| Traverse | 360° |
| Rate of fire | 8–12 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,457 feet per second (749 m/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 16,160 yards (14,780 m) at 45° 32,000 feet (9,800 m) at 90° |
See also
editWeapons of comparable role, performance and era
edit- Type 10 120 mm AA Gun: Japanese equivalent
Notes and references
edit- ^ Mark VIII = Mark 8. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. Mark VIII indicates this was the eighth model of QF 4.7 inch gun.
- ^ Campbell, Naval Weapons of WWII, p.51.
Bibliography
edit- Tony DiGiulian. "British 4.7"/43 (12 cm) QF Mark VII 4.7"/40 (12 cm) QF Mark VIII 4.7"/40 (12 cm) QF Mark X".
- Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
External links
edit
Media related to QF 4.7 inch Mk VIII naval gun at Wikimedia Commons