EOC 14-inch 45-calibre naval gun

Elswick 14 inch 45-calibre naval gun
Forward guns of Almirante Latorre
Type	Naval gun
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1915–1958
Used by	United Kingdom Chile
Wars	World War I
Production history
Designer	Elswick Ordnance Company
Specifications
Barrel length	Bore 52 ft 6 in (16.002 m) (45 cal)
Shell	HE 1,586 lb (719.40 kg) 4 c.r.h. (later 1,400 lb (635.03 kg) 8 c.r.h.)
Calibre	14-inch (355.6 mm)
Elevation	Naval: 0° - 20° Railway: 0 - 40°
Muzzle velocity	2,450 ft/s (747 m/s) (1,586 lb shell); 2,600 ft/s (792 m/s) (1,400 lb shell)

The BL 14 inch 45 calibre gun were various similar naval guns designed and manufactured by Elswick Ordnance Company to equip ships that Armstrong-Whitworth built and/or armed for several countries before World War I.

History

When World War I began, Armstrong-Whitworth were building the battleship Almirante Latorre for Chile, armed with 10 of its 14-inch guns. The battleship was acquired by the British government and completed as HMS Canada and served in the Royal Navy in World War I, with its guns designated BL 14 inch Mk I.

After World War I the battleship was sold to Chile as Almirante Latorre as originally intended.

Railway guns

Main article: BL 14 inch Railway Gun

Elswick built several guns for Japan which went into British service as railway guns in World War I under the designation BL 14 inch Mk III. They were similar to but lighter than Mk I, and were modified to give similar performance as Mk I.

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

• 14"/45 caliber gun US equivalent
• Vickers 14 inch/45 naval gun Vickers/Japanese equivalent

Notes

References

• Tony DiGiulian, British 14"/45 (35.6 cm) Marks I and III
• I.V. Hogg & L.F. Thurston, British Artillery Weapons & Ammunition 1914-1918. London: Ian Allan, 1972.