QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XIX

Ordnance QF 4 inch gun Mk XIX
Crew of HMAS Cowra at gun drill, Tarakan Island, June 1945
TypeDual-purpose gun
Service history
In service1939[1]
Used by Royal Navy
 Royal Canadian Navy
AustraliaRoyal Australian Navy
WarsWorld War II
Production history
Designed1938[1]
No. built2,023[2]
Specifications
Barrel length160 inches (4.064 m) bore (40 calibres)
ShellFixed QF HE, Starshell
Shell weight35 pounds (16 kg)
Calibre4-inch (101.6 mm)
Breechhorizontal sliding-block
Elevation-10° to +60°[2]
Muzzle velocity396 metres per second (1,300 ft/s)[2]
Maximum firing range8,870 metres (9,700 yd) at +40°[2]

The QF 4-inch Mk XIX gun[note 1] was a British low-velocity 4-inch 40-calibre naval gun used to arm small warships such as Bathurst and Castle-class corvette and some River-class frigate in World War II, mainly against submarines.[3]

Description

It succeeded the higher-velocity World War I-era BL 4-inch Mk IX (typically deployed on Flower-class corvettes in the escort role). The Mk XIX fired fixed ammunition which was 38.5 inches (0.98 m) long and weighed 50 pounds (23 kg).[3] The weight of the projectile was increased from 31 pounds (14 kg) for the Mk IX to 35 pounds (16 kg) for the Mk XIX. The high-angle mounting used for the XIX added some anti-aircraft capability and allowed it to fire starshells to illuminate the battle area at night.[2]

Ammunition

Surviving examples

  • On HMAS Castlemaine at Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.
  • On the parade ground at the Irish Naval Service Base, Haulbowline, Co. Cork, Ireland

Notes

  1. ^ Mk XIX = Mark 19. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. This was the nineteenth model of British QF 4-inch gun

References

  1. ^ a b "United Kingdom / Britain 4"/40 (10.2 cm) QF Mark XIX". NavWeaps. Tony DiGiulian. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e http://navalhistory.flixco.info/H/119171x53535/8330/a0.htm : quotes from John Campbell, "Naval Weapons Of World War Two", Annapolis : Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN 0-87021-459-4
  3. ^ a b DiGiulian

Bibliography

  • John Campbell, "Naval Weapons Of World War Two", Annapolis : Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN 0-87021-459-4
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