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QF 4.7-inch Mk IX & XII naval gun

From Wikipedia, in a visual modern way
QF 4.7 inch Mark IX & Mark XII
The Royal Navy during the Second World War A252.jpg
Two twins 4.7 inch Mk XII guns on CP Mk XIX mounting on HMS Kelvin
TypeNaval gun
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1928–1970?
Used byRoyal Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
Royal Hellenic Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
Polish Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
Turkish Navy
Dominican Navy
Argentine Navy
Brazilian Navy
WarsWorld War II
Korean War
Production history
No. built742 (Mk IX); 372 (Mk XII)
Specifications
Mass2.963–2.984 long tons (3,011–3,032 kg) (Mk IX)
3.238–3.245 long tons (3,290–3,297 kg) (Mk XII)
Length220.62 in (5.60 m) (Mk IX)
224.08 in (5.69 m) (Mk XII)
Barrel lengthBore: 212.58 in (5.40 m) L/45 (cal)
ShellSeparate loading cased charge
Shell weight50 pounds (22.7 kg) SAP or HE
Calibre4.724 inches (120 mm)
BreechSemi-automatic horizontal sliding-block
RecoilHydro-pneumatic
ElevationVaried by mounting
Rate of fireabout 15 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity2,650 ft/s (810 m/s)
Maximum firing range16,970 yards (15,520 m) at 40°
Single Mk IX gun on HMCS Assiniboine with gunners sheltering behind the shield
Single Mk IX gun on HMCS Assiniboine with gunners sheltering behind the shield

The 4.7 inch QF Mark IX and Mark XII[note 1] were 45-calibre, 4.7-inch (120 mm) naval guns which armed the majority of Royal Navy and Commonwealth destroyers in World War II,[1] and were exported to many countries after World War II as the destroyers they were mounted on were sold off.

Discover more about QF 4.7-inch Mk IX & XII naval gun related topics

Caliber (artillery)

Caliber (artillery)

In artillery, caliber or calibre is the internal diameter of a gun barrel, or, by extension, a relative measure of the barrel length.

Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the early 16th century; the oldest of the UK's armed services, it is consequently known as the Senior Service.

Commonwealth of Nations

Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, simply referred to as the Commonwealth, is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire. The chief institutions of the organisation are the Commonwealth Secretariat, which focuses on intergovernmental aspects, and the Commonwealth Foundation, which focuses on non-governmental relations among member states. Numerous organisations are associated with and operate within the Commonwealth.

Destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy, or battle group and defend them against powerful short-range attackers. They were originally developed in 1885 by Fernando Villaamil for the Spanish Navy as a defense against torpedo boats, and by the time of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904, these "torpedo boat destroyers" (TBDs) were "large, swift, and powerfully armed torpedo boats designed to destroy other torpedo boats". Although the term "destroyer" had been used interchangeably with "TBD" and "torpedo boat destroyer" by navies since 1892, the term "torpedo boat destroyer" had been generally shortened to simply "destroyer" by nearly all navies by the First World War.

World War II

World War II

World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries, including all of the great powers, fought as part of two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. Many participants threw their economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind this total war, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. Aircraft played a major role, enabling the strategic bombing of population centres and the delivery of the only two nuclear weapons ever used in war.

Description and history

These guns succeeded the similar World War I-era BL 4.7 inch gun, changing the cartridges from BL silk bags to separate QF in brass cases and a new horizontal sliding-block breech mechanism.

Mark IX was deployed in single mountings CP Mk XIV on the A-class destroyers of 1930 and on most subsequent destroyer classes up to and including the R class of 1942.

Twin Mk XII guns on HMAS Nizam
Twin Mk XII guns on HMAS Nizam
A twin Mk.XII mounting on HMS Javelin. The cylindrical Fuse Setting Pedestal is clearly visible on the right, at waist height.
A twin Mk.XII mounting on HMS Javelin. The cylindrical Fuse Setting Pedestal is clearly visible on the right, at waist height.

The almost-identical Mk XII gun was deployed in twin mountings CP Mk XIX on the Tribal-class destroyers of 1936 and J, K and N classes of 1938. This mounting limited the maximum elevation to 40 degrees, but all twin CP Mk XIX were dual-purpose mountings and were equipped with Fuze Setting Pedestals or Mk V Fuze Setting Trays,[2] to allow the mountings to be fired against aircraft while being controlled by the Fuze Keeping Clock (FKC) fire control computer. Typical maximum rate of fire was twelve rounds per gun, per minute.[3][4] During gunnery trials in 1930, HMS Basilisk' was able to fire "...five rounds in 17 seconds."[5] The Mk XII gun fired a 50 lb (23 kg) shell and used a separate cartridge, with both shell and cartridge being loaded via a loading tray, with power ramming, elevation, and traverse. The maximum range at 40 degrees elevation was 16,970 yards (15,520 m) fired at the new gun muzzle velocity of 2,650 fps (808 m/s).[1] The 40-degree elevation was justified on the grounds that destroyers would be screening the battle-fleet during aerial attack, and 40 degrees elevation was adequate to engage aircraft that were concentrating their attack on other ships.[6]

Admiral Sir Philip Vian describes the use of Tribal-class destroyer mounted Mk XII guns against aircraft during the campaign in Norwegian waters, from April to June 1940:

"It became clear at once that in an attack from the air in narrow waters flanked by mountains, the cards were held by the aircraft. There was too little sea-room for full freedom of manoeuvre, and the aircraft's approach was screened by the rock walls. As often as not, when they did come into view it was at such an angle that our 4.7-inch guns, whose maximum elevation was only forty degrees, could not reach them... Aandalsnes is approached through the Romsdal Fiord, and lies forty miles from the entrance, off which we arrived on the 24th April. The daylight passage of the convoy and escort through this waterway, speed five knots, on a steady course and with mountains rising steeply either side, presented an alluring invitation to enemy aircraft. Junkers attacks persisted to the end, but the fire of the destroyers, although limited to an elevation of forty degrees, was enough to keep the enemy just too high for their standard of marksmanship. Not a ship received a direct hit, though some were damaged by the splinters from near misses."[7]

The S class, introduced the CP (central pivot) single Mark XXII mounting for the QF Mark XII 4.7 in gun. This new mounting had a shield with a sharply raked front, to allow increased elevation (to 55 degrees),[8][9] contrasting noticeably with the vertical front of the previous CP Mark XVIII, and easily differentiated the S class onwards from their immediate predecessors. Savage was the exception in this respect, being fitted with 4.5 inch calibre; a twin mounting forward and two singles aft.

The 4.7 inch calibre was finally superseded by the 4.5 inch calibre on the Z-class destroyers in 1943. The new 4.5 inch guns all had 55-degree elevation mounts and actually fired a shell slightly heavier than that of 4.7-inch Mk IX and XII guns, although slightly lighter than that fired by the 4.7 inch Mk XI gun.

Discover more about Description and history related topics

A- and B-class destroyer

A- and B-class destroyer

The A- and B-class destroyers were a group of 18 destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the late 1920s, with two additional ships built for the Royal Canadian Navy. The British ships were divided into two flotillas of eight destroyers, each with a flotilla leader.

Q and R-class destroyer

Q and R-class destroyer

The Q and R class was a class of sixteen War Emergency Programme destroyers ordered for the British Royal Navy in 1940 as the 3rd and 4th Emergency Flotilla. They served as convoy escorts during World War II. Three Q-class ships were transferred to the Royal Australian Navy upon completion, with two further ships being handed over in 1945. Roebuck had the dubious honour of being launched prematurely by an air raid at Scotts shipyard in Greenock, her partially complete hulk lying submerged in the dockyard for nine months before it was salvaged and completed.

HMAS Nizam (G38)

HMAS Nizam (G38)

HMAS Nizam (G38/D15) was an N-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The destroyer, named after Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam of Hyderabad, was commissioned into the RAN in 1940, although the ship remained the property of the Royal Navy for her entire career.

HMS Javelin (F61)

HMS Javelin (F61)

HMS Javelin was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy.

Tribal-class destroyer (1936)

Tribal-class destroyer (1936)

The Tribal class, or Afridi class, were a class of destroyers built for the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Australian Navy that saw service in World War II. Originally conceived during design studies for a light fleet cruiser, the Tribals evolved into fast, powerful destroyers, with greater emphasis on guns over torpedoes than previous destroyers, in response to new designs by Japan, Italy, and Germany. The Tribals were well admired by their crews and the public when they were in service due to their power, often becoming symbols of prestige while in service.

J-, K- and N-class destroyer

J-, K- and N-class destroyer

The J, K and N class consisted of 24 destroyers built for the Royal Navy beginning in 1938. They were a return to a smaller vessel, with a heavier torpedo armament, after the Tribal class that emphasised guns over torpedoes. The ships were built in three flotillas or groups, each consisting of eight ships with names beginning with "J", "K" and "N". The flag superior of the pennant numbers changed from "F" to "G" in 1940.

Dual-purpose gun

Dual-purpose gun

A dual-purpose gun is a naval artillery mounting designed to engage both surface and air targets.

Fuze Keeping Clock

Fuze Keeping Clock

The Fuze Keeping Clock (FKC) was a simplified version of the Royal Navy's High Angle Control System analogue fire control computer. It first appeared as the FKC MkII in destroyers of the 1938 Tribal class, while later variants were used on sloops, frigates, destroyers, aircraft carriers and several cruisers. The FKC MkII was a non-tachymetric anti-aircraft fire control computer. It could accurately engage targets with a maximum speed of 250 knots.

HMS Basilisk (H11)

HMS Basilisk (H11)

HMS Basilisk was a B-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy around 1930. Initially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet, she was transferred to the Home Fleet in 1936. The ship escorted convoys and conducted anti-submarine patrols early in World War II before participating in the Norwegian Campaign. Basilisk was sunk by German aircraft during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

Romsdalsfjord

Romsdalsfjord

Romsdalsfjord or Romsdal Fjord is the ninth-longest fjord in Norway. It is 88 kilometres (55 mi) long and located in the Romsdal district of Møre og Romsdal county. It flows through the municipalities of Molde, Ålesund, Vestnes, and Rauma. The deepest point in the fjord is just southwest of the town of Molde, where it is 550 metres (1,800 ft) deep. Romsdalsfjord is a threshold-fjord, as it is separated from the ocean by a 180-metre (590 ft) deep shallower areas at the mouth. Several islands and skerries also shelter the wide central fjord from the Atlantic.

S and T-class destroyer

S and T-class destroyer

The S and T class was a class of sixteen destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1942–1943. They were built as two flotillas, known as the 5th and 6th Emergency Flotilla, and they served as fleet and convoy escorts in World War II.

Ammunition

Gun Mounting Data

Mounting[1] Elevation Weight w/o shield Shield Thickness Shield Weight Number of guns
CPXIV -10° to +30°  8.64 tons / 8,781 kg 0.144 in / 3.7 mm 0.85 tons / 864 kg 1
CPXVI -10° to +30°  8.829 tons / 8,971 kg unknown unknown 1
CPXVII -10° to +40°  8.829 tons / 8,971 kg 0.125 in / 3.2 mm 0.85 tons / 864 kg 1
CPXVIII -10° to +40°  9.544 tons / 9,697 kg 0.125 in / 3.2 mm 1.163 tons / 1,182 kg 1
CPXIX -10° to +40°  22.93 tons / 23,298 kg unknown 2.55 tons / 2,591 kg 2
CPXXII -10° to +55°  11.58 tons / 11,766 kg 0.375 in / 9.5 mm 1.813 tons / 1,842 kg 1

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

Source: "QF 4.7-inch Mk IX & XII naval gun", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, January 19th), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_4.7-inch_Mk_IX_&_XII_naval_gun.

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Further Reading

HMS Maori (F24)

HMS Cossack (F03)

QF 4.5-inch Mk I – V naval gun

HMS Zulu (F18)

L and M-class destroyer

HMS Eskimo (F75)

HMS Sikh (F82)

Dual-purpose gun

J-, K- and N-class destroyer

5-inch/38-caliber gun

HMS Somali (F33)

HMS Bedouin

4.5-inch Mark 8 naval gun

QF 3-inch 20 cwt

QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss

QF 4-inch naval gun Mk V

QF 5.25-inch naval gun

QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XVI
Notes
  1. ^ Mark IX = Mark 9, Mark XII = Mark 12. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. This article covers the ninth and twelfth models of British QF 4.7 inch gun.
References
  1. ^ a b c Campbell, Naval Weapons of World War Two, p48.
  2. ^ Hodges and Friedman, Destroyer weapons of WW2, P95-96.
  3. ^ Hodges and Friedman, Destroyer weapons of WW2, p21.
  4. ^ March, British Destroyers, P358, Kimberley at Narvik: "Salvos fired about 180 in all...drill to guns very good, great part of the action a loading interval of about 5 seconds was achieved..."
  5. ^ March, British Destroyers, P264
  6. ^ Harding, editor, The Royal Navy, 1930-2000: innovation and defence, p19-41:, Pugh, Managing the aerial threat.
  7. ^ Vian, Philip, Action This Day, London, 1960, p.40 and 44.
  8. ^ March, British Destroyers, p.401.
  9. ^ Hodges, Tribal Class Destroyers, p32: Diagram of High Level Bomber Attack: A 240 mph target, at 12 thousand feet altitude could expect to be under fire for about 58 seconds, from the time it enters the effective range of the FKC until it flies to within the minimum range of a 4.7-inch gun elevated to 55 degrees. A Tribal class destroyer would be able to engage the same target for about 37 seconds with a 4.7-inch Mk XII gun elevated to 40 degrees.
Bibliography
  • Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
  • Hodges, Peter; Friedman, Norman (1979). Destroyer Weapons of World War 2. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-87021-929-4.
  • March, Edgar J. (1966). British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans. London: Seeley Service. OCLC 164893555.
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