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Dual-purpose gun
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
Used by Royal Navy
 Royal Canadian Navy
AustraliaRoyal Australian Navy
WarsWorld War II
Production history
Designed1938
No. built2,023
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°
Muzzle velocity396 metres per second (1,300 ft/s)
Maximum firing range8,870 metres (9,700 yd) at +40°

The QF 4-inch Mk XIX gun 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.

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). 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.

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. ^ "United Kingdom / Britain 4"/40 (10.2 cm) QF Mark XIX". NavWeaps. Tony DiGiulian. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  2. ^ 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. ^ DiGiulian

Bibliography

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

External links

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