BL 4-inch Mk VIII naval gun explained

The BL 4-inch Mark VIII naval gun^[8] was a British medium-velocity wire-wound naval gun introduced in 1908 as an anti-torpedo boat gun in smaller ships whose decks could not support the strain of the heavier and more powerful Mk VII gun.^[9]

Mk VIII history

The gun succeeded the QF 4-inch Mk III, whose 25lb shell had been considered insufficiently powerful for its intended role. The BL Mk VIII fired a 31lb shell. It armed the following warships :

• laid down 1905
• destroyers from (1908) onwards.
• of 1909
• s of 1910
• s of 1910
• s (Australia) of 1910.

The gun was succeeded in its class from 1911 by the QF 4-inch Mk IV.

In World War II many guns were used to arm merchant ships.

Mk XI submarine gun

A Mark XI-variant was adapted to arm the K-class submarines laid down 1915.

See also

• List of naval guns
• German 10.5 cm SK L/40 naval gun – firing slightly heavier shell

Sources

• HANDBOOK for the 4" Mark VII. and VIII. B.L. Guns 1913 (Corrected to September 1913.) ADMIRALTY Gunnery Branch, G.8652/13

External links

• Tony DiGiulian, British 4"/40 (10.2 cm) BL Mark VIII and Mark XI

Notes and References

1. DiGiulian
2. DiGiulian
3. DiGiulian
4. DiGiulian
5. 2287 ft/second firing a 31 lb 3 CRH projectile, using 5 lb 4 oz cordite MD size 16 propellant. HANDBOOK for the 4" Mark VII. and VIII. B.L. Guns 1913.
6. DiGiulian
7. DiGiulian
8. Mark VIII = Mark 8. Mark XI = Mark 11. Britain used Roman numerals to denote marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. This was the eighth model of British BL 4-inch gun.
9. HANDBOOK for the 4" Mark VII. and VIII. B.L. Guns 1913