QF 4.7-inch Mk I – IV naval gun

The QF 4.7-inch Gun Mks I, II, III, and IV were a family of British quick-firing 4.724-inch (120 mm) naval and coast defence guns of the late 1880s and 1890s that served with the navies of various countries. They were also mounted on various wheeled carriages to provide the British Army with a long range gun. They all had a barrel of 40 calibres length.

QF 4.7-inch Gun Mk I – IV
Typical naval deck mounting, 1890s
TypeNaval gun
Medium field gun
Coastal defence gun
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1887–1920
Used byNaval:
United Kingdom

Kingdom of Italy
Empire of Japan
Canada

Field:
United Kingdom
Canada
Union of South Africa
Australia

Coastal defence:
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
WarsFirst Sino-Japanese War
Second Boer War
World War I
Italo-Turkish War
Second Italo-Ethiopian War
World War II
Production history
DesignerElswick Ordnance
Designedca. 1885
ManufacturerElswick Ordnance
Vickers Sons and Maxim
No. built1,167
VariantsMark I, II, III, IV, VI
Specifications
MassBarrel & breech 4,592 lb (Mk I–III); 4,704 lb (Mk IV)
Barrel length189-inch bore (40 cal)
Crew10

ShellSeparate loading QF; WWI : AP, Shrapnel, Common Lyddite, Common pointed, HE 45 pounds (20.41 kg)
Calibre4.724 inches (120 mm)
BreechSingle motion interrupted screw
Recoil12 inches (305 mm) (carriage Mk I)
Elevation-6° – 20° (Mk I field carriage)
Traverse
Rate of fire5–6 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocityGunpowder : 1,786 feet per second (544 m/s)
Cordite : 2,150 feet per second (660 m/s)
Maximum firing range10,000 yards (9,100 m) at 20°, 12,000 yards (11,000 m) at 24°

The gun was originally designed to replace the older BL 5-inch (127 mm) naval guns. It was optimised for the modern smokeless propellants, such as Cordite, and could be loaded and fired far more rapidly than the BL 5-inch gun while firing a shell only slightly lighter.

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