BL 6 inch 80 pounder gun

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BL 6 inch 80 pounder gun
General Information
Military designation: 80-pounder BL
Manufacturer designation: 6-in. 81-cwt BLR
Manufacturer country: United KingdomUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Developer / Manufacturer: Elswick Ordnance Company
Development year: 1880
Production time: 1880 to 188?
Model variants: Mk I
Weapon Category: cannon
Technical specifications
Pipe length:
25.5-26 caliber 3.886-3.962
Caliber :

6 inch (152.4 mm)

Elevation range: 13.5 degrees

The BL gun pounder inch 80 6 was one of the Elswick Ordnance Company developed breech-loading cannon . It was the first breech-loading gun to be developed in Great Britain after the transition to muzzle-loading guns. It was intended to use the existing black powder propellant charges.

history

The muzzle loaders with rifled barrel ( RML - Riffle Muzzle Loading) introduced from the mid-1860s had basically proven themselves in the Royal Navy and coastal artillery. Suitable caliber sizes had been determined in lengthy series of tests. However, progress in shipbuilding, particularly with regard to the speed and armor of steam-powered warships, required greater range and cadence as well as greater penetration. When gas-tight closures became available, the breech loader was used again. For economic reasons, however, the large numbers of black powder propellant charges should continue to be used. Elswick Ordnance then developed the BL 6 inch gun Mk I ( BL - Breech Loading).

construction

Mk I of 80 cwt (4 tons), tube

The cannon was designed to fire 80-pound projectiles. She was designated as Mk I of 80 cwt (4 tons) . The core tube was made of steel, the jacket tube consisted of several layers of wrought iron . However, the construction turned out to be too weak. Additional jacket rings were shrunk on for reinforcement and the tube was shortened by 3 inches to keep the center of gravity level with the trunnions . The increase in weight led to the new designation 81 cwt Mk I gun .

The shutter opened to the left, contrary to the standard introduced in the UK. This was a right-opening breech, as it was also used on all guns from the production of the Royal Gun Factory . The cannon was mostly referred to as a 6-in. In contemporary publications . 81-cwt BLR , so z. B. Brassey's Naval Annual . The official military designation was 80-pounder BL to distinguish it from the subsequent BL 6 inch guns Mk II-VI .

commitment

Aft deck of the HMAS Protector

Some weapons were delivered to the Royal Navy , but were quickly replaced by the later versions.

The Australian colonies and New Zealand obtained various 6-inch guns directly from the manufacturers, usually the Elswick Ordnance Company. These versions do not correspond to the guns used in the Royal Navy, but rather to the original design (Mk I of 80 cwt). They were used on the following ships of the navies of the various Australian colonies:

  • HMQS Paluma
  • HMQS Gayundah
  • HMAS Protector (1884)
  • HMVS Victoria (II) (1884)
  • HMVS Albert (1884)

They were also used on the following auxiliary ships:

  • Tugboat gannet
  • Bark Batman
  • Barque Fawkner

Web links

Commons : BL 6 inch 80 pounder gun  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Text Book of Gunnery 1902, Table XII p. 336
  2. ^ Treatise on Service Ordnance, 1893, pp. 257-265.
  3. ↑ The Victorian Navy manuals of 1887, 1890, 1895
  4. ^ Victorian Naval Forces General Manual, 1890

literature