Mark 45 lightweight gun

The Mk. 45 aboard USS Benfold (DDG 65) fires

The Mark 45 lightweight gun is a naval gun from the British manufacturer BAE Systems for use on warships . It has a 5 "/ 127 mm gun barrel with a length of 54 caliber .

Development of the Mark 45 began in the 1960s as a replacement for the Mark 42 system . The first stage of development, Mod 0 , entered active service in 1971. From 1980 ( Mod 1 ) and 1988 ( Mod 2 ), slightly improved versions were produced.

Mod 4 was later introduced, which has a caliber length of 62, increasing the muzzle velocity and range. The Mod 4 is in direct competition with the 127/64 Lightweight , which the German Navy has selected for its new F125 frigates.

The system can be used against both air and ground targets (ships and coastal fire). The rate of fire is 16 to 20 rounds per minute, the range is 13 nautical miles (24 kilometers). 500 to 680 rounds can be stored in the magazines on board the ships. In automatic mode, the gun can pick up and reload 20 shells, while the hold below deck is manned by three soldiers for constant operation.

user

Mk. 45 on a Ticonderoga class

Danish Navy

• Absalon class

Greek Navy

• Hydra class

Royal Australian Navy

• ANZAC class
• Hobart class

Spanish Navy

• Álvaro de Bazán class

South Korean Navy

• Chungmugong-Yi-Sun-sin class
• Incheon class

Thai Navy

• Naresuan class

Turkish Navy

• Barbos class
• Yavuz class

US Navy

• Arleigh Burke class (DDG-51 to -80 Mod. 2, from DDG-81 Mod. 4)
• California class
• Kidd class
• Spruance class
• Tarawa class (later dismantled)
• Ticonderoga class
• Virginia class

See also

• Oto Melara 127/54 Compact

Web links

Commons : Mark 45 Lightweight Gun  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Factfile the US Navy (English)
• Detailed data about the gun (English)