BL 13.5-inch Mk VI naval gun

BL 13.5 inch Mk VI gun
BL 13.5 inch Mk VI gun
Type	Naval gun
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1914–22
Used by	United Kingdom
Wars	World War I
Production history
Designer	Vickers
Designed	1909
Manufacturer	Vickers, Elswick Ordnance Company
No. built	10
Specifications
Mass	46 long tons (46.7 t)
Length	625.9 in (15.90 m)
Barrel length	Bore 607.5 inches (15.4 m) (45 calibre)
Shell	1,400 lb (635 kg)
Calibre	13.5-inch (343 mm)
Elevation	0° – +20°
Muzzle velocity	2,445 ft/s (745 m/s)
Maximum firing range	23,110 yards (21,130 m) at +20°

The BL 13.5-inch Mk VI gun was a British heavy naval gun, originally ordered by the Ottoman Navy to equip its Reşadiye-class dreadnoughts around 1911. The one ship completed was seized by the British Government when World War I began in August 1914 and became HMS Erin. Only 10 guns were built, to a design similar to that of their 45-calibre BL 13.5-inch Mk V naval gun. The smaller chamber in the Mk VI gun meant that less propellant could be used which reduced muzzle velocity by 55 ft/s (17 m/s) and range by 630 yards (580 m). Designed by Vickers, they manufactured the guns of X and Y turrets, while Elswick Ordnance Company manufactured the guns of A, B, and Q turrets.

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era[]

340mm/45 Modèle 1912 gun French equivalent

References[]

Bibliography[]

Campbell, N.J.M. (1981). "British Naval Guns 1880–1945, Number Two". In Roberts, John (ed.). Warship V. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-244-7.
Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7
Johnson and Buxton (2013). The Battleship Builders. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-093-2

External links[]

13.5-inch Mk VI on Navweaps

v t British Empire naval weapons of the First World War
Monitor guns	BL 9.2-inch Mk VI BL 9.2-inch Mk VIII BL 9.2-inch Mk X BL 12-inch Mk VIII US 14-inch 45 cal. BL 15-inch Mk I BL 18-inch Mk I
Capital ship main armament	Vickers 10-inch 45 cal. EOC 10-inch 45 cal. BL 12-inch Mk VIII BL 12-inch Mk IX BL 12-inch Mk X BL 12-inch Mk XI & XII EOC 12-inch 45 cal. Mk XIII BL 13.5-inch Mk V BL 13.5-inch Mk VI EOC 14-inch 45 cal. Mk I BL 15-inch Mk I
Armoured cruiser main armament	BL 7.5-inch Mk I BL 9.2-inch Mk X BL 9.2-inch Mk XI
Secondary armament and light cruiser main armament	QF 12-pounder 18 cwt QF 14-pounder Maxim-Nordenfelt QF 14-pounder Mk I & II QF 4-inch Mk III BL 4-inch Mk VII QF 4-inch Mk V BL 4-inch Mk IX BL 5.5-inch Mk I QF 6-inch Mk I – III BL 6-inch Mk VII BL 6-inch Mk XI BL 6-inch Mk XII BL 6-inch Mk XIII-XVIII BL 7.5-inch Mk II – Mk V
Destroyer and small cruiser armament	QF 12-pounder 12 cwt Mk II QF 4-inch Mk III BL 4-inch Mk VIII QF 4-inch Mk IV BL 4.7-inch Mk I
Merchant ship armament	QF 4.7-inch Mk I – IV QF 4.7-inch Mk V*
Submarine guns	BL 4-inch Mk XI QF 4-inch Mk XII
Anti-aircraft guns	QF 2-pounder "pom-pom" Mk II QF 3-inch 20 cwt QF 4-inch Mk V
Light weapons	.303 Vickers machine gun QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss QF 3-pounder Vickers QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss
Torpedoes	18-inch Mk V – VIII 21-inch Mk II 21-inch Mk IV
Mines
Anti-submarine weapons
Landing guns	QF 12-pounder 8 cwt