QF 4 inch Mark XVI gun
| Ordnance QF 4 inch gun Mk XVI | |
|---|---|
Twin Mk XVI on HMCS Haida
|
|
| Type |
Naval gun Naval anti-aircraft gun |
| Place of origin |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service history | |
| In service | 1936--1950s |
| Used by |
Royal Navy Royal Canadian Navy Royal Australian Navy South African Navy |
| Wars |
World War II Korean War |
| Production history | |
| No. built | 2,555 |
| Variants | Mk XVI* and Mk XXI |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | Barrel & breech 4,495 lb (2,039 kg) |
| Barrel length | 180 inches (4,572 mm) (45 cal) |
|
|
|
| Shell |
Fixed QF 35 pounds (15.88 kg) HE 38.25 pounds (17.35 kg) S.A.P. |
| Calibre | 4-inch (101.6 mm) |
| Breech | vertical sliding block |
| Recoil | hydro - pneumatic 831 millimetres (33 in) |
| Elevation | mounting dependent (-10 to 80 deg on H.A. twin mark XIX mount) |
| Traverse | mounting dependent |
| Rate of fire | 15–20 rounds per minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,660 feet per second (811 m/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 19,850 yards (18,150 m) at 45 degrees elevation AA Range: 39,000 feet (11,890 m) at 80 degrees elevation |
| Filling weight | 9 pounds (4.08 kg) |
The QF 4 inch Mk XVI gun was the standard British Commonwealth naval anti-aircraft and dual-purpose gun of World War II.
The Mk XVI superseded the earlier QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun on many Royal Naval ships during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The ammunition fired by the Mk V gun and the Mk XVI guns was different. The Mk V ammunition was 44.3 inches (1.13 m) long and weighed 56 pounds (25 kg), while the ammunition fired by the Mk XVI gun was 42.1 inches (1.07 m) long and weighed 66.75 pounds (30.28 kg). The weight of the high-explosive projectile grew from 31 pounds (14 kg) for the Mk V to 35 pounds (16 kg) for the Mk XVI.
There were three variants of the gun produced with differing construction methods. The original Mk XVI had an A tube, jacket to 63.5 inches (1.61 m) from the muzzle and a removable breech ring. The Mk XVI* replaced the A tube with an autofretted loose barrel with a sealing collar at the front of the jacket. The Mk XXI was a lighter version with an autofretted monobloc barrel and a removable breech ring. The total number of Mk XVI and XVI* guns produced was 2,555 while there were 238 Mk XXI guns produced. Of those totals 604 Mk XVI* and 135 of the Mk XXI guns were produced in Canada and 45 of the Mk XVI* were produced in Australia. These guns were usually mounted on HA/LA Mark XIX twin mountings, although several Australian frigates and corvettes had single-gun Mk XX mountings.
As secondary armament (list not complete):
As main armament (list not complete):
Allied ships modified in the United Kingdom:
The South African Navy Loch-class frigates (HMSAS Good Hope, HMSAS Natal and HMSAS Transvaal) each had two of these guns mounted on a twin Mark XIX on their foredeck between 1944 and 1976.
Twin guns of HMAS Swan bombarding shore positions in New Guinea, February 1945
Single Mk XX mounting on HMAS Barcoo, 1945
Gunners of HMS Glasgow clearing empty cartridges after a shoot
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