BL 10-inch Mk I – IV naval gun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ordnance BL 10 inch gun Mk I - IV |
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Mk I coast defence gun, Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence
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| Type | Naval gun Coast defence gun |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1885 - 1913 |
| Used by | Royal Navy |
| Production history | |
| Variants | Mk I, II, III, IV |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Mk I : 32 tons barrel & breech Mks II - IV : 29 tons |
| Barrel length | Mk I : 317.5 inches (8,064 mm) (31.75 calibres) Mks II - IV : 320 inches (8,128 mm) (32 calibres) |
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| Shell | 500 pounds (226.8 kg) |
| Calibre | 10-inch (254.0 mm) |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,040 feet per second (622 m/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 10,000 yards (9,100 m) |
The BL 10 inch guns Mks I, II, III, IV were powerful British cannons. They were used on warships and for defending coasts. These guns were in service starting in 1885. They were called "breech-loading" because they were loaded from the back, not the front. This made them faster and safer to use.
Contents
How Were These Guns Developed?
The idea for a 10-inch (25.4 cm) gun came about in 1879. British experts wanted new, stronger guns for their navy. They were moving away from older "muzzle-loading" guns. These old guns were loaded by pushing ammunition down the barrel from the front.
The new guns were "breech-loading." This meant they were loaded from the back of the barrel. This change made guns much more efficient. The first 10-inch gun was ready by 1885. It could fire a huge 500-pound (227 kg) shell.
After 1889, the British Royal Navy stopped making 10-inch guns. They decided to focus on slightly smaller 9.2-inch guns and much larger 12-inch guns instead.
Where Were These Guns Used?
These powerful guns were used in two main ways: on warships and for defending coastlines.
The Mk II, Mk III, and Mk IV versions of the 10-inch gun were very similar. They could be swapped between different ships. These guns were fitted on several important battleships of the time:
- The Victoria-class battleships, built starting in 1885.
- The Centurion-class battleships, built starting in 1890.
- HMS Renown, a battleship built in 1893.
- The Devastation-class battleships, which were updated with these guns in 1890.
A Special Gun for HMVS Victoria
In 1884, a slightly different 10-inch gun was made. It weighed 25 tons and was 300 inches (7.6 meters) long. This gun fired a 450-pound (204 kg) shell. It was sent to the Australian colony of Victoria. There, it was put on a gunboat called HMVS Victoria.
Later, this gun was replaced on the ship. In 1887, it was moved to Fort Franklin. It became a permanent gun for defending the coast.
Coast Defence: Protecting Land from the Sea
The Mk I version of the 10-inch gun was made just for coastal defence. This means it was placed on land to protect important areas from enemy ships. The Mk II, Mk III, and Mk IV guns were also used for this purpose. They were set up in forts all over the British Empire.
Some of these coastal guns were placed on special "disappearing carriages." These carriages could lower the gun out of sight after it fired. This protected the gun and its crew from enemy fire.
See also
- List of naval guns
Where Can You See These Guns Today?
You can still see examples of these historic 10-inch guns in a few places:
- Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence
- Portsea, Victoria, Australia
- Fort McNab, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
