BL 12-inch Mk I – II naval gun

Ordnance BL 12 inch gun Mk I - IIte
On HMS Conqueror
TypeNaval gun
Coastal gun
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1882–1920
Used byRoyal Navy
Production history
Designed1882
No. built
  • Mark I: 3
  • Mark II: 11
VariantsMks I - II
Specifications
Mass
  • Including breech:
  • As built: 43 tons
  • Chase hooped: 47 tons
Length328.5 inches (8.344 m) (27.5 calibres)
Barrel length301.7 inches (7.663 m) bore (25.1 calibres)
Shell714 pounds (324 kg)
Calibre12-inch (304.8 mm)
Muzzle velocity
  • 1,910 feet per second (582 m/s) 714 lb projectile, with 295 lb Brown Prismatic powder
  • 1,914 feet per second (583 m/s) with 295 lb brown powder or 88 lb 8 oz cordite size 30 charge.
Effective firing range8,000 yards (7,300 m) at 9° 57'

The BL 12 inch naval gun Mk I was a British rifled breech-loading naval gun of the early 1880s intended for the largest warships such as battleships and also coastal defence. It was Britain's first attempt to match the large guns being installed in rival European navies, particularly France, after Britain transitioned from rifled muzzle-loading guns to the modern rifled breech-loaders somewhat later than the European powers.

Mks I and II were part steel, part iron. Their barrels were 328.5 inches (8.344 m) (L/27.5) long and the guns used the same charge as the later all-steel models up to Mark VII. Officially, they even had the same ballistic capabilities. However, after some accidents, they were no longer trusted and were withdrawn from sea service.

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