Trisha Shetty (Editor)

QF 4 inch Mk XIX naval gun

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Type
  
Dual-purpose gun

No. built
  
2,023

Wars
  
World War II

Shell
  
Fixed QF HE, Starshell

QF 4 inch Mk XIX naval gun

Used by
  
Royal Navy  Royal Canadian Navy Royal Australian Navy

Barrel length
  
160 inches (4.064 m) bore (40 calibres)

The QF 4-inch Mk XIX gun was a British low-velocity 4-inch 40-calibre naval gun used to arm small warships such as Bathurst and Castle-class corvettes and some River-class frigates in World War II, mainly against submarines.

Contents

Description

It succeeded the higher-velocity World War I-era BL 4-inch Mk IX (typically deployed on Flower-class corvettes in the escort role). The Mk XIX fired fixed ammunition which was 38.5 inches (0.98 m) long and weighed 85 pounds (39 kg). The weight of the projectile was increased from 31 pounds (14 kg) for the Mk IX to 35 pounds (16 kg) for the Mk XIX. The high-angle mounting used for the XIX added some anti-aircraft capability and allowed it to fire starshells to illuminate the battle area at night.

Surviving examples

  • On HMAS Castlemaine at Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.
  • On the parade ground at the Irish Naval Service Base, Haulbowline, Co. Cork, Ireland

    • References

    QF 4 inch Mk XIX naval gun Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA