6"/50 (15.2 cm) BL Mark XXIII
Pictures
Updated 15 December 2013
Bow Turrets of HMS Apollo (later HMAS Hobart)
in February 1938
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph
# NH 58634
The same turrets on HMAS Hobart following
torpedo damage in July 1943
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph
# NH 80533
Interior of Mark XXI Twin Turret on HMS
Orion
Note the projectile being manually rammed
and the crewman in the foreground removing a cordite charge container from
the propellant hoist
IWM Photograph A 23468
HMS Southampton "Y" turret being lowered
into place 3 July 1936
Photograph copyright by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
/ Ian Buxton
A Turret being fitted to HMS Bermuda in
May 1942
Note the roller paths
Photograph copyright by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
/ Ian Buxton
Loading guns aboard HMS Jamaica
The projectile loading trays are evident
in this photograph. These were swung behind the gun when the breech
was opened and then swung out of the way after the projectile was rammed.
Note that the cordite loader has not yet
removed the charge from its container. As a safety measure, he was
trained to wait until just before it was to be loaded into the gun.
Another propellant charge container has emerged from the hoist in the turret
deck.
IWM photograph A 16320
Guncrew of HMCS Uganda setting HE nose
fuzes prior to bombarding Truk in June 1945
Library and Archives Canada Photograph
MIKAN no. 3194316
Breech of 6" (15.2 cm) gun on HMS Belfast
Engraving reads as follows:
B.L. 6 In Steel Mark XXIII
R.G.F.
N. NoS/4580
Where:
B.L. 6 In Steel Mark XXIII
= Breech Loading 6 inch (15.2 cm) gun of All-Steel construction Mark XXIII
R.G.F. = Built at the Royal Gun
Factory
Note: A manufacturing year should
follow "R.G.F." but I cannot make it out
N. NoS/4580
= Navy Gun Serial Number 4580
Note that the projectile is stenciled with
"EMPTY"
Photograph copyrighted by Vladimir Yakubov
Illustration showing the differences between
BL and QF guns
Click on this sketch for a larger image
Sketch from "The Gunnery Pocket Book,
B.R. 224/45 (1945)"
Used here by permission of Historic
Naval Ships Association
Click on this sketch for a larger image
Sketch from "The Gunnery Pocket Book,
B.R. 224/45 (1945)"
Used here by permission of Historic
Naval Ships Association
Cut-away drawing of 6"/50 (15.2 cm) Mark
XXIII Mounting
This sketch does not show the set-back
of the center gun
Sketch from "The Gunnery Pocket Book,
B.R. 224/45 (1945)"
Used here by permission of Historic
Naval Ships Association