Spain
8"/50 (20.3 cm) BL Model 1924 Mark D
Updated 18 February 2012
Based upon a 1924 Vickers design, these guns were of built-up construction.  Their design was lighter than that of the equivalent British 8" (20.3 cm) Mark VIII and the turrets had a smaller diameter roller path.

Construction consisted of A tube, B tube not extending to the muzzle and a jacket.
WNSpain_8-50_m1924_Canaris_pic.jpg

Heavy Cruiser Canaris
Armada Española Photograph
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Images at The Vickers Photographic Archive

See photographs 6332 and 6333

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Gun Characteristics
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Designation 8"/50 (20.3 cm) Model 1924 Mark D
Ship Class Used On Canaris class
Date Of Design 1924
Date In Service 1936
Gun Weight 15.8 tons (16.05 mt)
Gun Length oa N/A
Bore Length about 400 in (10.160 m)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire about 3 rounds per minute
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Ammunition
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Type Bag
Projectile Types and Weights AP - 256 lbs. (116.1 kg)
HE - 256 lbs. (116.1 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge 80 lbs. (36.3 kg)
Muzzle Velocity 2,904 fps (885 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A
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Range
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Elevation With 256 lbs. (116 kg) AP Shell
Range @ about 49 degrees 32,530 yards (29,750 m)
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Mount / Turret Data
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Designation Two-gun Turrets
  Canaris (4)
Weight  N/A
Elevation
(see Note)		 -5 / +70 degrees (one source says +50 degrees)
Elevation Rate N/A
Train about +120 / -120 degrees
Train Rate N/A
Gun recoil N/A
Loading Angle +8 degrees
Notes:

1) These mountings were generally similar to the British Mark II and had similar hollow rammers for holding the propellant charges.  Compared to the Mark II, the roller path diameter was smaller as was the inner barbette diameter.

2) Regarding the elevation of these mountings; most of the British Mark II mountings had +70 degree elevations, as they were intended to operate in the AA mode.  So, it is quite possible that these Spanish mounts also had as high a maximum elevation.

3) The distance between gun axes was 76 inches (193 cm).
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Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Cruisers of World War Two" by M.J. Whitley
Page History

22 September 2007 - Benchmark
18 February 2012 - Updated to latest template