Mark 2 was constructed of tube, jacket and two hoops. Mark 3 was nearly the same with some minor differences in the recoil cyclinders and a larger muzzle bell. Mark 4 was similar to the Mark 3 but with a modified groove for the yoke. One of the Mark 3 Mod 3 guns was cut down to 25 calibers and used to test anti-aircraft concepts at the proving grounds. This led to the later development of the successful 5"/25 (12.7 cm) Mark 10 AAA weapon. |
![]() USS Olympia C-6 in 1899 flying the four-star
flag of Admiral George Dewey
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![]() 5"/40 (12.7 cm) guns aboard Auxiliary Cruiser
USS Saint Paul in 1898
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![]() 5"/40 (12.7 cm) gun aboard USS Henry R.
Mallory (ID-1280) in 1918-1919
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![]() Gunner Shaw and his 5" (15.2 cm) gun on
USS Raleigh (C-8)
|
Designation | 5"/40 (12.7 cm) Marks 2, 3 and 4 |
Ship Class Used On | Kearsage (B-5), Brooklyn (ACR-3), Olympia (C-6), Cincinnati (C-7) and Montgomery (C-9) classes |
Date Of Design | about 1890 |
Date In Service | 1895 |
Gun Weight | 7,000 lbs. (2,903 kg) without breech
7,080 lbs. (3,211 kg) with breech |
Gun Length oa | N/A |
Bore Length | 200 in (5.080 m) |
Rifling Length | N/A |
Grooves | N/A |
Lands | N/A |
Twist | Increasing RH 0 to 1 in 25 |
Chamber Volume | N/A |
Rate Of Fire | 12 rounds per minute |
Type | Separate |
Projectile Types and Weights | AP - 50 lbs. (22.7 kg) |
Bursting Charge | N/A |
Projectile Length | N/A |
Propellant Charge | 10 lbs. (4.5 kg) SP or SPD |
Muzzle Velocity | 2,300 fps (701 mps) |
Working Pressure | 14 tons/in2 (2,200 kg/cm2) |
Approximate Barrel Life | N/A |
Ammunition stowage per gun | Kearsage: 256 rounds
Cincinnati: 100 rounds Others: N/A |
Elevation | With 50 lbs. (22.7 kg) Shell |
Range @ 30 degrees | 16,000 yards (14,630 m) |
Range |
|
|
3,000 yards (2,750 m) |
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|
6,000 yards (5,490 m) |
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|
Data from "U.S. Armored Cruisers" and is for KNC armor. |
Designation | Single Mountings
Marks 2, 3 and 4: Center-pivot Marks 5, 6, 7 and 8: Pedestal Mount Kearsage (14), Brooklyn (12), Olympia (10), Cincinnati (10) and Montgomery (8) |
Weight | Mark 2: 14,198 lbs. (6,440 kg)
Mark 3: 7,850 lbs. (3,561 kg) Marks 5, 6, 7 and 8: About 14,500 lbs. (6,577 kg) |
Elevation | N/A |
Elevation Rate | Manual operation, only |
Train | Brooklyn casemates: arc of 137 degrees
Open mounts: about -150 / +150 degrees |
Train Rate | Manual operation, only |
Gun recoil | N/A |
Notes:
1) Mark 5 had an improved recoil system and a telescopic gun sight. This mount put the elevating and training gear in the hands of the gun captain rather than with separate pointers. 2) The center-pivot mountings were difficult to adjust and had considerable amounts of bronze in their construction. Many of these were replaced in the early 1900s with new pedestal mounts, which were of all-steel construction and far stronger. For example, in 1901 at Cavite, Philippines, twelve new 5"/40 (12.7 cm) guns and their pedestal mounts were installed on USS Brooklyn (ACR-3). |
12 February 2008 - Benchmark
14 February 2012 - Added constructional
details and mounting Information, corrected photograph caption