BL 16.25 inch Mk I naval gun
Encyclopedia
The Elswick BL 16.25 inch naval gun was an early British superheavy breech-loading naval gun, commonly known as the 110-ton gun or 111-ton gun.
Elswick had already supplied similar guns to Italy's Regia Marina
and fitted in the Andrea Doria of 1885 and the Royal Navy
required parity for its Mediterranean fleet. The adoption of this gun was influenced by the slow rate of production of the preferred new 13.5 inch guns : the Royal Navy had the option of delaying the completion of the new Admiral class battleship
s until sufficient 13.5 inch guns were available to equip them with four guns in two twin barbettes as planned; to use 12-inch guns, or to equip them with the new 16.25 inch guns.
The decision made was to install 16.25 inch guns in HMS Benbow
in 1887 in single barbettes fore and aft, each gun substituting for two 13.5 inch guns. For the following HMS Victoria
and HMS Sans Pareil
the 16.25 inch guns were mounted in pairs in a single turret placed forward.
Weaknesses such as droop and cracking were discovered in the early design, and the many subsequent changes meant that none of the 12 guns built were identical, so the Mk I denomination was discontinued and the individual guns were referred to by their serial numbers. The great weight, low rate of fire and short life of less than 75 rounds meant that the guns were less than successful and were in fact never fired in action.
Service
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
and fitted in the Andrea Doria of 1885 and the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
required parity for its Mediterranean fleet. The adoption of this gun was influenced by the slow rate of production of the preferred new 13.5 inch guns : the Royal Navy had the option of delaying the completion of the new Admiral class battleship
Admiral class battleship
The British Royal Navy's pre-dreadnought Admiral class battleships of the 1880s followed the pattern of the Devastation class in having the main armament on centre-line mounts with the superstructure in between. This pattern was followed by most following British designs until in 1906...
s until sufficient 13.5 inch guns were available to equip them with four guns in two twin barbettes as planned; to use 12-inch guns, or to equip them with the new 16.25 inch guns.
The decision made was to install 16.25 inch guns in HMS Benbow
HMS Benbow (1885)
HMS Benbow was a Victorian era Admiral-class battleship of the British Royal Navy, named for Admiral John Benbow.With the exception of her armament she was a repeat of HMS Anson and HMS Camperdown. The contract for her construction was awarded to Thames Ironworks, and stipulated delivery within...
in 1887 in single barbettes fore and aft, each gun substituting for two 13.5 inch guns. For the following HMS Victoria
HMS Victoria (1887)
HMS Victoria was the lead ship in her class of two battleships of the Royal Navy. On 22 June 1893, she collided with near Tripoli, Lebanon during manoeuvres and quickly sank, taking 358 crew with her, including the commander of the British Mediterranean Fleet, Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon...
and HMS Sans Pareil
HMS Sans Pareil (1887)
HMS Sans Pareil was a Victoria Class battleship of the British Royal Navy of the Victorian era, her only sister-ship being .In deciding upon her design configuration the Board of Admiralty took what history shows was a retrograde step by requesting the reversion from barbettes to turrets for her...
the 16.25 inch guns were mounted in pairs in a single turret placed forward.
Weaknesses such as droop and cracking were discovered in the early design, and the many subsequent changes meant that none of the 12 guns built were identical, so the Mk I denomination was discontinued and the individual guns were referred to by their serial numbers. The great weight, low rate of fire and short life of less than 75 rounds meant that the guns were less than successful and were in fact never fired in action.
Ammunition