U.S. 16"/45 Mark 1 Gun (original) (raw)
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The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia | |
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![Photograph of 16"/45 Mark 1 gun turrets of USS Colorado](http://pwencycl.kgbudge.com/images/U/US_16_45_Mk1_gun.jpg "16"/45 Mark 1 gun turrets of USS Colorado")
Naval History and Heritage Command #NH 64514
| Bore | 16"406.4mm |
|---|---|
| Ammunition type | Bagged APC and HC shells |
| Weight of projectile | 2240 lbs1016 kg |
| Velocity | 2520 feet per second768 meters per second |
| Maximum elevation | 30 degrees |
| Range | 35,000 yards32,000 meters |
| Firing cycle | 40 seconds |
| Penetration | 18.9" at 12,000 yards48 cm at 11,000 m |
This weapon was used on the Colorados. It was designed in great secrecy as "Type Gun, 45 calibres" and first test fired in August 1914. The Bureau of Ordnance was proud of its design, believing the only rival was the German15"/45 gun and claiming that the U.S. gun "far exceeds it in power and energy per ton of gun. The Bureau believes our gun to be the most powerful in existence" (quoted by Friedman 1985). However, the other major naval powers had been doing their own highly secret development of new weapons, and the Japanese tested a comparable 16" weapon at about the same time and put it in service slightly sooner.
References
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