BL 5.5-inch Mk I naval gun

The Breech Loading 5.5-inch Mk I was a naval gun used by the British Royal Navy during both World Wars.

BL 5.5-inch Mark I
One of HMS Chester's 5.5-inch guns at the Imperial War Museum, London
Type	Naval gun, Coastal defence
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1913–1954
Wars	World War I World War II
Production history
Designer	Coventry Ordnance Works
Designed	1913
Manufacturer	Coventry Ordnance Works
No. built	81
Specifications
Mass	13,955 lbs (6,330 kg)
Length	275 inches (7.0 m) L/50
Shell	82 pounds (37.19 kg)
Calibre	5.5-inch (140 mm)
Breech	Welin breech block with Holmstrom mechanism
Elevation	-7 degrees to +30 degrees depending on mount
Rate of fire	12 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	2,790 f/s (850 m/s)
Effective firing range	17,800 yards (16,300 m) at 30-degree elevation

Naval history

5.5-inch Mk I at National War Memorial Southern Command

This weapon was developed by Coventry Ordnance Works in 1913 and offered to the Greek Navy as the main armament for two new cruisers building at Cammell Laird. On the outbreak Of World War I the two ships were purchased by Britain as HMS Chester and HMS Birkenhead. The RN was happy with the performance of the gun as it was significantly lighter than the standard 6 inch gun and fired an 82 lb shell rather than the 100 lb shell of the 6 inch weapon. It, therefore, had a higher rate of fire with little loss in hitting power. The British ordered more guns as secondary armament for HMS Furious and HMS Hood. A total of 81 guns were made and were used on the following ships: HMS Chester, HMS Birkenhead, HMS Furious, HMS Hood, and HMS Hermes.

Guns removed from Chester, Birkenhead and Furious were used to arm Armed Merchant cruisers: HMS Laurentic and HMS Montclare.

Coast defence gun

The 5.5 inch guns were removed from HMS Hood in the 1935 refit. In 1940 two were installed in Fort Bedford Battery on Ascension Island and remain there today. A pair were installed in specially built casemates on the roof of Coalhouse Fort in Essex, overlooking the Thames. Guns from the Hood also went to Bognor Regis, Pevensey, North Foreland, Dover and Folkestone.

Notable actions

The gun Jack Cornwell served in his Victoria Cross action on the forecastle of HMS Chester

Boy Seaman First Class Jack Cornwell was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for heroism in serving his gun on HMS Chester during the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916.

British 5.5-inch naval gun from World War II at Skansin fortress, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

Surviving examples

• The gun served by Jack Cornwell VC is preserved in the Imperial War Museum in London.
• Fort Bedford, Cross Hill, Ascension Island has two guns from HMS Hood
• Fort Skansin, Tórshavn, Streymoy Island, Faroe Islands, has two guns (No. 35 and 42) from HMS Furious

See also

• List of naval guns

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

• Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1910 Naval gun : French equivalent
• 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun : Japanese equivalent

References

• Tony DiGiulian, British 5.5"/50 (14 cm) BL Mark I

Bibliography

• Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.