3-inch/50-caliber gun

3-inch/50 caliber gun (Mk 22)
Mark 22 3"/50 cal gun
TypeNaval gun
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1900–1990 (US Navy)
Used byUS Navy
Production history
Designed
  • Mark 2: 1898
    * Mark 10: 1915
    * Mark 22: 1944
Produced1900–1948
VariantsMarks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22
Specifications
Mass
  • Mark 2: 2,086 pounds (946 kg) (with breech)
  • Mark 21: 1,760 pounds (800 kg)
Length
  • Mark 2: 153.8 inches (3.91 m)
  • Mark 21: 159.7 inches (4.06 m)
Barrel length
  • Mark 2: 150 inches (380 cm) bore (50 calibres)
  • Mark 21: 150.3 inches (382 cm) bore (50 calibres)

Shellcomplete round: 24 lb (11 kg); projectile weight: 13 lb (5.9 kg) projectile types: AP, AA (with VT proximity fuze), HE, Illumination[1]
Caliber3-inch (76 mm)
Elevation
  • Pedestal Mount: -10° to +15°
  • AA Mount: -10° to +85°
Traverse360°
Rate of fire
  • Mark 2: 15 – 20 rounds per minute
  • Mark 22: 45 – 50 rounds per minute with autoloader[2]
Muzzle velocity2,700 ft/s (820 m/s)
Maximum firing range
  • 14,600 yd (13,400 m) at 43° elevation
  • 30,400 ft (9,300 m) AA ceiling
SightsPeep-site and Optical telescope

The 3-inch/50-caliber gun (spoken "three-inch fifty-caliber") in United States naval gun terminology indicates the gun fired a projectile 3 inches (76 mm) in diameter, and the barrel was 50 calibers long (barrel length is 3 in × 50 = 150 in or 3.8 m). Different guns (identified by Mark numbers) of this caliber were used by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard from 1900 through to 1990 on a variety of combatant and transport ship classes.[3]

The gun is still in use with the Spanish Navy on Serviola-class patrol boats.


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