4.5" Medium Gun PDF Print E-mail
Written by David Boyd   
Thursday, 01 January 2009 14:29

The 4.5" Medium Gun

4.5inch Medium Gun

In 1933 a modification to existing 60 Pounder guns so they could fire a modern design of shell and obtain better range was suggested but due to financial reasons the modification only amounted to relining the barrel. In 1937 the first was tested and gave a range of 20,000 yards, the conversion  was approved but it was found that only 76 60 Pounders were suitable for the modification. So in 1938 a new design of gun was requested which would fit in the carriage of the new 5.5" medium gun. The gun was approved in August 1939.  The 4.5" medium gun was virtually the same as the 5.5" medium gun except for calibre and so fired a lighter shell but it had longer range than the 5.5" medium gun. These guns were never held in high regard as it was felt that the extra range and slight weight saving did not make up for the significantly lighter shell.

4.5" Medium Gun Data


MK II
Weight of gun and breech 4,263lb
Total length 192.75"
Length of bore 185"
Rifling 32  groves 1/25
Elevation -5 - +45 degrees
Traverse 30 degrees left/right
Weight in Action 12,880lb

4.5" Medium Gun Ammunition Data

 Type HE
Weight 55lb
Muzzle Velocity 2,250fps
Maximum range 20,500 yards

Production of 4.5" medium guns by year (UK only)

  Pre-War Sep-Dec 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945
60pdr conversions 1 18 209 11 - - - -
4.5" Guns - - 1 125 152 20 295 56
4.5"/5.5" Carriages - 2 - 213 590 801 754 131

Production of 4.5" medium gun ammunition by year (UK only, filled only)

  Pre-War Sep-Dec 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945
HE - 12,424 286,115 1,187,300 74,000 - 711,000 397,000

Sources - British & American Artillery of WWII, AVIA 22 456 - 514

Last Updated on Thursday, 01 January 2009 14:30
 

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