Written by David Boyd
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Thursday, 01 January 2009 14:57 |
The 4.5" Anti-Aircraft Gun The 4.5" anti-aircraft gun was an adoption of the 4.5" Naval gun, the naval gun was chosen as there was there was no prospect of the 4.7" being developed and put into production soon and as these guns were planned to be placed near naval bases ammunition supplies would be assured and so in 1938 the 4.5" anti-aircraft gun was approved for land service. Some guns were fitted with a mild steel shield and some guns were placed at the coast to be used in a dual anti-aircraft / coastal defence role. By 1944 the guns were being replaced by the 5.25" gun but the weapons were not declared obsolete until 1951. 4.5" Anti-Aircraft gun data Weight of gun/breech | 6,180lb | Total length | 211.75" | Length of bore | 45 cal | Rifling | 32, 1/25 | Elevation | 0 - +80 degrees | Traverse | 360 degrees | Weight in action | 33,040lb | Rate of fire | 8rpm | 4.5" Anti-Aircraft gun ammunition data HE Shell weight | 58lb | Muzzle velocity | 2,400fps | Max horizontal range | 22,800 yards | Max ceiling | 44,000 feet | Production of the 4.5" Anti-Aircraft Gun by year | Pre-War | Sep-Oct 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 (May) | Guns | 185 | 116 | 141 | 56 | 2 | - | - | - | Mountings | 156 | 115 | 182 | 21 | - | - | - | - | Platforms | - | - | 14 | 4 | 1 | - | - | - | Sources - British & American Artillery of WWII, AVIA 22 456 - 514
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