QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XIX

Ordnance QF 4 inch gun Mk XIX
Crew of HMAS Cowra at gun drill, Tarakan Island, June 1945
Type	Dual-purpose gun
Service history
In service	1939[1]
Used by	Royal Navy  Royal Canadian Navy Royal Australian Navy
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designed	1938[1]
No. built	2,023[2]
Specifications
Barrel length	160 inches (4.064 m) bore (40 calibres)
Shell	Fixed QF HE, Starshell
Shell weight	35 pounds (16 kg)
Calibre	4-inch (101.6 mm)
Breech	horizontal sliding-block
Elevation	-10° to +60°[2]
Muzzle velocity	396 metres per second (1,300 ft/s)[2]
Maximum firing range	8,870 metres (9,700 yd) at +40°[2]

The QF 4-inch Mk XIX gun^{[note 1]} was a British low-velocity 4-inch 40-calibre naval gun used to arm small warships such as Bathurst and Castle-class corvette and some River-class frigate in World War II, mainly against submarines.^[3]

It succeeded the higher-velocity World War I-era BL 4-inch Mk IX (typically deployed on Flower-class corvettes in the escort role). The Mk XIX fired fixed ammunition which was 38.5 inches (0.98 m) long and weighed 50 pounds (23 kg).^[3] The weight of the projectile was increased from 31 pounds (14 kg) for the Mk IX to 35 pounds (16 kg) for the Mk XIX. The high-angle mounting used for the XIX added some anti-aircraft capability and allowed it to fire starshells to illuminate the battle area at night.^[2]

• 
  Canadian gunners with fixed rounds
• 
  Starshell

• On HMAS Castlemaine at Williamstown, Victoria, Australia.
• On the parade ground at the Irish Naval Service Base, Haulbowline, Co. Cork, Ireland

• John Campbell, "Naval Weapons Of World War Two", Annapolis : Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN 0-87021-459-4

Wikimedia Commons has media related to QF 4 inch Mk XIX naval gun.

• Tony DiGiulian, Britain 4"/40 (10.2 cm) QF Mark XIX

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