Model Boat Mayhem
Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Detail Work, Rigging, Fittings, Figures Etc. => Topic started by: RickF on November 18, 2006, 04:37:55 pm
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Hi guys,
Anyone have any information on the 6" 26 calibre Mk III/IV/VI guns? Fitted to RN cruisers in the 1880s. I've contacted Priddys Hard, but any other suggestions would be welcome. Particularly looking for drawings.
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http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3908
Dont know if this link is any good, but have a look anyway. Good luck with your research. Chris.
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Hi Rick,
Check the details on the small monitor M33 at Portsmouth. The early number vessels had 9.2" guns from the Cressy/Drake class of the 1880's so you may find that the 6" guns on the later numbers, M33 included, date from the same period.
Tony
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Thanks Tony, I'll check that out.
Chris, nothing from that source unfortunately.
Rick
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Tony,
The 6" guns fitted to M33 were 45 calibre Mk XIVs - a much later and longer gun. I haven't been able to ascertain what guns are fitted to her now, but they are definitely longer than 26 calibre.
26 calibre MkIV/VIs were fitted to: RN cruisers of Orlando, Mersey and Archer class as well as Marathons; Jap cruisers Uzumin, Unebi and Naniwa class and a converted Peruvian merchantman called Lima; RN battleships Sans Pareil, Victoria, Imperieuse and the Queen Elizabeths - although this later use seems unlikely.
Rick
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Do you have any idea of who built the ships or manufactured the guns?
Possible line of thought for you, if Armstrongs were involved, you may strike it lucky by having a look into the Discovery Museum or Tyne & Wear archives.
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Sweeper,
By all accounts ( http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_6-26_mk1.htm ) they were pretty useless guns and most were scrapped or converted by 1900. Mks 1 and V built at Elswick, MII at Woolwich, but no info on Mks III, IV or VI.
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The info on Rock's link above was taken from Oscar Parkes' British Battleships" (1966). I've looked in my copy and there are no drawings I'm afraid. :(
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Thanks Colin, but don't knock the ROCK.
Seriously, your interest is appreciated. Hopefully, Priddy's hard will comeback with some information.
RICK
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Argh! I made a spelling mistake - they'll never forgive me! :o
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Colin,
I will remember that little foepar... ;D ;D
Roy
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Surely, you mean fox's paw!
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I don't care what he means - just forget it! ::)
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I have the naval gunnery pocket book of 1945 which has a diagram of a mk 9 plus its mounting, only it is 24" long the drawing and I have a diagram of the barrel you want in a book on ww1 shore batteries. Let me know if you want a copy plus your email address in case the pics are too big for this site.
David
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David,
All contributions gratefully received - rick.fryer@tiscali.co.uk
Thanks
Rick
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On the basis of better late than never - re all guns - one needs to make a destinction between the gun and the mounting. Due to the effort taken to make a gun if possible they were used for a long as possible but there may well have been a great deal of difference in the mounting.
Typically with models when we mean gun we also probably include the mounting within this terminology which can lead to some confusion.
A classic example of this was the WW2 KGV class battleships there was nothing wrong with the 14" gun but the mountings were terrible and were unreliable reducing firepower by as much as 50% in action!!
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Have you tried the Imperial War Museum, as all tech data and photo's are usually deposited there by the MoD with burning as last resort, when clearing out its shelves for new storage requirements. Or even the National Maritime museum.
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I don't know whether you will get much help from Priddy's Hard - they were very helpful people when I went
last week but they don't have many of the old guns on display - the only 6" barrel they had was the water cooled barrels
from the Tiger class cruisers which were post-war. The impression I got from the chap who appeared to be in charge
was if they could help you they would. In its working life P.H. seemed to be involved with the measurement of wear etc.
on the barrels or breech mechanism but they went elsewhere to be resleeved or repaired so they may not have the
knowledge you are seeking.
Geoff
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There is a Mk III at Fort Nelson on Portsdownh Hill, see my artiicle in Model Boats a while back: http://www.modelboats.co.uk/news/article.asp?a=5275.
I only took a couple of photos as shown in the article but the information was as per the photo below.
Colin
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Six inch guns fitted to HMS Monitor.
Geoff
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%% ...interesting Geoff...but how did the gun mounting train to port without knocking out the lower deck H frame ventilator ?........ ;D :-X .....Derek
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%% ...interesting Geoff...but how did the gun mounting train to port without knocking out the lower deck H frame ventilator ?........ ;D :-X .....Derek
Derek,
It probably didn't have to traverse/train to port as the ship could be steered in that direction O0 O0 O0 %) %) %)
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Just found three more pics of the Fort Nelson gun.
Colin
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Thank you Colin....they are interesting .jpgs...showing the train hand wheel on the STDB side & the elevation hand wheel on the PORT side
Sorry RaaArtyGunner {-) when we look closer we also see rigging wires on either side of the barrel :police:....so I guess its all for show >>:-( <*< :P .....Derek
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Thank you Colin....they are interesting .jpgs...showing the train hand wheel on the STDB side & the elevation hand wheel on the PORT side
Sorry RaaArtyGunner {-) when we look closer we also see rigging wires on either side of the barrel :police:....so I guess its all for show >>:-( <*< :P .....Derek
Could be they are there to keep the barrel aligned within the firing arc as the ship turns to align onto the target O0 O0 %) %)
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The wires are actually stays for the wireless aerials, see below. When going into action they would have been unrigged, along with a lot of other gear.
Colin
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That's cleared it all up :-)) :-)) O0 O0
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Hi Rickf.
link for gun info http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_Main.htm
6"/26 (15.2 cm) Mark II/III gun in VCP mounting on ex-Cunard liner HMTS Franconia
Inspecting the gun is Senior Second Engineer Samuel Birks (converted breech loaders)
(http://s2.postimage.org/wSly0.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/1uq82k5lw/)
cheers Frank
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Frank a great find - straight into my favourites list.
Geoff
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Thanks for the additional information, guys. The project is still on the back burner, but the pix will comein handy one day
Rick
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That "H"vent on the port side of the Monitor I think is Charley Noble (To you lubbers the Galley or Foc'le stove pipe) which would be unshipped at action stations to give a clear field of fire..
Jimmy