BL 12 inch Mk X gun
The BL 12 inch Gun Mark X was a British 45-calibre naval gun which was mounted as primary armament on battleships and battlecruisers from 1906. It first appeared on Dreadnought.
BL 12 inch Mk X gun
Unknown, Bain news service · This image is available from the United States Library of Congress 's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ggbain.17494. This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attache · Public domain
- Name
- BL 12-inch gun Mk X
- Field
- rifled breech loader · naval artillery
- Region
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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Documentary summary
The BL 12 inch Gun Mark X was a British 45-calibre naval gun which was mounted as primary armament on battleships and battlecruisers from 1906. It first appeared on Dreadnought.
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wikidata · Q4028490
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Is Artillery — yes • Is Explosive — yes • Is Uk — yes • Is Ranged — yes • Name — BL 12-inch gun Mk X • Origin — United Kingdom • Wars — World War I • Type — Naval gun • Designer — Vickers • Manufacturer — Vickers • Unit Cost — £9800 (1907) • Service — 1906 – 1923 • Caliber — 12 in • Part Length — 45 ft bore (45 cal) • Breech — Welin interrupted screw • Velocity — 2700 ft/s • Cartridge — 850 lb Lyddite, Armour-piercing, Shrapnel • Max Range — 22860 m • Weight — 57 tons barrel & breech
History
History
• Illustration — Agamemnon has her guns replaced during a refit at Malta in May–June 1915 • Illustration — Ramming shell on Australia, December 1918 The Mk X continued the trend of lengthening gun barrels as far as new construction methods would permit, in order to allow more cordite propellant to be used to attain higher projectile velocities. The Mk X increased the bore length from the Mk IX's 480 to, increasing muzzle velocity from 2600 to. Subsequent British attempts to further increase the power of 12-inch guns led to failure with the 50-calibre Mk XI and Mk XII guns; the Mk X was the last successful 12-inch British gun.
Naval use
World War I use ashore
World War I use ashore
From 1917 several Mk X guns were deployed ashore on the section of the Belgian coast still held by the Allies, near Nieuwpoort. They were part of the "Royal Naval Siege Guns" under the command of Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon, and were used for attacking German heavy gun batteries.
Ammunition
Ammunition
• — — • 65 lb Cordite Cartridge ¼ charge: i.e. 4 such cartridges were normally loaded to fire the gun — Mk VIIA Common Pointed shell with Cap (CPC) filled with gunpowder, 1912 — World War I Shells. Left to Right: * Mk XA Capped Armour-Piercing shell filled with Trotyl (TNT) * Shrapnel * Mk 6A Capped Common pointed shell filled with Shellite 70/30
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
• 305mm/45 Modèle 1906 gun French equivalent • EOC 12 inch /45 naval gun Elswick Ordnance Company equivalent • 12"/45 caliber Mark 5 gun US equivalent
Identity
Identity
BL 12 inch Mk X gun is associated with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Classified as a rifled breech loader or naval artillery.
References
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Broader subject
1- naval artilleryTerminology
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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