16-inch/45-caliber gun

The 16"/45 caliber gun (spoken "sixteen-inch-forty-five-caliber") was used for the main batteries of the last class of Standard-type battleships for the United States Navy, the . These guns promised twice the muzzle energy over the Mark 7 12-inch/50 caliber guns of the and a 50% increase over the 14-inch/45 caliber guns of the , , and s.

Design The 16-inch gun was a built-up gun constructed in a length of 45 calibers. The Mark 1 had an A tube, jacket, liner, and seven hoops, four locking rings and a screw-box liner. When the gun was designed in August 1913 it was referred to as the "Type Gun (45 Cal.)" as an effort to conceal the gun's true size of 16 inches. Gun No. 1, the prototype, was proof fired in July 1914, less than a year after it was designed. After some minor changes the gun was re-proofed in May 1916 with production approved in January 1917, for Gun Nos. 2–41. Bethlehem Steel was given a contract for 20 guns and an additional 20 castings were ordered from Watervliet Arsenal for assembly at the US Naval Gun Factory at the Washington Navy Yard.

Upgrade The Mark 1 guns were upgraded to Marks 5 and 8 in the late 1930s. The Mark 5s have a larger chamber to permit larger charges and a new liner with a heavier taper carbon steel along with a liner locking ring and locking collar. The Mark 8, similar to the Mark 5, had a uniform rifling with a chromium plated bore for increased life.

Naval service + Ships with 16-inch/45-caliber gun installed Ship Gun Installed Gun Mount Guns: 16"/45 caliberTurrets: 4 × Two-gun turrets Guns: 16"/45 caliberTurrets: 4 × Two-gun turrets (cancelled 1922)Guns: 16"/45 caliberTurrets: 4 × Two-gun turrets Guns: 16"/45 caliberTurrets: 4 × Two-gun turrets

16-inch/45-caliber gun

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