| Ordnance BL 12 inch gun Mk I - VII | |
| Origin: | United Kingdom |
| Type: | Naval gun Coastal gun |
| Is Ranged: | YES |
| Is Artillery: | YES |
| Is Uk: | YES |
| Service: | 1882–1920 |
| Used By: | Royal Navy |
| Variants: | Mks I - VII |
| Weight: | Mk I : 47 tons barrel & breech Mk II - V 45 tons[1] Mk VI, VII : 46 tons |
| Part Length: | Mk I & II : 301.7inches bore (25.14 calibres) Mk III - VII 303inches bore (25.25 calibres)[2] |
| Cartridge: | 714lb |
| Caliber: | 12sing=onNaNsing=on |
| Velocity: | 1910ft/s[3] |
| Range: | 8000yd at 9° 57'[4] |
The BL 12 inch naval gun Mk I was a British rifled breech-loading naval gun of the early 1880s intended for the largest warships such as battleships and also coastal defence. It was Britain's first attempt to match the large guns being installed in rival European navies, particularly France, after Britain transitioned from rifled muzzle-loading guns to the modern rifled breech-loaders somewhat later than the European powers. Mks I - VII[5] all had a barrel of approximately 303 inches in length (25.25 calibres) and similar performance.
Mk II was installed on battleships from 1882, and the coastal service ironclad . Mk II guns failed in service and were quickly replaced by Mks III. IV and V, with many changes and improvements. The later marks were also mounted on, sistership of Conqueror, and on, sister ship of Colossus.
Mks I, VI and VII were coast defence versions with trunnions for mounting on recoil slides. They were installed in forts in England at Spitbank Fort, No Man's Land Fort and Horse Sand Fort from 1884 onward and were in active service during World War I.[6]