The smoothbore artillery used by the British military in 1841 was little difference from that which had been used during the Napoleonic Wars. Improvements in metallurgy and propellants had made guns more effective but only to a limited degree. These smoothbore weapons were all cast iron or bronze and loaded from the muzzle. By the 1850s rifled artillery was starting to be introduced which gave much better accuracy that the old smoothbore guns.
Evolution of British Coastal Defence Artillery, 1840-1914
The evolution of British Coastal Artillery from smoothbore to breech loading guns.
SMOOTHBORE (SB) ARTILLERY
24-pdr SMOOTHBORE MUZZLE LOADING GUN
The 24-pdr Muzzle Loading Smooth Bore was used extensively during the Napoleonic Wars and remained operational until about 1865. It was used extensively in coast fortifications around the world. It was superseded by the 32-pdr. The effective range of this gun was about 1,200 yards. Surviving examples of this gun can be found around the World.
32-pdr SMOOTHBORE MUZZLE LOADING GUN
The 32-pdr (58cwt) Muzzle Loading Smooth Bore was used extensively in fortifications between 1830 and about 1880. It was largely redundant by 1865 but still remained mounted in fortifications. The effective range of this gun was about 2,600 yards.
68-pdr SMOOTHBORE MUZZLE LOADING GUN
The 68-pdr (95cwt) Muzzle Loading Smooth Bore was used extensively in fortifications between 1846 and the 1870s. Often regarded as one of the most effective British smooth bore guns. The effective range of this gun was about 2,600 yards.
8-inch SMOOTHBORE HOWTIZER
The 8-inch smoothbore Howitzer was introduced in about 1820 and were still in use until at least 1881. The 8-inch and similar 10-inch Howitzers had both been reviewed in 1865 and their continued use recommended. These iron guns were intended to fire at a high angle and were thus able to fire over friendly troops or on hostile troops behind cover. Their fire could also plunge down on the less well protected decks of ironclads and their explosive shells caused fires to rigging and sails. The 8-inch Howitzer was used extensively in larger coastal fortifications.
64-pdr RIFLED MUZZLE LOADING GUN (Converted)
With the adoption of rifled artillery in about 1860, the British experimented with converting the old smoothbores to rifled guns. The 64-pdr RML or RML 32-pdr of 58 cwt, Palliser system was one of these conversions. There was also a 71 cwt version converted from the 8-inch SB shell gun. Operational in coastal batteries from 1873 until about 1900. The effective range of this gun was about 2,700 yards.
64-pdr RIFLED MUZZLE LOADING GUN
64-pdr RML of 64 cwt of Marks I – III. Operational from 1865 until about 1900. The effective range of this gun was about 5,000 yards.
68-pdr RIFLED MUZZLE LOADING GUN
68-pdr RML of 88 cwt, 95 cwt or 112 cwt Dundas Gun. Operational from 1872 until about 1900. The effective range of this gun was about 2,700 yards.
7-INCH RIFLED BREACHLOADING GUN
This was the first rifled breechloading (RBL) gun used by the British. The 7-inch RBL fire a round of 110-lbs. In use by 1859 but largely withdrawn by 1864 but it could still be found on armament returns for coastal defence fortifications until about 1890.
7-INCH RIFLED MUZZLELOADING GUN
The 7-inch RML of 7 ton was produced in Marks I-IV and 6.5 ton version with Marks I-III. This piece was used on Moncrieff mountings. Operational from 1864 until about 1905. Maximum effective range of 5,500 yards.
9-INCH RIFLED MUZZLELOADING GUN
The 9-inch RML of 12 ton was produced in Marks I-IV. Operational from 1865 until about 1922, it was widely used in coastal defence batteries. Maximum effective range of 4,500 yards.
10-INCH RIFLED MUZZLELOADING GUN
The 10-inch RML of 18 tons was manufactured in Marks I-II. Operational from 1864 until about 1904. Maximum effective range of 4,380 yards. Often used in casemated batteries behind iron shields.
11-INCH RIFLED MUZZLELOADING GUN
The 11-inch RML of 25 tons, was manufactured in Marks I-II. Operational from 1867 until about 1903. Maximum effective range of 4,420 yards. Often mounted in casemated batteries behind iron shields and supported by 9-inch RML guns.
12-INCH RIFLED MUZZLELOADING GUN
The 12-inch RML of 25 tons, was produced in Marks I-II. Used both on turreted ships and for coast defence. Operational from 1864 until about 1870s.
There was also a 12-inch RML of 35 tons but this was produced in only version. It came into service in 1871 and was used on naval vessels.
Only limited numbers of 12-inch RML were manufactured. Maximum effective range of 4,530 yards.
12.5-INCH RIFLED MUZZLELOADING GUN
The 12.5-inch RML of 38 tons, was produced in Marks I & II. Used both on turreted ships and for coast defence. Operational from 1873 until 1905. Often deployed behind iron shields supported by 10-inch RML guns. Due to their weight these guns were sometimes mounted in turret like emplacements, such a King’s Bastion in Gibraltar. Maximum effective range of 4,520 yards.
17.72-INCH RIFLED MUZZLELOADING GUN
The 17.72-inch RML weighed over 100 tons and is now referred to as the 100 Ton Gun. A total of seventeen of these guns were manufactures, all but four mounted on Italian Warships. Two batteries with 17.72-inch guns were later established in both Malta and Gibraltar. Operational from 1875 until 1906. Maximum effective range of 6,000 yards.
BREECH LOADING (BL) ARTILLERY
From 1860 to about 1885 the British relied on RML guns, with the exception of the 7-inch RBL. However, after a serious accident in July 1876 on board HMS Thunderer, when a 12-inch RML gun was double loaded. A Commission was appointed and one of the conclusions arrived at was that this type of accident could be avoided with a BL gun. The advances in metallurgy also allowed for more effective BL guns to be developed and replace the old RML guns.
BL GUNS
10-INCH BREECHLOADING GUN
The 10-inch gun was produced in Marks I-IV to replaced the old heavy RML guns. The Mark 1 had a 32ton barrel and breech, while the Mark II to IV was 39 tons. Operational from 1885 until at least 1906, 10-inch BL guns were used in many overseas locations such as Hong Kong and Aden. Maximum effective range of 6,000 yards. The 9.2-inch BL gun superseded the 10-inch BL in about 1889.
For more information on the distribution of the 10-inch Breechloading gun see here.
9.2-INCH BREECHLOADING GUN (Mark1 to VII)
The initial 9.2 inch gun developed were Marks I to Mark VII, between 1881 and about 1890. They remained in service from 1881 until 1918 and were adopted as the standard counter bombardment coastal gun. The early Marks of 9.2-inch were also mounted on hydraulic mounts and disappearing guns.
9.2-INCH BREECHLOADING GUN (Mark IX to X)
The later 9.2-inch of 22 tons came with Marks IX and X. Operational from 1899 until 1957 it was mounted at most major British ports around the World. The Mark IX was specially designed as a coastal defence gun, but only fourteen were manufactured. In 1900 the Mark X was introduced and was the most widely distributed variant. The Mark XI did not prove effective and was withdrawn in the 1920. The Mark X remained operational until 1956 and later in Portugal. Maximum effective range of 29,200 yards.
For what is hoped is a complete list of the 9.2-inch Batteries around the World, excluding Home Waters, please click here.
A 200 page book on the 9.2-inch Coast Defence Gun in Canadian Service, by Dough Knight, This excellent paper with relevant images can be downloaded by clicking on the image.
6-INCH BREECHLOADING GUN (1880-1905)
The early 6-inch breechloading guns of 5 tons came were produced as Mark II to Mark IV. The Mark I was not a success. These guns were operational from 1880 until 1905. Initially they used gunpowder as a propellant but about 1895 onwards they converted to cordite. The maximum effective range of these 6-inch guns was 10,000 yards. some Mark IV and VI guns had new single motion breeches added and were designated as Breech Loading Converted (BLC). These BLC 6-inch guns had an effective range of 12,000 yards.
The Mark IV and Mark VI 6-inch guns were widely used throughout the British Empire in hydro-pneumatic (HP) emplacement and on Vavasseur Mounts.
6-INCH BREECHLOADING GUN VII
The 6-inch Mark VII BL gun was introduced in 1899 and remained in service until about 1956. Eight hundred and ninety eight guns were manufactured and it was widely deployed around the British Empire for Coast Defence. The 6-inch BL guns were often positioned to work in conjunction with 9.2-inch, Mark X BL guns.
The effective range of the 6-inch BL Mark VII was about 14,000 yards.
6-INCH QUICK FIRE, BREECHLOADING GUN
The 6-inch Quick Fire (QF) breechloading gun was manufactured in Marks 1 to III. Introduced in 1892 in remained in service until 1945. It was used for Coastal Defence batteries with effect from 1894. The QF referred to the ammunition which was a single brass case containing both the propellant (cordite) and the shell. The facilitate a much quicker rate of fire than when using separate shell, cartridge and friction or percussion tube for ignition.
The QF principal had been used since 1885 for Hotchkiss and similar lighter guns for rapid fire against Motor Torpedo Boats.
The effective range of the 6-inch QF breechloading gun was 10,000 yards.
4.7-INCH QUICK FIRE, BREECHLOADING GUN
The 4.7-inch Quick Fire (QF) was produced in Marks I to IV. Operational from 1887 until 1920, these guns were usually mounted in pairs, often covering minefields or harbour entrances. It was a supplementary gun to the 6-inch BL gun. Maximum effective range of 10.000 yards.
4-inch QUICK FIRE, BREECHLOADING GUN
The 4-inch Quick Fire breech loading gun was a principal naval gun that was adopted for coastal defence batteries. Introduced in 1895 the Marks 1 to III fired a shell of only 25-pds and was regarded ineffective against light armour. The Mark VIII introduced in 1907 fired a 31-pdr shell and was far more effective and with its introduction, from 1906, many old Mark III’s were transferred to coastal defence batteries and remained in service until about 1939. The North and South Sutor Batteries mounted a total of six 4-inch Q.F. guns.
12-pdr QUICK FIRE, BREECHLOADING GUN
The 12-pdr 12-cwtQF BL gun was introduced in 1894 and manufactured by Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick. Over 8,000 of the guns were built and remained in service until well after 1945. A maximum effective range of 11,750 yards. The 12-pdr was extensively in coastal batteries to combat fast moving vessels such as Motor Torpedo Boats. These batteries were often built on pier heads, covering choke points or minefields.
For more information of the 12-pdr Q.F. gun, please follow this link.
6-pdr QUICK FIRE, BREECHLOADING GUN
The 6-pdr Hotchkiss Q.F. of 8cwt was produced in Marks I-II. Operational from 1885 until 1950. Maximum effective range of about 4,000 yards. The British adopted the 6-pdr Nordenfelt prior to the Hotchkiss, but by 1900 they had started to phase it out of service because of unreliable fuses. Many other nations also used the 6-pdr Hotchkiss QF gun. The maximum range of the gun was 5,700 yards.
3-pdr QUICK FIRE, BREECHLOADING GUN
From 1886 the British adopted the 3-pdr QF Hotchkiss gun which was manufactured under licence by Elswick Ordnance Company. In 1905 the British introduce the Vickers 3-pdr QF gun which superseded the Hotchkiss gun. Over six hundred weapons were produced. Maximum range was 5,600 yards, but the effective range was half of this.
