Submarine Guns: Difference between revisions
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=== <big>Submarine Guns 1900-1941</big> === | === <big>Submarine Guns 1900-1941</big> === | ||
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B"> | <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color:#00008B">For the first 14-15 years of USN submarine operations, guns were not considered to be a useful weapon on a ship designed for a stealthy submerged attack. In fact, no USN submarine carried a deck gun until the [[L-class|'''L-class''']] of 1914, and even then it was a retrofit and not part of the original design. [[Simon Lake non-Navy Submarines|'''Simon Lake's''']] [[Protector1|'''Protector''']] of 1903 briefly carried a [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_1pounder_m1.php '''Hotchkiss Mk 1 1 pdr/20 caliber'''] gun in an "armored sighting hood" atop the conning tower, but the idea did not catch on in the USN for several more years. | ||
It is likely that submarines from the C-class and on carried small arms for self defense while in port. These would have included the Colt M1895 and M1909 revolvers for officer use, and eventually the famous M1911 and M1911A1 pistols. Rifles would have been Krag-Jorgensen M1896/M1898 and Springfield M1903 models. The number of variations for these weapons is large, and small arms of these types will not be listed here. | |||
By late 1912 it was realized that a deck gun of some sort might prove useful to submarines if they were forced to surface in the midst of small enemy picket and patrol vessels, and to potentially finish off already crippled targets. When the L-class bidder's package was developed by the Bureau of Construction & Repair (BuC&R) a proviso was written into it for a small deck gun. Underwater performance was still highly emphasized at this time, so it was stipulated that the gun be retractable to limit underwater drag. | |||
[[File:Red bar sub new.jpg]] | [[File:Red bar sub new.jpg]] | ||
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! Designation !! Type !! Manufacturer !! Cartridge !! Capacity/Feed Type !! Action !! Weight (lbs) !! Length OA (in) !! Rate of Fire (RPM) !! Muzzle Velocity (Ft/s) !! Effective Range (yds) !! Dates of Use !! Photos & More Info | ! Designation !! Type !! Manufacturer !! Cartridge !! Capacity/Feed Type !! Action !! Weight (lbs) !! Length OA (in) !! Rate of Fire (RPM) !! Muzzle Velocity (Ft/s) !! Effective Range (yds) !! Dates of Use !! Photos & More Info | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[File:Lewis gun with bipod American Rifleman.jpg|left| | | [[File:Lewis gun with bipod American Rifleman.jpg|left|120px]] M1917 Lewis Machine Gun || Light Machine Gun || Savage Arms || .30-06 Springfield || 47/pan magazine || Gas, rotating open bolt || 28 || 50.5 || 600-800 || 2440 || 880 || 1917-1945 || [https://pigboats.com/index.php?title=Gun_photos_%26_information#M1917_Lewis '''Lewis Gun'''] | ||
|-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | |-style="background-color:#FFFFF0" | ||
| [[File:M1918 BAR right.jpg|left| | | [[File:M1918 BAR right.jpg|left|120px]] M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle || Light Machine Gun || Colt/Winchester || .30-06 Springfield || 20/detachable box magazine || Gas, rising bolt lock || 15.98|| 47 || 500-650 || 2822 || 100-1500 || 1918-1945 || [https://pigboats.com/index.php?title=Gun_photos_%26_information#M1918_Browning_Automatic_Rifle '''B.A.R.'''] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
Revision as of 21:36, 26 March 2025
Submarine Guns 1900-1941
For the first 14-15 years of USN submarine operations, guns were not considered to be a useful weapon on a ship designed for a stealthy submerged attack. In fact, no USN submarine carried a deck gun until the L-class of 1914, and even then it was a retrofit and not part of the original design. Simon Lake's Protector of 1903 briefly carried a Hotchkiss Mk 1 1 pdr/20 caliber gun in an "armored sighting hood" atop the conning tower, but the idea did not catch on in the USN for several more years.
It is likely that submarines from the C-class and on carried small arms for self defense while in port. These would have included the Colt M1895 and M1909 revolvers for officer use, and eventually the famous M1911 and M1911A1 pistols. Rifles would have been Krag-Jorgensen M1896/M1898 and Springfield M1903 models. The number of variations for these weapons is large, and small arms of these types will not be listed here.
By late 1912 it was realized that a deck gun of some sort might prove useful to submarines if they were forced to surface in the midst of small enemy picket and patrol vessels, and to potentially finish off already crippled targets. When the L-class bidder's package was developed by the Bureau of Construction & Repair (BuC&R) a proviso was written into it for a small deck gun. Underwater performance was still highly emphasized at this time, so it was stipulated that the gun be retractable to limit underwater drag.
| Designation | Type | Manufacturer | Cartridge | Capacity/Feed Type | Action | Weight (lbs) | Length OA (in) | Rate of Fire (RPM) | Muzzle Velocity (Ft/s) | Effective Range (yds) | Dates of Use | Photos & More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Light Machine Gun | Savage Arms | .30-06 Springfield | 47/pan magazine | Gas, rotating open bolt | 28 | 50.5 | 600-800 | 2440 | 880 | 1917-1945 | Lewis Gun |
 |
Light Machine Gun | Colt/Winchester | .30-06 Springfield | 20/detachable box magazine | Gas, rising bolt lock | 15.98 | 47 | 500-650 | 2822 | 100-1500 | 1918-1945 | B.A.R. |
| Mount Mark/Mod | Bore Size/Caliber | Weight w/mount (lbs) | Length OA (in) | Elevation (deg) | Range at elevation | Muzzle Velocity (fps) | Rate of Fire (RPM) | Ammo type/weight complete (lbs) | Bursting Charge for Common Type (lbs) | Subs used on/Dates of service | Photos & More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
3"/23 | ~1000 | 77.05 | -15 to +65 | 5000@9.47 | 1650 | 8-9 | Fixed/16.5 | .28 | L, M, O, S-1 | 3"/23 Mk 9 |
 |
3"/50 | 5400 | 164 | -20 to +30 | 4500@4.3 | 2700 | 15-20 | Fixed/24 | 1.27 | R, Porpoise-class | 3"/50 Mk 17 Mod 19 |
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