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| RN Battleship Guns http://67.205.157.234/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2325 |
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| Author: | signal [ December 14th, 2011, 6:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | RN Battleship Guns |
Why did British battleships have brass or bronze muzzles on their main armament? I have seen photos and videos of RN 14in., 15in., and 16in. guns with yellowish metal ends on the barrels. I do not mean the caps used to cover the muzzle openings, but the actual barrel ends themselves. I have never seen this on large caliber guns used by Germany or the US for their WWII ships. Does anyone know what this is and why the RN used it? 
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| Author: | erik_t [ December 14th, 2011, 8:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RN Battleship Guns |
British guns of that era used a wire-wound construction technique, whereas USN and German tubes were hoop-based. I assume that this is reflected in the brass/bronze caps on the ends of the gun tubes. |
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| Author: | Bombhead [ December 17th, 2011, 12:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RN Battleship Guns |
That sounds about right,it may have also had something to do with muzzle erosion. |
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| Author: | erik_t [ December 17th, 2011, 8:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: RN Battleship Guns |
Well, you'd want to seal the wire-wound portion, as it would be pretty prone to corrosion. Bronze/brass makes sense as a somewhat softer cover material that could be formed into shape. It's not idea from a galvanic corrosion standpoint, though. It might be a cosmetic color rather than actual brass. |
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