RCN Gun Systems

‍Royal Canadian Navy guns in action

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4821019)

HMCS Iroquois (G89), Tribal-class destroyer armed with three twin QF 4.7-inch (120-mm) guns, with a crew member holding one of its shells in 1943.

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Iroquois (G89), Tribal-class destroyer.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3598672)

Naval gunners loading 4.7-inch shells.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3356795)

Ordnance QF 12-pounder 12-cwt Mk V (3-inch-40) BL Gun with shield aboard ship.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196180)

QF 4-inch Naval Gun being assembled, at the Dominion Engineering Works, Longueuil, Quebec, 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3196181)

QF 4-inch Naval Gun being assembled at the Dominion Engineering Works, Longueuil, Quebec, 1942.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3201273)

QF 4-inch Naval gun training, HMCS Hamilton, 10 Aug 1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3394476)

Hedgehog array onboard HMCS North Bay, Oct 1943.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3576681)

Depth Charge Thrower, HMCS Saguenay, 30 Oct 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3624562)

Sailors setting shell fuses on board HMCS Uganda, 23 Jun 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3191651)

HMCS Uganda bombarding Sukuma Airfield on Miyako Jima, 4 May 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo,  MIKAN N. 3455882)

QF 4-inch gun firing, HMCS Sherbrooke, June 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3348210)

Twin 3-inch gun mount, HMCS Algonquin, 21 Jan 1955.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3572367)

DEMS (Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships) personnel taking part in gun drill aboard an unidentified merchant ship, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 29 November 1942.

Defensively equipped merchant ship (DEMS) was an Admiralty Trade Division programme established in June 1939, to arm 5,500 British merchant ships with an adequate defence against enemy submarines and aircraft. The acronym DEMS was used to describe the ships carrying the guns, the guns aboard the ships, the military personnel manning the guns, and the shore establishment supporting the system.[1] This followed a similar World War I program of defensively armed merchant ships (DAMS).The program was distinct from armed merchant cruiser program, which were warships converted from civilian vessels, operated by the Royal Navy itself. (Wikipedia)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3394508)

BL 4-inch Mk VII low-angle gun on a DEMS in 1943. This was an obsolete First World War gun typical of Second World War DEMS armament.

Old naval guns had been stored since 1918 in ports for possible use. In the Second World War the objective was to equip each ship with a low-angle gun mounted aft as defence against surfaced submarines and a high-angle gun and rifle-calibre machine guns for defence against air attack. 3,400 ships had been armed by the end of 1940; and all ships were armed by 1943.

The low-angle guns were typically in the 3-inch to 6-inch range (75–150 mm) depending on the size of the ship. Rifle-calibre machine guns were augmented or replaced by Oerlikon 20 mm cannon as they became available. The high-angle QF 12-pdr Mk V mount was the most common anti-aircraft gun and later ships sometimes received Bofors 40 mm guns.[23]Untrained gunners posed significant risk to friendly aircraft in the absence of efficient communications.[24] DEMS guns were manned by 24,000 Royal Navy personnel and 14,000 men of the Royal Artillery Maritime Regiment. 150,000 merchant sailors were trained to assist by passing ammunition, loading and replacing casualties. Initially, Royal Artillery personnel provided anti-aircraft protection by bringing their own machine-guns aboard ships operating close to the British Isles.[24] DEMS gunners were often retired military personnel and young Hostilities Only ratings, commanded by a petty officer or Royal Marine sergeant. Large ships sometimes embarked a junior naval officer to command the DEMS gunners. Canada placed guns on 713 ships, while the Royal Australian Navy provided gun crews for 375 Australian and other Allied ships. (Wikipedia)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3567054)

Naval ratings studying the components of a torpedo at the Royal Canadian Navy Torpedo School (Royal Canadian Navy Schools), Halifax, Nova Scotia, January 1941.

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Coastal Defence and Naval Guns preserved in Canada

(Author Photo)

6-inch Gun Mk VII (Serial No. l346), used for coastal defence, photo taken at Point Pleasant Park.  This gun has been re-located to McNab's Island, as of March 2005.

Naval Guns on display in the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa, Ontario

(Author Photo)

Oerlikon 20-mm AA Gun Mk 4 on RCN Mk V Mounting.

QF 1-pounder pom-pom, Vickers-Maxim Mk I Automatic Gun.

(Author Photo)

QF 1¼-pounder pom-pom, Vickers-Maxim Mk III Automatic Gun from CGS Canada.

QF 2-pounder Mk VIII Gun on Single Mounting from HMCS Kamloops.

Ordnance QF 40-mm Bofors L/60 gun in Mk VC Boffin Mounting.

(Author Photo)

Ordnance QF 40-mm Bofors AA Gun Mk XI in Twin RP50 Mk IV Mounting.

BL 4-inch Gun Mk XXI, on High Angle Mk XXIV Single Mounting.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4950949)

HMCS Prince Robert gun crew serving their BL 4-inch Mk XVI guns, c1942-1945.

(Author Photos)

BL 4-inch Gun Mk XVI, on Mk XIX Twin High Angle Mounting, 1942, from HMCS Victoriaville.

Squid Anti-submarine Mortar Mk IV.

FMC 3-inch/50 Twin Gun Mk 33, HMCS Qu’Appelle McKenzie class destroyer.

Canadian Naval Reserve Units (preserved RCN Guns)

Vancouver, HMCS Discovery

QF 6-pounder 7-cwt Hotchkiss Guns (Serial Nos. TBC), Montreal, 1941-42, mounted on Vickers and Sons and Maxim 8-pound 1901 stand.  Alberni Street.

Victoria, HMCS Malahat

Ordnance QF 12-pounder 8-cwt Naval Landing Gun (Serial No. 1213), weight 8-0-0, and Limber.  20 Huron Street.

The Naval Landing Guns found in Canada probably originated on early ships of the Royal Canadian Navy, such as HMCS Niobe, HMCS Aurora, HMCS Rainbow and others.

Calgary, HMCS Tecumseh

Ordnance QF 12-pounder 8-cwt Naval Landing Gun, mounted on a wooden wheeled carriage, (Serial No. 1034), 1899, weight 8-0-0 (896 lbs), carriage (Serial No. 94), 1899, and Limber (Serial No. 9936).  Queen Victoria cypher.  This gun has a breech screw for a 12-pounder 12-cwt NLG, (Serial No. 111), 1917.  Several of the photos of the breech screw seem to have “12-pr 12-cwt A & 8-cwt” on them.  This suggests that the breech screw was common to the two guns.  Both were ship’s guns and this would have simplified spare parts.  The Naval Landing Guns found in Canada probably originated on early ships of the Royal Canadian Navy, such as HMCS Niobe, HMCS Aurora, HMCS Rainbow and others.

USN 5-inch Gun Mk 38, Mod 6, (Serial No. 13256), NSN L9999-1941-44124, Carriage (Serial No. 7313), Training Gear (Serial No. 4399).  1820-24 Street SW.

Edmonton, HMCS Nonsuch

US Navy 5-inch Gun Mk 37 Mod 2, (Serial No. 538) from Gerald Bull’s HARP project in Suffield.  These guns have been specially modified by Gerald Bull for testing at Suffield.  They are also the same type of gun that was on the Second World War Carriers HMCS Nabob and HMCS Puncherin the RCN.  The gun stands in the Northwest corner inside the security fence facing the Municipal Airport.

(Author Photos)

HMCS Nonsuch, 5-inch Naval Gun, Edmonton, Alberta.

Regina, HMCS Queen

Possible gun used for gun run drills, TBC.  100 Navy Way.

Saskatoon, HMCS Unicorn, Naval Reserve, 405-24 St E.

(PO1 Warren Noble Photo)

QF 4-inch Gun Mk XVI in a Mk XIX twin mount, mount (Serial No. 146).  405-24 St E.

Ordnance QF 12-pounder 8-cwt Naval Landing Gun, mounted on a wooden wheeled carriage, (Serial No. 1210), 1899, weight 8-0-0 (896 lbs), and Limber (Serial No. 9936).

Winnipeg, HMCS Chippewa

Ordnance QF 12-pounder 8-cwt Naval Landing Gun, mounted on a wooden wheeled carriage, (Serial No. 71), 1898, weight 7-3-10 (878 lbs), and Limber (Serial No.).  1 Navy Way.

Hamilton, HMCS Star

Russian SBML 36-pounder Gun, by Armstrong at Alexandrovski, with double-headed Eagle, Crimean War trophy.  6.75-inch gun, stamped Armstrong 1837 J68 ½, (Serial No. 25457).  Captured at Sevastopol in 1855, given to Hamilton by Queen Victoria in 1860.  The Hamilton and District Officers’ Institute mounted the gun as a centennial project in 1967.  This gun is now mounted at HMCS Star.

Ordnance QF 12-pounder 8-cwt Naval Landing Gun, ca. 1903.  Used by the Hamilton Sea Cadet Corps for the last 90 years or so.

Kingston, HMCS Cataraqui

18th Century SBML Gun, HMS Princess Charlotte, 1812, inside the drill hall.  650 Catherine St North.  24 Navy Way.

London, HMCS Prevost

Ordnance QF 3-inch/50 Twin Gun M33 turret, HMCS Fraser.  19 Becher Street.

Ottawa, HMCS Carleton

Blomefield 9-pounder SBML replica guns (two), mounted on wood naval carriages.  79 Prince of Wales Drive.

Thunder Bay, HMCS Griffon

QF 4-inch Gun Mk XVI in a Mk XIX twin mount, 125 North Algoma Street.

Ordnance QF 3-inch/40 (12-pounder) Gun Mk V HA, 125 North Algoma Street.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3396602)

Naval ratings firing a 4-inch gun aboard a Flower class Corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy during working-up exercises off Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1943.

Toronto, HMCS York

(Curtis Kostin Photo)

Twin 4-inch Mk XIX Mounting R.P. 50/51 series guns in a naval gun turret, Adm. No. 541.

Ordnance QF 12-pounder 8-cwt Naval Landing Gun.  659 Lakeshore Blvd West.

Windsor, HMCS Hunter

Possible gun used in gun drills, TBC.  960 Ouellette Ave.

Montréal, HMCS Donnacona

(LCdr Geoff Hamilton Photo)

SBML 1-pounder brass gun mounted on a wooden naval gun carriage, 2-inch bore (a 1.9-inch ball is 1 lb).  This gun is most likely a presentation replica, and is on display inside the ship’s drill hall.  3525 St-Jacques Street.

Québec City, HMCS Montcalm

Ordnance QF 40-mm Bofors AA Guns.  CFFS (Q) has four of these guns, all used for training.  One is on HMCS Montcalm’s parade square for students to practice gun drills, one is in a training simulator (FATS) at 170 Dalhousie Street, and two are operational and used on a range at CFB Valcartier.  All RCN Kingston Class vessels continue to operate the QF 40-mm Bofors AA Gun.

Rimouski, HMCS D’Iberville

No guns at present.  84, Montée Industrielle et commerciale.

Saguenay, HMCS Champlain

Possible gun used for gun drills, TBC.

Sept-Îles, HMCS Joliet                    

Possible gun on order, TBC.  366, Rue Arnaud.

Trois-Rivières, HMCS Radisson

(PO2 J.L.C. Primeau Photo)

QF BL 4-inch Guns on naval mounting (two) in front of the Naval Reserve HQ.  1000, Île Saint-Christophe.

Charlottetown, HMCS Queen Charlotte

(Author Photo)

Blomefield SBML 32-pounder Gun, weight 47-3-4 (5,352 lbs), Walker & Co., 6, K ing George III cypher, 210 Water Street at Haviland Street.

(Author Photo)

Millar RML 32-pounder Gun, weight 58-2-0 (6,552 lbs), 1854, King George III cypher, 210 Water Street at Haviland Street.

Halifax, HMCS Scotian

(Author Photo)

Bronze Lyle Smoothbore Muzzleloading Gun (2.5-inch bore), AO CO, No. 440, 190, FEH on the muzzle, blank on the left trunnion, US LSS on the right trunnion.

This Lyle type gun was used to fire life lines from ship or shore.  Light-weight rope was shot out to a wreck after it had been carefully wound on a rope-board so it would uncoil without snagging. The crews would then use this rope to haul out the heavier lines which actually carried the breeches buoy. The survivors would brought ashore or to the tugboat in a breeches buoy, which was a pair of canvas pants sewed onto a life-preserver.  These line guns are used primarily for shore based rescue operations.  The shooter would fire, aiming over the victims head and then pull the line within reach of the victim.  They are also useful for rescuing victims that have fallen through the ice, or are stranded on a cliff or burning building.  Boats in distress need larger lines.  Lyle guns were designed to throw projectiles weighing approximately 15 pounds, carrying heavier rope over 1000 feet.  Getting this equipment close to a wreck would have been difficult, given the likelihood the conditions that caused the wreck would still have been present.  It is mounted on a wood naval gun carriage, inside the ship.

St. John’s, HMCS Cabot, 220 Southside Road, Pier 27.

(Able Seaman Brittany Hayes Photo, HMCS Cabot)

QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss Gun, inside the main entrance to the ship.  This gun was used on board HMS Calypso.

Basic Definitions

AA

Anti-Aircraft

AAVT

Anti-Aircraft VT round, for 3"/50 Mk.33.

"A" mounting

Gun mountings were given designations based on their  position on the ship. In general, "A" mounting was located furthest  forward, with "B" mounting located aft of and above "A"  mounting and before the bridge. "Y" mounting was located furthest  aft, with "X" mounting located immediately forward of and above  "Y" mounting.

APDS

Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot, for Phalanx.

ASuW

Anti-Surface Warfare

BL

Breech Loading.

Bofors 40mm/56.25

The Bofors 40mm/56.25 gun was used widely during  WWII and long after, on a variety of different mountings. Each mounting is  listed separately below, despite the fact that they used the same gun.  Although frequently listed as being 60 calibre, this gun was actually 56.25  calibre.

C

Sometimes used as suffix to designate Canadian  versions of foreign equipment (i.e. Oerlikon Mk.VC mounting is Canadian  version of Oerlikon Mk.V mounting). However, this is not always the case.

Calibre

Barrel interior (or bore) diameter.  "Calibres" is a measure of the length of the barrel in multiples of  the diameter of the projectile (i.e. 3"/70 gun barrel has a bore  diameter of 3", and a length of 70 times longer than the barrel interior  diameter or bore).

CIWS

Close-In Weapons System

CPBC

Common Pointed Ballistic Cap, later changed to SAPBC  (Semi-Armour Piercing Ballistic Cap).

DART

Driven Ammunition Reduced Time of flight (for  76mm/62 gun)

DP

Dual Purpose, indicates that gun is used in both AA  and ASuW roles.

Fixed

Refers to ammunition, describes a cartridge that is  attached to the projectile.

HA

High Angle, refers to AA guns elevating to greater  than 50 degrees.

HA/LA

High Angle / Low Angle, refers to DP guns.

HC

High Capacity rounds, for use against lightly  armoured targets (HC refers to amount of explosive carried).

HCER

High Capacity Extended Range. These 57mm rounds are  optimised for anti-surface warfare.

HE

High Explosive

HE-PD

High Explosive, Point Detonating Fuze

HE-CVT

High Explosive, Controlled Variable Time Fuze

Illum-MT

Illumination, Mechanical Timed Fuze

LA

Low Angle, indicates guns with a low maximum  elevation with primary use as ASuW weapons.

MG

Machine Gun.

Mk

Mark, refers to revision of design.

NF

Non-Fragmentation. 57mm AA round.

Pdr

Pounder, refers to weight of round fired.

PFHE

Pre-Fragmented High Explosive. 57mm AA rounds.

Pom-Pom

Used to describe some 1 and 2 Pdr guns, refers to  sound made during firing.

QF

Quick Firing.

SAP

Semi-Armour Piercing.

SAPOM

Semi-Armour Piercing OTO Munition (for 76mm/62 gun)

SAPOMER

Semi-Armour Piercing OTO Munition Extended Range  (for 76mm/62 gun)

Xmm/Y or X"/Y

X denotes the bore diameter in the designated units,  while Y denotes the length of the barrel in calibres. See definition for  "calibre".

TP

Target Practice.  57mm round.

VT

Variable Time, refers to Proximity Fuzed rounds.

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