EOC 4-inch 50 caliber
| EOC 4-inch 50 caliber | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin | Great Britain |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Republic of China Greece |
| Wars | Balkan Wars World War I Greco-Turkish War World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Elswick Ordnance Company |
| Designed | 1911 |
| Manufacturer | Armstrong Whitworth |
| Produced | 1911 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4,816 lb (2,185 kg) |
| Barrel length | 16.7 ft (5.1 m) 50 caliber |
| Shell | Fixed QF ammunition 57.7 lb (26.2 kg) |
| Shell weight | 31 lb (14 kg) |
| Calibre | 4 inches (100 mm) |
| Breech | Horizontal sliding wedge breech |
| Rate of fire | 10-12 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 3,000 ft/s (910 m/s)[1] |
The EOC 4-inch 50 caliber was a British naval gun designed by the Elswick Ordnance Company for export customers in the years before World War I that armed warships of the Republic of China and the Greek Navy. These ships served in both World War I and later World War II.
History
The EOC 4-inch 50 caliber began life as a design produced by the parent company of Elswick, Armstrong Whitworth for export customers called the Pattern P. These guns did not serve aboard ships of the Royal Navy.[1]
Construction
The EOC 4-inch 50 caliber was constructed of an A tube and wire wound with a protective outer jacket. It also had a horizontal sliding-wedge breech and fired fixed quick fire ammunition.[1]
Naval use
EOC 4-inch 50 caliber guns armed coastal defense ships, destroyers and protected cruisers.
Coastal defense ships
- Yongfeng class - Two of the four ships of this class Yongjian and Yongji were armed with a single bow mounted EOC 4-inch gun. While Yongfeng and Yongxiang were similar in configuration they carried a single bow mounted Krupp 10.5 cm SK L/40 gun instead.
Destroyers
- Aetos class - The four ships of this class had a primary armament of four EOC 4-inch guns. One was bow mounted, one was amidships and two were at the stern.
Protected cruisers
- Chao Ho class - Two ships of this class Chao Ho and Ying Swei had a secondary armament of four shielded EOC 4-inch guns on sponsons amidships. The third ship of the class named Elli was sold to Greece before completion and had a different armament scheme.
References
- Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.