12-inch/50-caliber Mark 8 gun
The 12"/50 caliber gun Mark 8 was a US naval gun mounted on the Alaska-class cruiser. The gun, like the "large cruiser" that mounted it, was intended to fill the gap between US "heavy cruisers" (6-8") and US battleships (14-16"). The name describes the size of the shells, 12 inches in diameter, and the length of the bore in calibers (50 bore diameters).
| 12"/50 caliber Mark 8 gun | |
|---|---|
USS Guam firing her 12"/50 guns during a training session sometime in 1944–1945. | |
| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1944–1961 |
| Used by | Alaska-class cruisers |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1939 |
| Manufacturer | Naval Gun Factory, Midvale and Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Watervliet Arsenal |
| Specifications | |
| Barrel length | 51 feet (15.54 m) bore (50 cal) |
| Shell | 1,140 pounds (520 kg) |
| Caliber | 12 inches (304.8 mm) |
| Rate of fire | 2.4–3.0 rounds per minute |
| Maximum firing range | 38,573 yards (35,271 m) |
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