BL 5.5-inch medium gun

The BL 5.5-inch gun was a British artillery gun introduced during the middle of the Second World War to equip medium batteries.

BL 5.5 inch medium gun Mk 3
A 5.5 Inch Gun Crew on the Italian Front, 10 January 1944.
TypeMedium gun
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1941-1980 (UK)
Used bySee users
WarsWorld War II
Korean War
Portuguese Colonial War
Rhodesian Bush War
South African Border War
Iran–Iraq War
Production history
Produced1941-1945
No. built5,000
Specifications
Mass13,647 lbs (6,190 kg)
Length24 ft 7 in (7.5 m)
Barrel length13 ft 9 in (4.19 m) L/30
Width8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
Height8 ft 6 in (2.6 m)
Crew10

ShellSeparate loading bagged charge and projectile
Calibre5.5 inch (140 mm)
BreechWelin breech and Asbury mechanism
RecoilHydro-pneumatic
CarriageSplit trail
Elevation-5° to 45°
Traverse30° left and right
Rate of fire2 rpm
Muzzle velocity100lb shell (45 kg): 1,675 ft/s (511 m/s)
82lb shell (37 kg): 1,950 ft/s (590 m/s)
Maximum firing range100lb shell: 16,200 yards (14,800 m)
82lb shell: 18,100 yards (16,600 m)
SightsProbert pattern reciprocating and calibrating
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