Land Service
In early 1942 the Governor of Gibraltar sought 5.25-in guns for dual anti-aircraft/coast defence role. None were forthcoming. However, later that year AA Command in UK acquired three twin-gun turrets from the Admiralty, these were installed around London in permanent positions. Trials and use led the army to design a single gun mounting in two marks, both with an underground engine room to provide electrical and hydraulic power for traverse, elevation, fuze setting, ramming and other tasks. Fitted with the standard army Machine Fuze Setter No 10 these guns had a rate of fire of 10 rds/min and a maximum height of 50,000 ft, with an effective height of 36,000 ft. Mark 1A was a mild steel turret for AA use only, Mk 1B was an armoured turret for AA/CD use. The gun was designated Mk 2.
By the end of 1943 only 16 of the new guns had been installed, far below projections. By the end of the war 164 guns had been produced. The HE shells were fuzed with the standard army No 208 mechanical time fuze, used with 3.7 and 4.5-inch AA guns. The guns remained in service after World War II and in 1953 11 guns were installed in Gibraltar.
Late in World War II 7 guns were mounted in Australia and 3 in New Guinea in enclosed single-gun AA/CD turrets.
Read more about this topic: QF 5.25 Inch Gun
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