The Breech Loading 5.5 inch Mk I was a naval gun used by the British Royal Navy during both World Wars.

Naval history

This weapon was developed by Coventry Ordnance Works in 1913 and offered to the Greek Navy as main armament for two new cruisers building at Cammell Laird. On the outbreak Of World War I the two ships were purchased by Britain as HMS Chester and HMS Birkenhead. The RN was happy with the performance of the gun as it was significantly lighter than the standard 6 inch gun and fired an 82 lb shell rather than the 100 lb shell of the 6 inch weapon. It therefore had a higher rate of fire with little loss in hitting power. The British ordered more guns as secondary armament for HMS Furious and HMS Hood. A total of 81 guns were made and were used on the following ships

• HMS Chester
• HMS Birkenhead
• HMS Furious
• HMS Hood
• HMS Hermes

Guns removed from Chester, Birkenhead and Furious were used to arm Armed Merchant Cruisers

• HMS Laurentic - Armed Merchant cruiser
• HMS Montclare - Armed Merchant cruiser

Coast defence gun

In 1940, the 5.5 inch guns were removed from HMS Hood in a refit. Two were installed in Hood Battery on Ascension Island and remain there today. A pair were installed in specially built casemates on the roof of Coalhouse Fort in Essex, overlooking the Thames. Guns from the Hood also went to Bognor Regis, Pevensey, North Foreland, Dover and Folkestone.

Surviving examples

• The gun served by Jack Cornwell VC is preserved in the Imperial War Museum in London
• 2 guns from HMS Furious, at Fort Skansin, Tórshavn, Streymoy Island, Faroe Islands : see :Image:British gun, skansin .jpg
• 2 guns from HMS Hood, on Ascension Island

See also

• Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1910 Naval gun : French equivalent
• List of naval guns

Notes

References

• Tony DiGiulian, British 5.5"/50 (14 cm) BL Mark I