Coast Defence Gun Barrel

Coast Defence Gun Barrel. . , 5.25 inch Mk II Coast Defence / Anti Aircraft Gun Barrel , Calibre 133mm (5.25 inch) , Range 21km (23,400 yards) , Anti Aircraft Ceiling 13km (43,000 feet) , Rate of Fire 7 to 10 rounds per minute , Shell weight 36kg (80lb) , Coast Defence/Anti Aircraft Gun Barrel , The 5.25 inch naval gun was introduced in 1940 for anti ship/anti aircraft use. Towards the end of the war 125 barrels were released to the Army and introduced to the land defences in 1944. Boasting a new power driven mount, these guns were designated the 5.25 inch Mk II. It became the most powerful anti aircraft/anti ship gun ever built and was chosen to equip the new Coast Defence/ Anti Aircraft batteries. , , However, many existing batteries had already been fitted with the 6 inch Mk 24 dual purpose guns. Consequently, 5.25 inch CD/AA batteries were only constructed in South Shields and Gibraltar. A further three AA only batteries were built in London. The upgrades were planned to continue after the war but the high cost of emplacing each gun (approx. £1,000,000) caused the program to be shelved. , Another of these barrels can be seen mounted in the No. 1 gun emplacement. , On loan from English Heritage.