| Ordnance ML 8 inch gun | |
|---|---|
 54 cwt gun | |
| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1825–1860s |
| Used by | Royal Navy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | General William Millar, R.A.[1] |
| Unit cost | £172 [2] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 7,280 pounds (3,300 kg) (65 cwt version) 6,048 pounds (2,743 kg) (54 cwt version)[3] |
| Barrel length | 9 feet (2.7 m) (65 cwt version) 8 feet (2.4 m) (54 cwt version)[3] |
| Shell | 49 pounds 14 ounces (22.6 kg) (Common shell); 51 pounds 8 ounces (23.4 kg) (Martin's shell)[4] |
| Calibre | 8.05-inch (204.5 mm)[3] |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,464 feet per second (446 m/s) (49 lb 14 oz Common shell); 1,506 feet per second (459 m/s) (51 lb 8 oz Martin's shell)[5] |
| Maximum firing range | 3,300 yards (3,000 m)[6] |
The ML 8-inch shell guns of 50 cwt, 54 cwt and 65 cwt [7] were the three variants of British cast iron smoothbore muzzle-loading guns designed specifically to fire the new generation of exploding shells pioneered in the early to mid-nineteenth century by Henri-Joseph Paixhans.
- ^ "General William Millar, R.A. has had the credit of the introduction into our service, but the proper use of shell-guns was first pointed out by General Paixhans, in his Nouvelle Force Maritime, published in 1822, and they were adopted by the French before 1824". page 42 in Owen "The principles and practice of modern artillery"
- ^ Complete cost of gun, carriage, slide and appurtenances. Douglas, 1860, page 339
- ^ a b c Table I, page 525 in Owen "The principles and practice of modern artillery"
- ^ Table VIII, page 531 in Owen "The principles and practice of modern artillery"
- ^ With a charge of 10 lb gunpowder. Table VIII, page 531 in Owen "The principles and practice of modern artillery"
- ^ 3300 yards at 16° elevation, firing 51-pound shell with 10 pounds gunpowder propellant. Douglas, 1860, page 580, Table V.
- ^ "Smooth-bored shell guns from which solid shot cannot be fired are designated by the calibre in inches and the weight of the piece". page 39 in Owen "The principles and practice of modern artillery". 1 cwt (abbreviation for hundredweight) = 112 pounds = 51 kg.