Naval artillery

Encyclopedia : N : NA : NAV : Naval artillery

USS Iowa (BB-61) fires a full broadside of nine 16"/50 and six 5"/38 guns during a target exercise near Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, 1 July 1984.

Naval artillery or naval rifles refers to warship-mounted cannon used in naval warfare for attacking other vessels, bombarding targets on shore (naval gunfire support), or for anti-aircraft. Conversely, the term may be used as a descriptor about the naval rifles used in land batteries for anti-shipping area denial purposes. Smaller-bore cannons are sometimes referred to as "deck guns", such as on Coast Guard cutters and destroyers.

The crowning achievement of naval artillery was the Dreadnought-era battleship. The dominance of the modern battleship was from about 1906 to the end of the Second World War during which typical main armament rose form 12 inch calibre guns to 15 or 16 inches with consequent increase on range and shell firepower. The limitations to the range of the battleships heavy guns meant that they were effectively replaced by the naval aircraft. The secondary and anti-aircraft weapons have fallen to the range and flexiblity of guided missiles and naval guns have been reduced in importance though never completely replaced. Modern warships such as destroyers and frigates are typically only armed with one or two naval guns. The USN uses a single modern gun, the 5-54 Mark 45 for its new ships. The new Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class destroyers will be equipped with a new 6.1"/62 calibur Advanced Gun System designed to reduce the detectability of the warship while increasing the firepower that can be brought to bear on-target.

Naval artillery

See also