Mark 71 8"/55cal Naval Gun

USA / Virginia / Dahlgren /
 military, gun, United States Navy
Developed in the early-1970's as part of the U.S. Navy's Major Caliber Lightweight Gun (MCLWG) program, this 8-inch 55 caliber gun was intended to be mounted aboard the Spruance Class of Destroyers in order to give them shore bombardment capability from ranges previously available from the soon-to-be decommissioned Heavy Cruisers.

A single mount was installed and tested aboard the USS Hull (DD-945) in 1975 but was found to be too inaccurate and it's larger and heavier shells offered no appreciable difference to the 5"/54cal rounds and gun system already in use. The project was terminated in 1978 but limited use and evaluation with the system continues today.

www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_8-55_mk71.htm
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Caliber_Lightweight_Gun
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Coordinates:   38°19'39"N   77°1'32"W
This article was last modified 11 years ago