3-inch/50 Mk.33 cannon

Description

The 3-inch/50 calibre Mark 27, 33, and 34 guns were developed by the US Navy during World War II in response to the ineffectiveness of existing 20 mm and 40 mm anti-aircraft batteries against Japanese Kamikaze attacks. Designed as an upgrade of the 3-inch/50 calibre Mark 22 gun, they featured an autoloader that significantly improved the rate of fire, making them more effective against fast-moving aircraft. The guns entered service too late for use in World War Two, but saw service from the late 1940s to the 1980s, replacing 40 mm Bofors on many US and allied ships. The Mark 34 was the single-mount variant, while the Mark 27 and 33 were twin mounts.