8 inch/55 Mark 12 (203 mm)

Description

Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

• USS Baltimore
• USS Pittsburgh

General info

Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.

Available ammunition

Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).

Comparison with analogues

Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.

Usage in battles

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Pros and cons

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Pros:

Cons:

History

The Washington Naval Treaty signed in 1921 maintained that heavy cruisers would be armed with 8 inch guns. The United States Navy first created the 8 inch/55 Mark 9 guns for their heavy cruisers, but they heavier and bulkier compared to the 8 inch guns of the other signatory nations. As a result the 8 inch, fifty-five caliber Mark 12 gun was created as a more lightweight alternative. With a chromium-lined barrel to increase the life of the barrel, the Mark 12 lacked the hoops to bring the weight to 17 tons from the Mark 9s 30 tons. There two mountings for the Mark 12. The first is the Tuscaloosa sub-class of the New Orleans-class used the same triple mountings as the Mark 9, but had a lower revolving weight. To decrease the shell dispersion and improve accuracy the USS Wichita and USS Baltimore mounted individually sleeved guns in further spaced twin turrets. The Mark 12 would eventually give way to the Mark 15 which had a slightly smaller chamber and different rifling twist that would enter service first on the Baltimore's sister ships.

Media

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See also

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• reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
• references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.

External links

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• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.