Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 46:20-47:12

Why the L-class 120 mm mount had widely spaced guns

The true dual-purpose mounting needed room for powered machinery that earlier, more manually worked 4.7-inch mounts did not require.

Dual Purpose GunsGun MountsL Class DestroyersNaval Gunnery
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Question

Why were the two 120 mm guns on the L-class mounting spaced so far apart?

Short answer

The powered dual-purpose machinery needed more room than the partly manual and hydraulically assisted earlier 4.7-inch mounts.

Notes

The panel links the conspicuous gap between the barrels to the machinery of the powered 120 mm mounting. The L-class weapon was intended as a genuine dual-purpose system, which imposed different training, elevation, and loading requirements. Earlier 4.7-inch mounts used hydraulic assistance but still depended heavily on manual work. The wider spacing is therefore a visible consequence of the more capable mounting rather than an arbitrary styling choice.