Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:36:23-2:39:03

The unrealized potential of the Mark 71 eight-inch gun

Adopting the lightweight Mark 71 could have pushed NATO destroyers toward eight-inch guns and changed Falklands surface warfare.

Falklands WarMark 71 8-inch/55 Major Caliber Lightweight GunNaval GunneryType 42 Destroyer
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Question

What is the significance of the US Mark 71 lightweight eight-inch gun?

Short answer

It could have encouraged widespread NATO up-gunning, including eight-inch-armed Type 42 destroyers with major value in the Falklands.

Notes

Cancellation of the US Mark 71 eight-inch gun is treated as a lost opportunity. American adoption could have encouraged the Royal Navy to fit the weapon to Type 42 destroyers. Successful wartime use would then have provided powerful naval gunfire support. It would also have forced the cruiser General Belgrano to respect a much more dangerous surface threat.