Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:54:43-1:55:09

Minotaur's three-inch battery sought range and rapid fire

The proposed three-inch secondary gun aimed to approach 40 mm firing rates while reaching and hitting more like a heavier 4.5- or 5.25-inch weapon.

3-inch GunsAnti-Aircraft GunsMinotaur Class CruisersWarship Design
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Question

Would the postwar Minotaur cruiser have used the new three-inch secondary gun, and what was it meant to achieve?

Short answer

Yes; it was intended to combine near-40 mm rapid fire with the greater range and hitting power of heavier anti-aircraft guns.

Notes

A viewer asks whether the Minotaur design would use the new three-inch secondary battery. It was intended to replace the previous intermediate guns. The design goal was a rate of fire approaching that of a 40 mm mounting while gaining the range and destructive effect associated with 4.5- and 5.25-inch weapons. The calibre receives a skeptical assessment, though the system is acknowledged to have worked. This is a concise statement of the battery's intended tradeoff.