Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 1:55:51-1:57:13

Six-inch guns on destroyers, then and now

German near-six-inch destroyer guns were unsuccessful in the Second World War, but modern ship size and automation could make a twin six-inch mounting more useful.

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Question

Were any destroyers armed with six-inch guns?

Short answer

Yes, German ships carried weapons close to six inches without much success; on today's larger combatants an automated six-inch system could be more practical.

Notes

German destroyers carried guns close to six inches during the Second World War with little success. That experience concerned ships of wartime destroyer size. Much larger modern surface combatants make an automated twin six-inch mounting an attractive proposal. Russia's existing 130 mm guns provide the comparison, while the larger weapon remains a preference for future armament.