GUN  RESTORATION

4.7” Mk IX  GUN

In January 2011 we were asked to survey the 4.7” Mk IX gun at the Explosion Museum of naval firepower in Gosport.

The gun had been sited as gate guardian on a concrete plinth outside the museum complex since the 1970’s.It had last been operational during the second world war.

Our survey found the elevation gear to be impossible to move. The trigger mechanism was corroded and the loading tray interlink was missing.The loading shuttle was inoperable.

We set to work in February. After cleaning the elevation quadrant and gearing with considerable effort we managed to elevate the barrel to 35 degrees and depress it to minus 5 degrees. Once this was repeated many times the elevation became freely moving and one operator could elevate the barrel.

The breech mechanism was freed up to allow the breech to open this was then polished to allow easy opening of the breech.

All points on the gun were lubricated and the loading tray and shuttle were brought into a working condition. A replacement loading tray interlink was manufactured along with a replacement manual hand trigger. (Originally this gun was foot trigger operated).

At the end of march this gun fired it’s first cartridge since WW2.

We then set to work painting the gun shield and barrel. New screens and cover were made. We now fire this gun on a regular basis for events at the museum. This is the largest calibre R.N. still firing in the world today.