The 4.5" Mk IV guns mounted in A & B mounts onboard HMS Cavalier the wartime RN destroyer, preserved at Chatham historic dockyard. Now fire once again after being silent since 1972 when the ship was desposed of by the Royal Navy.
My team the Heritage Naval Gun crew have just finished restoring both of these guns back to firing condition.
When first surveyed in January this year the guns were found to be in a dire state. The breech blocks were welded up thus blocking the firing orifaces. The firing pins and shuttles were missing and finally the barrels had been attacked with a gas axe to bore holes in the top midway down the barrel. Both loading trays, elevation and training gear were solid with paint and rust plus an additional mess of hardened paint remover.
After putting in hundreds of hours in restoration and getting the missing parts manufactured at our own expense. These gun were test fired at the end of August. (search You trube for videos of HMS Cavalier gun firing). The guns will be fired three times a day at the Chatham historic dockyard salute to the 40's event 17 / 18 September. So come along and see them in action. If any of you want a closer look and a more involved description of the restoration. Please make yourself known to me when visiting the ship.
My team the Heritage Naval Gun crew have just finished restoring both of these guns back to firing condition.
When first surveyed in January this year the guns were found to be in a dire state. The breech blocks were welded up thus blocking the firing orifaces. The firing pins and shuttles were missing and finally the barrels had been attacked with a gas axe to bore holes in the top midway down the barrel. Both loading trays, elevation and training gear were solid with paint and rust plus an additional mess of hardened paint remover.
After putting in hundreds of hours in restoration and getting the missing parts manufactured at our own expense. These gun were test fired at the end of August. (search You trube for videos of HMS Cavalier gun firing). The guns will be fired three times a day at the Chatham historic dockyard salute to the 40's event 17 / 18 September. So come along and see them in action. If any of you want a closer look and a more involved description of the restoration. Please make yourself known to me when visiting the ship.
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