Navy gun nomenclature consists of bore caliber followed by barrel length in multiples of the bore size.

One of the most common naval guns of all time after the mid-1930s is the 5 inch 38 (not 37) caliber gun. That is a gun of 5 inch bore caliber and barrel muzzle to breech length of 38 times 5 inches...190 inches or 15.83 feet. Abbreviated notation is 5"/38 caliber. The caliber applies to the 5 inch figure, not the 38.

Mike / KK5F

-----Original Message-----
From: MARK DORNEY <mkdorney@aol.com>
Sent: May 8, 2023 5:06 PM
To: <MRCA@mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [MRCA] Fwd: minor point -Navy 5” guns

From: MARK DORNEY <mkdorney@aol.com>
Date: May 8, 2023 at 6:01:43 PM EDT
To: sboard.ka1lhz@gmail.com, MRCA@mailman.qth.ney
Subject: minor point -Navy 5” guns

The US Navy has (had) two types of 5” guns onboard ship - 5” 37 and 5” 54. I think the Iowas had 5” 37 ( second number I think is caliber. Has to do with a combination of shell size and barrel length ).

73

Mark D.
WW2RDO