Main Armament by weesel
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
This is the 5"/38 cal gun mount. This is the big gun and is the standard gun used on USN escort vessels and for long-distance anti-aircraft fire on larger vessels. What do the numbers mean? 5" is the diameter of the shells fired and 38 cal is the length of the gun barrel in calibers (a varying number based on the shell diameter [caliber]). Thus this gun barrel is 5 x 38 inches long -- 190 inches (15.83 feet).
Anyone looking for more information on this gun could start at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5%22/38_caliber_gun.
However, the internet is full of information on them including training videos in case you'd like one for you front yard.
Enjoy; thanks for viewing.

Comments (4)
Forgot the front yard....I want one on my car!!!
Always thought AA use would require longer barrels to be effective but reading that link you posted the dedicated AA had a CL of 25 - I guess AA on a ship has different requirements or much better FCS than land based.
At the start of the war, the 5"/ 25 was a common AA gun on the big ships. They were not ideal, so off they go. Some survived to become badass deckguns on submarines. I'm not sure when the 5"/54 came out, IIRC I've only seen those as main armament on some DD types.
Didn't realise it was a gun!!!
The 5"/54 DP was the main gun armement for the Midway's and the secondaries for the none build Montana class BB and other none build ships.