LIGHT WEIGHT MK45  5 INCH AUTOMATIC GUN

The lightweight radar-controlled single 5-in Gun Mounting Mk 45 utilizes a Mk 19 gun barrel and represents what is essentially a quantum leap for US naval medium gun technology. It was designed for fitting to new-build warships and is fully automatic in operation with only six men required in the fixed-ammunition handling room to reload the single 20-round ready-use drum. The mount embodies all the improvements to 127-mm (5-in) gun mounts that have been developed over the last 40 years or so since the 127-mm 38-calibre gun was first introduced. In the Mk 45 Mod 1 version now being produced the below-decks reloading arrangements have been modified to allow remote and rapid round selection between several types of ammunition carried on the drum. The gun has already seen extensive combat use in the shore bombardment role during the US Navy's involvement in Lebanon, and has proved to be exceptionally reliable and easily maintained. To date only Japan has brought this weapon  for the Kongou class DDG no other country has bought the weapon for its ships , although it is still in mass production for the US Navy as the main gun armament for the AEGIS-equipped 'Ticonderoga' class missile cruisers and the 'Arleigh Burke' class missile destroyers amongst others.

Specification Mounting Mk 45

 Calibre: 127 mm (5 in)

No. of barrels: one

Weight: 21.34 tons

Elevation: -5° to +65°

Projectile weight: 31.8 kg (70 lb)

 Maximum rate of fire: 20 rpm

Maximum effective ranges: surface fire 23.8 km ( 14.8 miles), and antiaircraft fire 14.8 km (9.2 miles)