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BL 12-inch railway howitzer
Photo: Photographer not identified · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
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BL12-inchrailwayhowitzer

Field Guns · United Kingdom · 1916
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BL12-inchrailwayhowitzer

BL 12-inch railway howitzer
BL 12-inch railway howitzer Photo: Photographer not identified · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Range
40
Firepower
60
Accuracy
50
Rate of Fire
30
Mobility
20
Muzzle Velocity
45
Direct-Fire Capability
10
Reliability
70
Versatility
55
Cost-Effectiveness
65
Origin United Kingdom
CategoryField Guns
EraWorld War I
In service1916–1940
Operators1 countries
Quantity81
Data Quality86%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
43
Field Guns MASS Rating
26/61
World War I
138/240
All-Time
Field Guns · 10 axes scored
Range
40
Firepower
60
Accuracy
50
Rate of Fire
30
Mobility
20
Muzzle Velocity
45
Direct-Fire Capability
10
Reliability
70
Versatility
55
Cost-Effectiveness
65
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the field guns category.
01 / Overview
BL 12-inch railway howitzer
Category
Production
1916–1940
Quantity
81
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
FIELD GUNS · WORLD WAR I
26
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
75
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
43
field guns category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the field guns category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General3MOD.3
◈Ordnance6MOD.6
▣Performance4MOD.4
  • Maximum Range (standard)13.8 km
  • Muzzle Velocity449 m/s
  • Elevation20° to 65°
  • TraverseMk I & III: 20° L & R; Mk V: 120° L & R
◇Ammunition8MOD.8
▤Mobility5MOD.5
⬢Dimensions1MOD.1
  • Length5.18 m
▲Production2MOD.2
  • Total Production81
  • Production Start1,916 year
◎Self-Propelled Chassis1MOD.1
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANRetired
  1. 1914First deployment: World War I
  2. 1916Production started
  3. 1940Production ended
110
years in service
24
years in production
81
units produced
0
countries operating
ⓘ 1 countries retired it.
04 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
BL 12-inch railway howitzer 1916
05 / Operators
Operator Countries1country
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
High Explosive (HE) round: an artillery or mortar projectile containing explosive filler designed to inflict damage through blast and fragmentation effects.
Recoil system using a combination of liquid and compressed gas to absorb and return energy from firing.
Method of transporting artillery by mounting it on a railway flatcar for movement along rail lines.
A breech mechanism in artillery where a solid block slides horizontally to open and close the breech for loading.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Field Guns entry →