Glossary of British ordnance terms
This article explains terms used for the British Armed Forces' ordnance (weapons) and ammunition. The terms may have different meanings depending on its usage in another country's military.
Breech mechanism of BL 9.2-inch howitzer Mk II, showing position of obturating pad at far right
2 C.R.H. BL 9.2-inch howitzer shell, 1916. See "18.4 R" pointing to curve of nose
3 C.R.H. QF 4.5-inch howitzer shell, 1916. See "13.5 R" pointing to curve of nose
Cartridge in cloth bag consisting of 108 lb cordite SC 280 ¼ charge for BL 15-inch naval gun, WWII. Four of these cartridges were loaded together to make up the full service charge.
Naval artillery is artillery mounted on a warship, originally used only for naval warfare and then subsequently used for more specialized roles in surface warfare such as naval gunfire support (NGFS) and anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) engagements. The term generally refers to powder-launched projectile-firing weapons and excludes self-propelled projectiles such as torpedoes, rockets, and missiles and those simply dropped overboard such as depth charges and naval mines.
USS Iowa fires a broadside of nine 16"/50 and six 5"/38 guns during an exercise
The cannon shot (c. 1680), by Willem van de Velde the Younger
The line of battle was used from the beginning of the 16th century by the Portuguese, especially in the Indian Ocean, and from the 17th century, by the other Europeans in general, beginning with the Dutch and the English, in the English Channel and the North Sea. Pictured, the battle of Öland between an allied Danish-Dutch fleet under Cornelis Tromp and the Swedish navy.
Firing of an 18-pounder aboard a French ship.
