Mark 37 Model 5 5" Mount

Ex-USN Mark 37 Mod 5 Five-Inch Mounts

Lancaster, Kentucky

Most years, I travel home to Kentucky for my father's birthday and various cousin-related events. For several years, I've driven past the two naval cannons mounted in front of Lancaster Elementary School, in Lancaster, Kentucky. This visit I finally decided to stop by and look at them more closely. These pictures were taken on September 4, 2006 (Labor Day in the U.S.), and there were no people in the school to answer questions. Perhaps some viewers having real experience with the Mark 37 mount can correct any inaccuracies in this web page.

The pictures were taken with a Treo 650 PDA phone, so the quality is not top-notch, but the illegible parts were pretty illegible on the actual guns themselves. Also, note that I was a QM striker before changing to the data processing rate, so my terminology may not be completely accurate.

From Tony DiGiulian's comments at various places on the NavWeaps site [highly recommended for those with an interest in things naval], this mount was used on merchant ships. It was evidently normally mounted at the stern to quell pursuers.

This is the general arrangement of the two mounts -- picture taken from the east side of Lexington Road.

The dedication plaque between the two mounts.

The top label appears to read Mark 37 Mod 5, but it is very faint. This and all the other label and legend pictures were taken from the southern mount -- to the left in the first picture above. Note that there is a good image of a larger, but similar Mark 33 mount at the Lane Victory web site, and their labels are well-polished brass.

Unfortunately, the text on this label was unclear, partly due to numerous coats of paint.

Study this carefully, I think it's on the qualification test for Gunners Mate Second Class.

Evidently they thought that oxygen was bad.

Southern mount, view from about 5 o'clock.

Southern mount, view from about 4 o'clock.

Southern mount, view from about 2 o'clock.

Southern mount, view from about 1 o'clock.

Southern mount, view from about 11 o'clock.

Southern mount, view from about 9 o'clock. This was the pointer's position, who controlled the vertical axis (up and down).

Southern mount, view from about 8 o'clock.

Various detritus has collected between the crew stations.

The breech block is missing, and I presume that some other parts were removed to demilitarize the mounts. This picture did not come out very clearly, but the rifling grooves were still quite distinct. Sadly, it appears that the mounts are providing a wildlife refuge in the barrels, as there was a large collection of pine needles, which I think were placed there for birds nests.

The breech, I suspect as it was viewed by those passing ammunition. (Southern mount, 6 o'clock view.)

As I remember, this legend had serial numbers stamped in it, but they were not very legible in real life either.

Here the north mount is shown, ready to defend Lancaster Elementary School from the depredations of the perfidious Lexingtonians :o)

Starboard seat controls of the southern mount. Tony DiGiulian indicates that this is the the seat on the right was the trainer's position, who controlled the gun on the horizontal axis (port to starboard).

I imagine this is on the Gunners Mate striker examination.

The gauges have been vandalized, glass is broken, and one gauge face is broken...and then they were painted over, exemplifying the old Navy Seaman Recruit adage, "If it moves, salute it, if it doesn't move, paint it."

Northern mount, view from 3 o'clock.

Southern mount, view from 3 o'clock.

Northern mount, view from 9 o'clock.

Southern mount, view from 9 o'clock.

Highly recommended, next door to Lancaster Elementary. They were closed, but I'd already picked up some at the Stanford Depot restaurant. This is what they are really defending.

This is the general arrangement of the two mounts -- picture taken from the east side of Lexington Road.
The dedication plaque between the two mounts.
The top label appears to read Mark 37 Mod 5, but it is very faint. This and all the other label and legend pictures were taken from the southern mount -- to the left in the first picture above. Note that there is a good image of a larger, but similar Mark 33 mount at the Lane Victory web site, and their labels are well-polished brass.
Unfortunately, the text on this label was unclear, partly due to numerous coats of paint.
Study this carefully, I think it's on the qualification test for Gunners Mate Second Class.
Evidently they thought that oxygen was bad.
Southern mount, view from about 5 o'clock.
Southern mount, view from about 4 o'clock.
Southern mount, view from about 2 o'clock.
Southern mount, view from about 1 o'clock.
Southern mount, view from about 11 o'clock.
Southern mount, view from about 9 o'clock. This was the pointer's position, who controlled the vertical axis (up and down).
Southern mount, view from about 8 o'clock.
Various detritus has collected between the crew stations.
The breech block is missing, and I presume that some other parts were removed to demilitarize the mounts. This picture did not come out very clearly, but the rifling grooves were still quite distinct. Sadly, it appears that the mounts are providing a wildlife refuge in the barrels, as there was a large collection of pine needles, which I think were placed there for birds nests.
The breech, I suspect as it was viewed by those passing ammunition. (Southern mount, 6 o'clock view.)
As I remember, this legend had serial numbers stamped in it, but they were not very legible in real life either.
Here the north mount is shown, ready to defend Lancaster Elementary School from the depredations of the perfidious Lexingtonians :o)
Starboard seat controls of the southern mount. Tony DiGiulian indicates that this is the the seat on the right was the trainer's position, who controlled the gun on the horizontal axis (port to starboard).
I imagine this is on the Gunners Mate striker examination.
The gauges have been vandalized, glass is broken, and one gauge face is broken...and then they were painted over, exemplifying the old Navy Seaman Recruit adage, "If it moves, salute it, if it doesn't move, paint it."
Northern mount, view from 3 o'clock.
Southern mount, view from 3 o'clock.
Northern mount, view from 9 o'clock.
Southern mount, view from 9 o'clock.
Highly recommended, next door to Lancaster Elementary. They were closed, but I'd already picked up some at the Stanford Depot restaurant. This is what they are really defending.