Re: [Fwd: flanker New China Radar technology threatens US Stealth Aircraft!]

In a message dated 12/2/99 12:51:13 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
nathanp@MICROSOFT.com writes:

> BTW, can any naval types tell me what "caliber" refers to on the big
guns?
>  i.e. 5"/54  It's obvious that it's a 5in gun, but I don't know what
the 54
>  refers to.
>  
>  Thanks,
>  Nathan
>  

When talking naval guns, caliber refers to the length of the barrel in
terms 
of it's internal diameter.  The larger the number, the longer the
barrel.  
It's why the 16" guns on the "North Carolina" weren't quite as nasty as
the 
16" guns on the "Iowa."

Rob