Blast screens were fitted on British warships when guns, that had only a gun shield (open at the back) instead of an enclosed turret, were mounted in a superimposed fashion. This situation mainly occurred in destroyers (old V and W of World War I and the later A to I, O to Z, C and Weapon classes) and in sloops, where 'B' gun was superimposed over 'A' gun and, usually, 'X' on 'Y' aft.
The blast screens were fitted at the edge of the superstructure between the two gun mountings; the purpose was to protect the gun crew of the lower gun from the blast effects (which could be lethal) when the upper gun was fired in the general direction of the ship's centerline. When the guns were enclosed by a turret no blast screens were necessary since the turret sufficed to protect the gun crew.
Blast screens also afforded stowage for ready use ammunition and extra footing for the gun crew when the 'B' or 'X' guns were trained abeam.
Blast screens were also fitted in warships of other nations when a similar gun arrangement was adopted; for example, the U.S. destroyers of the Drayton DD-366 class and the French Simoun class of the 1920s.
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| HMS Achates, an A class destroyer modified for escort work with a Hedgehog ASW in place of 'A' gun, at sea. Note the blast screen above where the 'A' gun used to be. |
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| HMS Onslow underway, April 24, 1943. Note blast screen above 'A' gun. |
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| Royal Navy C class destroyer HMS Cossack (R57) under tow, 10 August 1945. Note blast screen above 'A' gun position. |
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| USS Erie (PG-50) underway in May 1940. Note blast screen above 'A' gun. |
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| HMS Zephyr (R19) Z-class destroyer. Note blast screen above 'A' gun position. |
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