Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1893 naval gun
| Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1893 | |
|---|---|
 WWI French gunboats Chaloupe-canonnière fluviale type A were armed with a 138-mm gun Mle 1891 | |
| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin |
 France |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1892—1945? |
| Used by |
France |
| Wars | World War I, World War II |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4,080 kilograms (8,990 lb) |
| Barrel length | 6.234 metres (20 ft 5.4 in) |
|
| |
| Shell | separate-loading, cased charge |
| Shell weight | 30–35 kilograms (66–77 lb) |
| Caliber | 138.6 millimetres (5.46 in) |
| Breech | interrupted screw |
| Elevation | Varied by ship, but about -10° to +25° |
| Traverse | depending on mount |
| Rate of fire | about 4 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 725–770 metres per second (2,380–2,530 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 15,000 metres (16,000 yd) at 25° |
The Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1893 was a medium-calibre naval gun of the French Navy used during World War I and World War II. It was carried by a number of ships built during the 1890s including the Charlemagne-class pre-dreadnought battleships. Guns from scrapped warships were later mounted on auxiliary ships during the 1930s.[1]
Design
The 45-calibre Mle 1893 used the typical built-up construction of its time. It had a screw breech and used separate-loading ammunition. In the battleships it was installed in armored casemates, using central pivot mounts, but no details are available.[2]
Ammunition
The 7.257-kilogram (16.00 lb) propellant charge for the Mle 1893 was contained in a cartridge case.[3]
| Shell type | Weight | Muzzle velocity | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armor-piercing, capped | 35 kg (77 lb)[3] | 730 m/s (2,400 ft/s)[3] | 15,000 m (16,000 yd)[3] |
| Semi-armor-piercing, capped | 35 kg (77 lb)[3] | 730 m/s (2,400 ft/s)[3] | N/A |
| High-explosive | 30 kg (66 lb)[3] | 770 m/s (2,500 ft/s)[3] | N/A |
Notes
References
- Campbell, John (2002). Naval Weapons of World War Two. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
- Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
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