Cannone da 381/50 Ansaldo M1934
| Cannone da 381/50 Ansaldo M1934 | |
|---|---|
381/50 guns firing during the Battle of Cape Spartivento.
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| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1940–1948[1] |
| Used by |  Regia Marina |
| Wars | Second World War |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Gio. Ansaldo & C., OTO |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 102.4 metric tons (101 long tons)[2] |
| Barrel length | 19.05 meters (62 ft 6 in)[2] |
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| Shell | AP: Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[2] HE: Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value). |
| Caliber | 381 millimeters (15.0 in)[2] |
| Breech | Welin breech block |
| Muzzle velocity | 850–870 meters per second (2,800–2,900 ft/s)[2] |
| Maximum firing range | 42,260 meters (46,220 yd)[2] |
The Cannone da 381/50 Ansaldo M1934 was a 381-millimeter (15.0 in), 50-caliber naval gun designed and built for the Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina) by Gio. Ansaldo & C. in the 1930s. The gun served as the main armament of Italy's last battleships, the Littorio class. These built-up guns consisted of a liner, a cylinder over the chamber and part of the rifle bore, a full-length cylinder, and a 3/4 length jacket with a hydro-pneumatically operated side-swinging Welin breech block. Each battleship carried nine guns mounted in three triple turrets with maximum elevation of 35°. Time between salvos was approximately 45 seconds.[2]
Contents
Ammunition
The charge was contained in six cloth bags. Each bag contained 45 kilograms (99 lb) of smokeless powder. High explosive (HE) shells weighed only Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).. Anticipated useful barrel life was approximately 120 effective full charges (EFC).[2]
Shell trajectory
| Range[2] | Elevation | Descent | Impact velocity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 km (6.2 mi) | 4° 24′ | 5° | 687 m/s (2250 ft/s) |
| 15 km (9.3 mi) | 7° 12′ | 8° 39′ | 620 m/s (2030 ft/s) |
| 20 km (12 mi) | 10° 36′ | 13° 24′ | 563 m/s (1850 ft/s) |
| 25 km (16 mi) | 14° 27′ | 19° 18′ | 524 m/s (1720 ft/s) |
| 30 km (19 mi) | 19° 12′ | 26° 6′ | 498 m/s (1630 ft/s) |
| 35 km (22 mi) | 24° 39′ | 37° 36′ | 483 m/s (1590 ft/s) |
Performance
While considered very powerful guns (their theoretical maximum range was comparable to that of the much bigger 40 cm/45 Type 94 guns of the Yamato-class battleships), their high muzzle velocity is considered a disadvantage, as it reduced barrel life and worsened the dispersion.[3]
See also
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
- 380 mm/45 Modèle 1935 gun : French equivalent
- 38 cm SK C/34 naval gun : German equivalent
Notes
Bibliography
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