Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1927

Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1927
Scale model of the Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1927 gun on display at the Musée national de la Marine
TypeNaval gun
Place of originFrance
Service history
In service1927—1959
Used byFrance
WarsWorld War II
Specifications
Mass4,100 kg (9,000 lb)
Barrel lengthabout 5.544 m (18 ft 2.3 in)
Shell130x900mm R
Separate-loading, cased charge
Shell weight40.6 kg (90 lb)
Calibre138.6 mm (5.46 in)
Breechsemi-automatic, horizontal sliding-block
Elevation-10° to +28°
Traverseapproximately 300°
Rate of fire8–10 rpm
Muzzle velocity700 m/s (2,300 ft/s)
Maximum firing range16,600 m (18,200 yd)

The Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1927 was a medium-calibre gun of the French Navy used during World War II. It was derived from a German World War I design. It was used on the destroyers of the Aigle and Vauquelin classes and the Bougainville-class sloops.

Description

The 40-calibre Mle 1927 was derived from the German World War I 15 cm L/45 UToF gun as mounted on the large torpedo boat SMS S113 received by France as war reparations. It copied the German gun's semi-automatic action and its horizontal sliding-block breech. It had an autofretted, monobloc barrel. It used 8.967 kilograms (19.77 lb) of powder to push a 40.6-kilogram (90 lb) shell to a muzzle velocity of 700 metres per second (2,300 ft/s).[1]

Mounting

The Mle 1927 was used in single centre-pivot mountings that weighed approximately 13 tonnes (13 long tons; 14 short tons) that were fitted with a 3-millimetre (0.12 in) thick gun shield. The mount could depress -10° and elevate to +28° which gave it a maximum range of 16,600 metres (18,200 yd).[1] The gun had a firing cycle of 4 or 5 seconds with its automatic spring rammer, but the dredger hoists transporting the shells and cartridge cases slowed the rate of fire down to 8-10 rounds per minute.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Campbell, p. 298
  2. ^ "French 138.6 mm/40 (5.46") Model 1927". 22 July 2007. Retrieved 25 June 2009.

References

  • Campbell, John. Naval Weapons of World War Two. London: Conway Maritime Press, 2002 ISBN 0-87021-459-4
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