The Cannon 102/45 was a naval gun of the Italian Navy in World War II, which was later modified for shore based anti-aircraft and coastal artillery roles.

Cannon 102/45
The Cannon 102/45 was a licensed copy of the QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun shown here.
TypeNaval gun
Anti-aircraft gun
Coastal artillery
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1917-1945
Used byItaly
WarsWorld War I
World War II
Production history
Designed1913
ManufacturerAnsaldo
Produced1917
VariantsSchneider-Armstrong
Model 1917
Schneider-Armstrong
Model 1919
Schneider-Canet
Model 1917
Specifications
Mass2,327 kilograms (5,130 lb)
Length4.7 meters (15 ft 5 in)
Barrel length4.57 meters (15 ft 0 in)

Shell weight13.7–16 kilograms (30–35 lb)
Caliber102 millimeters (4.0 in)
45 Caliber
BreechHorizontal or vertical sliding breech block
ElevationSee Table
Traverse-360°
Rate of fire7 rpm
Muzzle velocitySchneider-Armstrong: 850 m/s (2,800 ft/s)
Schneider-Canet:
888 m/s (2,910 ft/s)[1]
Maximum firing rangeHorizontal: 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) at +35°
AA: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)

History

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During World War I the United Kingdom delivered a QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun, serial No.974 to Italy to act as a template for licensed production by the Ansaldo Company. The Mark V was constructed of a tapered inner A tube, A tube, taper wound wire, full-length jacket and breech ring.[2] It had either a horizontal or vertical sliding breech block, with semi-automatic action and used fixed quick-fire ammunition. There were three models produced: Schneider-Armstrong Model 1917, Schneider-Armstrong Model 1919, and Schneider-Canet Model 1917; each with differing mounts and elevations. Overall the 102/45 was considered a successful design and it was widely used on destroyers of the Italian Navy before and during World War II. The exception being the Schneider-Armstrong Model 1919 which was an unsatisfactory twin mount with both guns sharing a common cradle. The Model 1919 was later replaced by single mounts during the war.[3] The 102/45 was in the process of being replaced by the Cannon 120/45 and 120/50 when World War II began. Starting in 1937 guns that were removed from ships were mounted on new dual-purpose shore mounts and used as anti-aircraft guns and coastal artillery until retired in 1945.

Interesting facts

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  • The reported muzzle velocities for the Schneider-Armstrong 850 m/s (2,800 ft/s) and Schneider-Canet 888 m/s (2,910 ft/s) are slightly different.
  • The muzzle velocities of the 102/45 are higher than the Mk V 719 m/s (2,360 ft/s) implying greater working pressure.[4] What effect this had on barrel life and accuracy is unknown.
  • The rates of fire for the 102/45 (7 rpm) and Mk V (8-10 rpm) are different.[5]

Types

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Mounts Model Weight Elevation Naval Classes
Single Open Mount Schneider-Armstrong

Model 1917

4,600 kg -5°/+35° Generali-class, Palestro-class, La Masa class, Giuseppe Sirtori
Schneider-Canet Model 1917 -5°/+30° Mirabello-class, Alessandro Poerio class
Twin Mount Schneider-Armstrong Model 1919 10,000 kg -5°/+35° Curtatone-class
Single Mount

Dual-purpose

Model 1936 -5°/+85° Anti-aircraft and Coastal artillery

Notes

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  1. ^ Friedman, Norman (2011-01-01). Naval weapons of World War One. Seaforth. ISBN 9781848321007. OCLC 786178793.
  2. ^ DiGiulian, Tony. "Italy 102 mm/45 (4") S-A Models 1917 and 1919 and S-C Model 1917 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  3. ^ Friedman, Norman (2011-01-01). Naval weapons of World War One. Seaforth. p. 339. ISBN 9781848321007. OCLC 786178793.
  4. ^ M., Campbell, N. J. (2002-01-01). Naval weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. pp. 241–242. ISBN 0870214594. OCLC 51995246.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Fraccaroli, Aldo (1974). Italian Warships of World War II. London: Ian Allan Publishing. p. 189.

Bibliography

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  • Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
  • Fraccaroli, Aldo (1974). Italian Warships of World War II. London, England: Ian Allan Publishing. OCLC 834485650.
  • Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.