Cannon 102/45
{{Infobox weapon
|name=Cannon 102/45
| image= 4 inch gun left side Dominion Engineering 1942 LAC 3196181.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=The Cannon 102/45 was a licensed copy of the QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun shown here.
|origin= United Kingdom
|type=Naval gun
Anti-aircraft gun
Coastal artillery
|is_ranged=
|is_bladed=
|is_explosive=yes
|is_artillery=yes
|is_vehicle=
|is_UK=
|service=1917-1945
|used_by= Italy
|wars=World War I
World War II
|designer=
|design_date=1913
|manufacturer=Ansaldo
|production_date=1917
|number=
|variants=Schneider-Armstrong
Model 1917
Schneider-Armstrong
Model 1919
Schneider-Canet
Model 1917
|weight={{convert|2327|kg|lb}}
|length={{convert|4.7|m|ftin|sp=us}}
|part_length={{convert|4.57|m|ftin|sp=us}}
|width=
|height=
|crew=
|cartridge=
|cartridge_weight={{convert|13.7-16|kg|lb|sp=us}}
|caliber={{convert|102|mm|in|sp=us}}
45 Caliber
|action=
|rate=7 rpm
|velocity=Schneider-Armstrong: {{convert|850|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
Schneider-Canet:
{{convert|888|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}{{Cite book|title=Naval weapons of World War One|last=Friedman|first=Norman|date=2011-01-01|publisher=Seaforth|isbn=9781848321007|oclc=786178793}}
|range=
|max_range=Horizontal: {{convert|15|km|mi}} at +35°
AA: {{convert|8000|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}
|breech=Horizontal or vertical sliding breech block
|recoil=
|carriage=
|elevation=See Table
|traverse=-360°
}}
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.
History
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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNIT_4-45_m1917.php|title=Italy 102 mm/45 (4") S-A Models 1917 and 1919 and S-C Model 1917 - NavWeaps|last=DiGiulian|first=Tony|website=www.navweaps.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-05}} 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.{{Cite book|title=Naval weapons of World War One|last=Friedman|first=Norman|date=2011-01-01|publisher=Seaforth|isbn=9781848321007|pages=339|oclc=786178793}} 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
- The reported muzzle velocities for the Schneider-Armstrong {{convert|850|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}} and Schneider-Canet {{convert|888|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}} are slightly different.
- The muzzle velocities of the 102/45 are higher than the Mk V {{convert|719|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} implying greater working pressure.{{Cite book|title=Naval weapons of World War Two|last=M.|first=Campbell, N. J.|date=2002-01-01|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0870214594|pages=241–242|oclc=51995246}} 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.{{Cite book|title=Italian Warships of World War II|last=Fraccaroli|first=Aldo|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|year=1974|location=London|pages=189}}
Types
| class="wikitable"
|+ | style="background:#f0f0f0;" align="left" |Mounts | style="background:#f0f0f0;" align="center" |Model | style="background:#f0f0f0;" align="center" |Weight | style="background:#f0f0f0;" align="center" |Elevation | style="background:#f0f0f0;" align="center" |Naval Classes |
| rowspan="2" | 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° |
| Twin Mount
|Schneider-Armstrong Model 1919 |10,000 kg | -5°/+35° |
| Single Mount
Dual-purpose |Model 1936 | | -5°/+85° |Anti-aircraft and Coastal artillery |
Notes
Bibliography
- {{cite book|title=Naval Weapons of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1985|isbn=0-87021-459-4|author=Campbell, John}}
- {{cite book|title=Italian Warships of World War II|last=Fraccaroli|first=Aldo|publisher=Ian Allan Publishing|year=1974|location=London, England|oclc=834485650}}
- {{cite book|title=Naval Weapons of World War One|last=Friedman|first=Norman|publisher=Seaforth|year=2011|isbn=978-1-84832-100-7|location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK}}
{{WWIItalianGuns}}
{{WWIIItalianGuns}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cannon 102 45}}
Category:World War II artillery of Italy
Category:World War II naval weapons