Menon (weapon)
{{short description|Type of anti-submarine mortar}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name= Menon
|image=Cigno1959.jpg
|caption=A triple-barrel Menon ASW mortar mounted in front of the superstructure aboard the {{ship|Italian frigate|Cigno}}, 1959
|origin= Italy
|type= Anti-submarine mortar
|is_ranged=y
|is_explosive=yes
|is_artillery=yes
|is_missile=yes
|is_UK=yes
|service= 1956–1980s
|used_by=Italian Navy
|wars=
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=
|unit_cost=
|production_date=1956–1960s
|number=
|variants=Short barrelled
|spec_label=
|weight=
|length=
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|width=
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|crew= 3
|cartridge= {{cvt|160|kg}}
|caliber={{cvt|305|mm|0}}
|barrels=3
|action=
|rate=
|velocity=
|range=
|max_range={{cvt|1500|yd|m|0}}
|feed=
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}}
Menon was an anti-submarine mortar used by the Italian Navy during the Cold War. Introduced in 1956, it was used on the {{sclass|Centauro|frigate|0}} and {{sclass|Bergamini|frigate}}s and {{sclass|Impetuoso|destroyer}}s until their retirement in the 1980s.
Description
The Menon system fired a {{convert|305|mm|adj=on|sp=us|0}} projectile weighing {{convert|160|kg|sp=us}} to a maximum range of {{convert|1500|m|sp=us}}. It fired 21 rounds in 70 seconds that covered an area of about {{convert|90|by|180|sqyd}}.Friedman, p. 434
The initial version consisted of a three-barrel mortar in a rotating, enclosed mounting that was usually positioned forward of the superstructure, but aft of the gun mounts.Archer, p. 230 This was replaced by the K 113 weapon with a single {{convert|4.6|m|ftin|adj=on|sp=us}} barrel in the same type of mounting, albeit with a fixed elevation of 45°. By varying the gas vent valves in the three powder chambers, the weapon had a range between {{convert|400|and|900|m|yd|sp=us}}. The K 113 fired a seven-round pattern, loaded automatically from a seven-round cylinder.
Short-barreled models were also used, although details are lacking.
Cites
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |editor1-last=Archer |editor1-first=Denis |title=Jane's Pocket Book of Naval Armament |date=1976 |publisher=Collier Books |location=New York|oclc=937976566}}
- {{cite book |last1=Friedman |first1=Norman |title=The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems |date=1989 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-793-3|author-link=Norman Friedman}}
Category:Anti-submarine mortars
Category:Naval weapons of the Cold War