France
305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893/1896
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1893
305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1887
Updated 04 March 2012
Used to arm French pre-dreadnoughts, these guns were similar in design, and apparently used to test various design concepts such as longer barrel lengths.

The construction of all Model types was a complicated built-up design, similar to other French heavy guns.  Actual bore diameter was 30.50 cm (12.008").
WNFR_76-50_m1902_Liberte_pic.jpg

Pre-dreadnought Liberté
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Click here for additional pictures
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Gun Characteristics
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Designation 305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893/1896
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1893
305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1887
Ship Class Used On 305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893/1896:  Gaulois, Iéna, Suffren, République and Liberté Classes
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1893:  Bouvet
305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893:  Massèna
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1887:  Bouvines
Date Of Design 1893/1896
Date In Service 1895/1898
Gun Weight 305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893/1896:  47 tons (48 mt)
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1893:  45 tons (46 mt)
305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893:  43 tons (44 mt)
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1887:  N/A
Gun Length oa N/A
Bore Length 305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893/1896:  about 480 in (12.200 m)
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1893:  about 535 in (13.588 m)
305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893:  about 480 in (12.200 m)
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1887:  about 535 in (13.588 m)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire about 1 round per minute
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Ammunition
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Type Bag
Projectile Types and Weights AP - 770 lbs. (349 kg)
SAP - 770 lbs. (349 kg)
HE - 770 lbs. (349 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge 305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893/1896:  245 lbs. (111 kg)
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1893:  196 lbs. (89 kg)
305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893:  217 lbs. (98 kg)
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1887:  N/A
Muzzle Velocity 305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893/1896:  2,674 fps (815 mps)
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1893:  2,559 fps (780 mps)
305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893:  2,559 fps (780 mps)
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1887:  N/A
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun Iéna - 45 rounds
Others - N/A
Note:  HE projectiles were made with either black powder (gunpowder) or Melinite bursters, while AP and SAP were made with Melinite bursters.
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Range
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Elevation
With 770 lbs. (349 kg) AP
15 degrees
13,120 yards (12,000 m)
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Mount / Turret Data
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Designation One-gun Turrets
   Jaureguiberry (2), Bouvines (2), Massèna (2) and Bouvet (2)

Two-gun Turrets
   Iéna (2), Suffren (2), Gaulois (2), République (2) and Liberté (2)
Weight N/A
Elevation Iéna:  -5 (?) / +15 degrees
Others:  N/A
Rate of Elevation N/A
Train about +150 / -150 degrees
Rate of Train N/A
Gun Recoil N/A
Loading Angle N/A
Notes:

1) The two-gun mountings had nearly all of the gun operating machinery inside of the turret itself, with no barbette as such.  Instead, a narrow armored tube protected the ammunition hoists.  This arrangement differed little in total weight from other 305 mm (12") mountings built by other nations, but did have a penalty in that all the weight was carried higher in the ship, leading to stability problems.

2) A novel feature of these mountings was that they used a hydraulic pivot which supported the the rotating structure when it trained.  When the proper angle was reached, the mounting was lowered onto a seating ring.
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Data from
"The Big Gun:  Battleship Main Armament 1860-1945" by Peter Hodges
"The Iéna Disaster, 1907" article by Philippe Caresse in "Warship 2007"
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Page History

11 October 2007 - Benchmark
04 March 2012 - Updated to latest template