France
138.6 mm/45 (5.46") Models 1884, 1888, 1891 and 1893
Updated 28 March 2012
Originally used as secondary weapons on ships of the late 19th century.  In the 1930s guns removed from scrapped warships were reused on auxiliary ships.

Construction was built-up with a screw breech.
WNFR_55-45_m1891_Gaulois_pic.jpg

Pre-dreadnought Gaulois
The 138.6 mm (5.46") guns are along the sides
WNFR_55-45_m1891_gun_pic.jpg

138.6 mm (5.46") Model 1884 gun modified to Model 1888
Note the four-motion screw breech
Photograph courtesy of Dave Perkins
.
Gun Characteristics
.
Designation 138.6 mm/45 (5.46") Models 1884, 1888, 1891 and 1893
Ship Class Used On Charles Martel, Carnot, Jauréguiberry, Masséna, Bouvet and Charlemagne classes
Date Of Design 1888 / 1891 / 1893
Date In Service about 1890 / 1895 / 1897
Gun Weight about 4 tons (4.1 mt)
Gun Length oa N/A
Bore Length about 272.7 in (6.927 m)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire about 4 rounds per minute
.
Ammunition
.
Type Separate
Projectile Types and Weights AP - 80.5 lbs. (36.5 kg)
HE - 69.4 lbs. (31.5 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge N/A
Muzzle Velocity AP:  2,379 fps (725 mps)
HE:  2,510 fps (765 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A
.
Range
.
Elevation With 80.5 lbs. (36.5 kg) AP Shell
Range @ 25 degrees about 16,400 yards (15,000 m)
.
Mount / Turret Data
.
Designation Single Mounts
Weight  N/A
Elevation about -10 / +25 degrees
Elevation Rate Manually operated, only
Train about +150 / -150 degrees
Train Rate Manually operated, only
Gun recoil N/A
Loading Angle Any
.
Data from
 "Navy and Army Illustrated Annuals, Volume VI - 1898"
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
Page History

06 April 2006 - Benchmark
28 March 2012 - Updated to latest template