Italy
12"/40 (30.5 cm)
Updated 26 May 2012
These were of the Elswick Pattern "I" and were used on Italy's equivalent to a battlecruiser.  This Italian version allowed all-around loading and the mountings were electrically powered.

After these ships were scrapped, their guns were reused on floating batteries.
WNIT_12-40_Roma_pic.jpg

Battleship Roma about 1910
12" (30.5 cm) guns are in single turrets on the bow and stern
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Gun Characteristics
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Designation 12"/40 (30.5 cm)
Ship Class Used On Benedetto Brin and Regina Elena Classes
Pontoons GM191 and 192
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1908
Gun Weight 50.8 tons (54.3 mt)
Gun Length oa N/A
Bore Length 480.0 in (12.192 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 APC - 919 lbs. (417 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge 194 lbs. (88 kg)
Muzzle Velocity 2,559 fps (780 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A
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Range
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Elevation With 919 lbs. (417 kg) AP shell
Range @ 20 degrees about 21,870 yards (20,000 m)
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Mount / Turret Data
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Designation Single Turrets
  Regina Elena (2)

Twin Turrets
  Benedetto Brin (2)
Weight  N/A
Elevation about -5 / +20 degrees
Elevation Rate N/A
Train about +150 / -150 degrees
Train Rate N/A
Gun recoil N/A
Loading Angle N/A
Note:  These mountings were generally similar in design to the British 12" (30.5 cm) BVI mountings, although the Italian mountings allowed all-around loading and those for the Regina Elena class were electrically powered, used springs for the run out and elevation was by arc and pinion gear.
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Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Italian Warships of World War II" by Aldo Fraccaroli
"The Big Gun:  Battleship Main Armament 1860-1945" by Peter Hodges
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Special help by Cliff McMullen
Page History

14 April 2007 - Benchmark
26 May 2012 - Updated to latest template