Italy
65 mm/64 (2.56") Model 1939
Updated 23 September 2012
This medium-range AA gun was being developed by Ansaldo and Terni during World War II with some prototypes being completed, but it did not enter general service use.  The loading equipment was electrically powered and included dual loading trays and a pantograph linkage rammer.  The rammer design proved troublesome and was finally abandoned in favor of slower, but more reliable hand loading.  The program was cancelled in the summer of 1943 and all work was halted with the Italian Armistice.

Construction was barrel, long jacket and sliding breech block.  The barrel was originally to be 56 calibers, then increased to 62 and finally to 64 calibers.
WNIT_65mm-64_m1939_pic.jpg

Prototype 65 mm/54 intended for the aircraft carrier Aquila
Image courtesy of Museo Tecnico Navale della Spezia
.
Gun Characteristics
.
Designation 65 mm/64 Model 1939
Ship Class Used On Aquila, Capitani Romani and Etna classes (planned)
Date of Design 1939
Date In Service Did not enter service
Gun Weight N/A
Gun Length oa N/A
Bore Length about 164 in (4.160 m)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Rate Of Fire Hand loading:  about 20 rounds per minute
.
Ammunition
.
Type Fixed
Weight of Complete Round N/A
Projectile Types and Weights HE - 9 lbs. (4.08 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge N/A
Muzzle Velocity 3,117 fps (950 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A
.
Range
.
Elevation With 9 lbs. (4.08 kg) HE shell
Range @ 45 degrees 8,200 yards (7,500 m) effective
AA Ceiling about 16,400 feet (5,000 m)
.
Mount / Turret Data
.
Designation Single Mount:  Model 1939
Weight  N/A
Elevation -10 / +80 degrees
Elevation Rate Manual operation, only
Train about +120 / -120 degrees
Train Rate Manual operation, only
Gun recoil N/A
.
Data from
"Capitani Romani" articles by Elio Andò in "Warship Volume II"
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Italian Warships of World War II" by Aldo Fraccaroli
Page History

31 January 2008 - Benchmark
25 October 2009 - Updated page links to Museo Tecnico Navale della Spezia
26 May 2012 - Updated to latest template
23 September 2012 - Added picture of Museum gun