Cannon 102/45

Cannon 102/45
Cannon 102/45
	The Cannon 102/45 was a licensed copy of the QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun shown here.
Type	Naval gun; Anti-aircraft gun; Coastal artillery
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1917-1945
Used by	Italy
Wars	World War I; World War II
Production history
Designed	1913
Manufacturer	Ansaldo
Produced	1917
Variants	Schneider-Armstrong; Model 1917; Schneider-Armstrong; Model 1919; Schneider-Canet; Model 1917
Specifications
Mass	2,327 kilograms (5,130 lb)
Length	4.7 meters (15 ft 5 in)
Barrel length	4.57 meters (15 ft 0 in)
Shell weight	13.7–16 kilograms (30–35 lb)
Caliber	102 millimeters (4.0 in); 45 Caliber
Breech	Horizontal or vertical sliding breech block
Elevation	See Table
Traverse	-360°
Rate of fire	7 rpm
Muzzle velocity	Schneider-Armstrong: 850 m/s (2,800 ft/s); Schneider-Canet:; 888 m/s (2,910 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	Horizontal: 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) at +35°; AA: 8,000 m (26,000 ft)

The Cannon 102/45 was a naval gun of the Italian Navy in World War II, which was later modified for shore based anti-aircraft and coastal artillery roles.

History

During World War I the United Kingdom delivered a QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun, serial No.974 to Italy to act as a template for licensed production by the Ansaldo Company. The Mark V was constructed of a tapered inner A tube, A tube, taper wound wire, full-length jacket and breech ring.^[2] It had either a horizontal or vertical sliding breech block, with semi-automatic action and used fixed quick-fire ammunition. There were three models produced: Schneider-Armstrong Model 1917, Schneider-Armstrong Model 1919, and Schneider-Canet Model 1917; each with differing mounts and elevations. Overall the 102/45 was considered a successful design and it was widely used on destroyers of the Italian Navy before and during World War II. The exception being the Schneider-Armstrong Model 1919 which was an unsatisfactory twin mount with both guns sharing a common cradle. The Model 1919 was later replaced by single mounts during the war.^[3] The 102/45 was in the process of being replaced by the Cannon 120/45 and 120/50 when World War II began. Starting in 1937 guns that were removed from ships were mounted on new dual-purpose shore mounts and used as anti-aircraft guns and coastal artillery until retired in 1945.

Interesting facts

The reported muzzle velocities for the Schneider-Armstrong 850 m/s (2,800 ft/s) and Schneider-Canet 888 m/s (2,910 ft/s) are slightly different.
The muzzle velocities of the 102/45 are higher than the Mk V 719 m/s (2,360 ft/s) implying greater working pressure.^[4] What effect this had on barrel life and accuracy is unknown.
The rates of fire for the 102/45 (7 rpm) and Mk V (8-10 rpm) are different.^[5]

Types


Mounts	Model	Weight	Elevation	Naval Classes
Single Open Mount	Schneider-Armstrong Model 1917	4,600 kg	-5°/+35°	Generali-class, Palestro-class, La Masa class, Giuseppe Sirtori
Single Open Mount	Schneider-Canet Model 1917		-5°/+30°	Mirabello-class, Alessandro Poerio class
Twin Mount	Schneider-Armstrong Model 1919	10,000 kg	-5°/+35°	Curtatone-class
Single Mount Dual-purpose	Model 1936		-5°/+85°	Anti-aircraft and Coastal artillery

Notes

^ Friedman, Norman (2011-01-01). Naval weapons of World War One. Seaforth. ISBN 9781848321007. OCLC 786178793.
^ DiGiulian, Tony. "Italy 102 mm/45 (4") S-A Models 1917 and 1919 and S-C Model 1917 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
^ Friedman, Norman (2011-01-01). Naval weapons of World War One. Seaforth. p. 339. ISBN 9781848321007. OCLC 786178793.
^ M., Campbell, N. J. (2002-01-01). Naval weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. pp. 241–242. ISBN 0870214594. OCLC 51995246.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Fraccaroli, Aldo (1974). Italian Warships of World War II. London: Ian Allan Publishing. p. 189.

Bibliography

Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
Fraccaroli, Aldo (1974). Italian Warships of World War II. London, England: Ian Allan Publishing. OCLC 834485650.
Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.

[1] Friedman, Norman (2011-01-01). Naval weapons of World War One. Seaforth. ISBN 9781848321007. OCLC 786178793.

[2] DiGiulian, Tony. "Italy 102 mm/45 (4") S-A Models 1917 and 1919 and S-C Model 1917 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 2017-03-05.

[3] Friedman, Norman (2011-01-01). Naval weapons of World War One. Seaforth. p. 339. ISBN 9781848321007. OCLC 786178793.

[4] M., Campbell, N. J. (2002-01-01). Naval weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. pp. 241–242. ISBN 0870214594. OCLC 51995246.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[5] Fraccaroli, Aldo (1974). Italian Warships of World War II. London: Ian Allan Publishing. p. 189.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

v t e Italian artillery of World War I
Anti-aircraft guns	Cannone da 76/45 S 1911 Cannone da 75/27 A.V.
Field, Medium and Heavy guns	Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 Cannone da 75/27 modello 12 Cannone da 75/27 modello 11 8 cm FK M. 5 Obice da 100/17 modello 14 Obice da 105/14 Cannone da 105/28 Cannone da 105/32 Obice da 149/12 Cannone da 149/23 Cannone da 149/35 A Cannone da 152/45
Mortars	Bombarda da 58 A Bombarda da 58 B 15 cm Mörser M1881 Bombarda da 240 mm
Infantry and Mountain guns	Cannon 37F Cannone da 65/17 modello 13 Cannone da 76/17 S modello 12 Cannone da 70/15
Naval and coastal defense guns	Cannon 76/40 Model 1916 Cannone da 76/45 S 1911 Cannon 102/35 Model 1914 Cannon 102/45 Cannon 152/32 Model 1887 Cannone da 190/45 EOC 8 inch 45 caliber EOC 10 inch 40 caliber EOC 10-inch /45 naval gun Obice da 280 305 mm /46 Model 1909 100-ton gun BL 13.5 inch naval gun Mk I – IV Cannone navale da 381/40
Railroad artillery	Cannone da 381/40 AVS
Superheavy and Siege artillery	Mortaio da 210/8 D.S. Mortaio da 210/9 modello 14 Mortaio da 260/9 Modello 16 Obice da 280 Obice da 305/17

v t e Italian artillery of World War II
Tank guns	Breda Model 35 Cannone da 37/40 Cannone da 47/32 Cannone da 47/40 Cannone da 75/34
Anti-tank guns	Solothurn S-18/1000 Cannone da 47/32 Obice da 75/18 modello 35 Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 Cannone da 90/53 Cannone da 105/25
Infantry and Mountain guns	Cannone da 37/10 modello 15 Cannone da 47/32 Cannone da 65/17 modello 13 Cannone da 70/15 Obice da 75/18 modello 34
Field, Medium and Heavy guns	Cannone da 75/27 modello 06 Cannone da 75/27 modello 12 Cannone da 75/27 modello 11 Obice da 75/18 modello 35 Cannone da 75/32 modello 37 Cannone da 76/17 S modello 12 Obice da 100/17 modello 14 Obice da 105/14 Cannone da 105/28 Cannone da 105/32 Obice da 149/12 Cannone da 149/28 Cannone da 149/35 A Cannone da 149/40 modello 35 Obice da 149/19 modello 37 Cannone da 152/45 Obice da 210/22
Superheavy and Siege artillery	Mortaio da 210/8 D.S. Mortaio da 260/9 Modello 16 Obice da 280 Obice da 305/17
Railroad artillery	Cannone navale da 381/40
Anti-aircraft guns	Cannone-Mitragliera da 20/77 (Scotti) Breda Model 35 Cannone-Mitragliera da 37/54 (Breda) Cannone da 75/27 A.V. Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 Cannone da 75/49 Cannone da 90/53