Canon de 274 modèle 1887/1893 explained

Canon de 274 modèle 1887/1893
Origin:France
Type:Naval gun
Coastal artillery
Railway artillery
Is Ranged:yes
Is Explosive:yes
Is Artillery:yes
Service:1894-1945
Used By:
Wars:World War I
World War II
Design Date:1887
Production Date:1894
Weight:NaNt
Part Length:12.3sp=usNaNsp=us L/45
Cartridge:Separate loading bagged charge and projectile
Cartridge Weight:NaNsp=usNaNsp=us
Caliber:274sp=usNaNsp=us
Rate:3 rpm
Velocity:NaNsp=usNaNsp=us
Max Range:NaNsp=usNaNsp=us at +25°
Breech:Interrupted screw
Elevation:-10° to +25°
Traverse:-160° to +160°[1]

The Canon de 274 modèle 1887/1893 were a family of French naval guns developed in the years before World War I that armed a variety of warships of the French Navy. Guns salvaged from scrapped ships found a second life as coastal artillery and railway artillery during World War I and World War II.

Design

The mle 1887/1893 guns were typical built-up guns of the period with several layers of steel reinforcing hoops. The guns used an interrupted screw breech and fired separate loading bagged charges and projectiles. The two designs were similar in construction and performance, the main difference between the two models being their weight 37.6 tonnes for the 1887 and 35.4 tonnes for the 1893. The later Canon de 274 modèle 1893/1896, despite being shorter, used a larger propellant charge which gave them higher muzzle velocity and range.

Naval use

Mle 1887/1893 guns armed pre-dreadnought battleships and ironclads of the French Navy built or refit between 1887 and 1902.[2]

Pre-dreadnought battleships

Ironclads

Railway guns

A number of mle 1887/1893 naval guns were converted to railway guns under the designation Canon de 274 modèle 87/93 Glissement and saw action during both the First and Second World Wars.

Ammunition

Ammunition was of separate loading type with a bagged charge and projectile. The charge weighed 67.5sp=usNaNsp=us.

The guns were able to fire:

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: France 274 mm/45 (10.8") Model 1887/1893 - NavWeaps. DiGiulian. Tony. www.navweaps.com. en. 2018-09-05.
  2. Book: Friedman, Norman. Naval weapons of World War One. 2011-01-01. Seaforth. 9781848321007. 786178793.