14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun | |
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Type |
Naval gun Coast-defense gun |
Place of origin | Japan |
Service history | |
In service | 1914–1945 |
Used by | Imperial Japanese Navy |
Wars | |
Specifications | |
Mass | 5,600–5,700 kilograms (12,346–12,566 lb) |
Barrel length | 7.0 meters (23 ft 0 in) (bore length) |
Shell | separate-loading, bagged charge |
Shell weight | 38 kilograms (84 lb) |
Caliber | 14 centimeters (5.5 in) |
Breech | Welin breech block |
Elevation | -7° to +35° depending on mount [1] |
Rate of fire | About 6 rounds per minute |
Muzzle velocity | 850–855 meters per second (2,790–2,810 ft/s) |
Maximum firing range | 19,750 meters (21,600 yd) at +35° [1] |
The 14 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun was a Japanese low-angle weapon introduced during World War I.
It served as the secondary armament in a number of Japanese dreadnoughts and as the main armament in light cruisers and some auxiliary ships. It was also the most common Japanese coast-defense gun during World War II. "Third year type" refers to the Welin breech block on this gun. Breech-block design began in 1914, the third year of the Taishō period. This breech-block design was also used on Japanese 40 cm (16 inch), 20 cm (8 inch), 15.5 cm (6 inch), 12.7 cm (5 inch), and 12 cm (4.7 inch) naval guns. [2]
This gun was not mounted aboard submarines. Submarine cruisers used the shorter-barreled 14 cm/40 11th Year Type naval gun. [3]