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This gun was adopted in 1914 as a replacement for earlier 6" (15.2 cm) guns as it was felt that the lighter shells were better suited for manual handling by the average Japanese crewman. Redesignated in centimeters on 5 October 1917. Earlier guns were built with four layers and wire-winding (Model No. II), but later guns were of built-up construction without the wire (Model No. IV). Used Welin screw breech-blocks. |
Light Cruiser IJN Yubari in November 1924
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| Designation | 5.5"/50 (14 cm) 3rd Year Type (Model 1914)
14 cm/50 (5.5") 3rd Year Type (Model 1914) |
| Ship Class Used On
(see Note) |
Capital Ships: Ise, Nagato, Amagi,
Kaga, Kii and "13" classes
Carrier: Hôshô Cruisers: Tenryû, Kuma, Nagara, Naka, Yubari and Katori classes Seaplane Carrier: Nisshin Minelayer: Okinoshima Submarine Tenders: Chôgei class |
| Date Of Design | 1914 |
| Date In Service | about 1916 |
| Gun Weight | 5.5 - 5.6 tons (5,600 - 5,700 kg) |
| Gun Length oa | 284.8 in (7.235 m) |
| Bore Length | 275.6 in (7.000 m) |
| Rifling Length | 235.0 in (5.968 m) |
| Grooves | (42) 0.55 in deep x 0.252 in (1.40 mm x 6.40 mm) |
| Lands | 0.160 in (4.07 mm) |
| Twist | Uniform RH 1 in 28 |
| Chamber Volume | 1,404 in3 (23 dm3) |
| Rate Of Fire | 6 to 10 rounds per minute, depending upon the rate of supply |
| Note: Many of the capital ships listed above were cancelled, scrapped or converted to aircraft carriers as a result of the Washington Naval Limitation Treaty. As a result, only the Ise and Nagato classes saw service with this weapon. | |
| Type | Bag |
| Projectile Types and Weights
(see Note 3) |
Capped Common - 83.8 lbs. (38.0 kg)
Capped Common Mods 1 & 2 - 83.8 lbs. (38.0 kg) Common Type 0 HE - 83.8 lbs. (38.0 kg) Common Type 2 HE - 83.8 lbs. (38.0 kg) ASW - 92.4 lbs. (42.0 kg) Common Type 3 IS - 83.8 lbs. (38.0 kg) |
| Bursting Charge | Capped Common - 4.4 lbs. (2.0 kg)
Capped Common Mods 1 & 2 - 4.4 lbs. (2.0 kg) Common Type 0 - 6.3 lbs. (2.86 kg) Common Type 2 - 5.7 lbs. (2.60 kg) ASW - 6.3 lbs. (2.86 kg) |
| Projectile Length | Capped Common Mods 1 & 2 - 21.65 in
(55.0 cm)
Common Type 0 - 21.81 in (55.4 cm) Common Type 2 - 21.81 in (55.4 cm) ASW - 22.56 in (57.3 cm) Others - N/A |
| Propellant Charge | All except ASW
22.8 lbs. (10.33 kg) 40C or 50C 24.2 lbs. (10.97 kg) 37DC ASW - N/A |
| Muzzle Velocity | All except ASW - 2,789 to 2,805 fps (850
to 855 mps)
ASW - 820 fps (250 mps) |
| Working Pressure | 18.4 to 18.5 tons/in2 (2,900 to 2,910 kg/cm2) |
| Approximate Barrel Life | 500 - 600 Rounds |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | N/A |
| Notes:
1) IS is my abbreviation for the Type 3 Common incendiary shrapnel round (sankaidan) intended for AA use. 2) The propellant charge was in one bag with a 2.1 oz (60 gm) black powder igniter. 3) Capped Common shells were introduced in 1916 and were replaced by Capped Common Mods 1 & 2 in 1934. Common Type 4 was introduced in 1932 and was replaced by Common Type 0 in 1940. 4) The ASW projectile was flat nosed. ASW rounds were issued in 1943 following extensive testing. Penetration performance not available. |
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| Elevation | With 83.8 lbs. (38.0 kg) HE Shell |
| Range @ 20 degrees | 17,280 yards (15,800 m) |
| Range @ 25 degrees | 19,140 yards (17,500 m) |
| Range @ 30 degrees | 20,890 yards (19,100 m) |
| Range @ 35 degrees | 22,500 yards (20,574 m) |
| Elevation | With 92.4 lbs. (42.0 kg) ASW Shell |
| Range @ 40 degrees | 4,590 yards (4,200 m) |
| Note: Minimum range of ASW shell is given as 875 yards (800 m). Ranges less than this tended to ricochet. | |
| Designation | Single casemate mounts
Ise (20), Nagato (20), Kaga (20), Kii (16-20) and Amagi (16): N/A Single pedestal mounts
Twin Mounts
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| Weight | Single Mounts: About 20 tons (21
mt)
Twin Mounts: About 36 tons (37 mt) |
| Elevation
(see Note 3) |
Single Mounts
Ise class: As built:
-7 / +20 degrees. Later: -7 / +30 degrees
Twin Mounts
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| Elevation Rate | Single Mounts: Manual operation,
only
Twin Mounts: 6 degrees per second |
| Train | Capital Ships: About +70 / -70
Light Cruisers: +150 / -150 degrees |
| Train Rate | Single Mounts: Manual operation,
only
Twin Mounts: 4 degrees per second |
| Gun recoil | N/A |
| Loading Angle | Any angle up to +20 degrees (hand ramming) |
| Notes:
1) Single mountings on cruisers had bucket chain hoists which brought both projectiles and propellant up to the weather deck. All transfers to and from the magazines, hoists and guns were performed manually. 2) The Twin Mounting served as a model for those for the 12.7 cm/50 (5") guns used on the "Special" destroyers of the Fubuki class. 3) Gun elevation for the Ise class was increased during modernization in 1935. Gun elevation for the Nagato class was increased during modernization in 1934. During these refits, two guns were removed from all four of these ships. |
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