Secondary guns on pre-dreadnoughts and armored cruisers of the 1890s and early 1900s. Used as artillery and railway guns during World War I and as coastal artillery during World War II. Twelve guns of the M1887, M1891 and M1893 variations “were emplaced at Toul, Verdun and in the East.” “Of these guns, two were captured at Verdun in February 1916, two in the Chemin des Dames on 27 May 1918, and one on 9 June 1918 after the German offensive at Metz.” (From “Naval Weapons of World War One” by Norman Friedman)
Built-up construction with an interrupted screw breech. Model 1891 was a trunnioned gun, the others did not have trunnions. Models 1891 and 1893 had all propellant in a cartridge case while Models 1893-1896 and 1893-1896M had a larger chamber to allow larger charges and used both the earlier cartridge case and a separate powder bag.
| Designation | 164.7 mm/45 (6.5") Models 1893, 1893-1896, 1893-1896M |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Model 1891: Cruisers of the Friant and Descartes classes
Model 1893: Cruisers of the D'Assas, Catinat, Guichen, Châteaurenault and Jurien de la Gravière classes Model 1893-1896: Battleships of the Iéna and Suffren, Cruisers Jeanne d' Arc, Gueydon, Dupleix and Gloire classes Model 1893-1896M: Battleships of the République class, Cruisers of the Jules Michelet, Ernest Renan and Léon Gambetta classes |
| Date Of Design | 1893 / 1896 |
| Date In Service | about 1894 / 1900 |
| Gun Weight | 15,520 lbs. (7,040 kg) |
| Gun Length oa | 302 in (7.672 m) |
| Bore Length | 292 in (7.412 m) |
| Rifling Length | 248 in (6.300 m) |
| Grooves | (50) 1.2 mm (D) x 3 mm (W) |
| Lands | N/A |
| Twist | N/A (angle of rifling was 7 degrees left) |
| Chamber Volume | Models 1891 and 1893: 1,619 in3 (26.544 dm3)
Model 1893-1896: 2,240 in3 (36.722 dm3) Model 1893-1896M: 2,241 in3 (36.735 dm3) |
| Rate Of Fire | about 3 rounds per minute |
| Type | Cartidge - Bag |
|---|---|
| Projectile Types and Weights | 1890s
APC: 121.0 lbs. (54.9 kg) SAPC: 115.3 lbs. (52.3 kg) CI: 99.2 lbs. (45 kg) 1940s
|
| Bursting Charge | 1890s
APC: 2.1 lbs. (0.97 kg) Mélinite SAPC: 6.8 lbs. (3.10 kg) Mélinite CI: 4.6 lbs. (2.10 kg) Gunpowder 1940s
|
| Projectile Length | 1890s
APC: 17.1 in (43.5 cm) SAPC: 19.1 in (48.5 cm) CI: 20.3 in (51.5 cm) 1940s
|
| Cartridge Case Type, Size and Empty Weight | Brass, 164.7 x 690 mm, N/A |
| Propellant Charge | Models 1891 and 1893
Cartridge: 21.2 lbs. (9.60 kg) BM9 Models 1893-1896 and 1893-1896M
|
| Muzzle Velocity | Models 1891 and 1893
APC and SAPC: 2,526 fps (770 mps) CI: 2625 fps (800 mps) Models 1893-1896 and 1893-1896M
|
| Working Pressure | N/A |
| Approximate Barrel Life | N/A |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | N/A |
| Model | 114.6 lbs. (52 kg) AP Shell | 111.3 lbs. (50.5 kg) HE Shell |
|---|---|---|
| Models 1891 and 1893 | 16,840 yards (15,400 m) | 19,690 yards (18,000 m) |
| Models 1893-1896 and 1893-1896M | 16,840 yards (15,400 m) | 20,780 yards (19,000 m) |
As in most ships of this era, long range gunfire was nearly impossible and for that reason the maximum range figures seen in secondary and even primary sources should be viewed with a degree of skepticism. Instead, designers were more concerned about performance at a range where most combats would take place. For these ships, the French considered that 2,000 m (2,100 yards) would be the most likely combat range.
| Designation | Single Mounts: République (18), Sufferen (10), Iéna (8), Léon Gambetta (4)
Twin Turrets: République (6), Léon Gambetta (6) |
|---|---|
| Weight | N/A |
| Elevation | about -10 / +25 degrees |
| Elevation Rate | Manually operated, only |
| Train | about +150 / -150 degrees |
| Train Rate | Manually operated, only |
| Gun recoil | N/A |
| Loading Angle | Any |
"French Warships of World War I" by Jean Labayle Couhat - Ian Allan Series
"Les Materiels de l'armée de Terre Française 1940, pt2" by Stephane Ferrard
"Naval Weapons of World War One" by Norman Friedman
"French Armoured Cruisers: 1887 - 1932" by John Jordan and Philippe Caresse
"Eisenbahngeschütze der Welt" by Franz Kosar
"Armored Cruiser Dupuy de Lôme" by D.B. Yakimovich and A.S. Alexandrov (Marine Campaign 2007, No 5)
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Special help from Alex Baumans and Michal Derela
16 May 2006 - Benchmark
28 March 2012 - Updated to latest template
28 August 2013 - Added use on Armored Cruisers
01 April 2021 - Updated to HTML 5, added details on guns and ammunition
05 May 2023 - Added photograph of gun being used as field artillery