Italy

10"/45 (25.4 cm) Model 1908

Click for larger image. — Armored Cruiser San Giorgio in 1941. The 10" (25.4 cm) guns are in the bow and stern turrets. Marina Militare Photograph.

Description

These were Elswick Pattern "W" and were used on armored cruisers.

These guns were wire-wound for 75% of their length.

Gun Characteristics

Designation	10"/45 (25.4 cm) Model 1908
Ship Class Used On	San Marco Class
Manufacturer	Elswick Pattern "W"
Date Of Design	1908
Date In Service	1910
Gun Weight	34.5 tons (35.0 mt)
Gun Length oa	468.8 in (11.909 m)
Bore Length	450.0 in (11.430 m)
Rifling Length	N/A
Grooves	N/A
Lands	N/A
Twist	N/A
Chamber Volume	11,000 in³ (180.26 dm³)
Rate Of Fire	2.6 rounds per minute

Ammunition

Type	Bag
Projectile Types and Weights	AP: 500 lbs. (227 kg)
Bursting Charge	N/A
Projectile Length	N/A
Propellant Charge	186 lbs. (84.2 kg) C
Muzzle Velocity	2,854 fps (870 mps)
Working Pressure	N/A
Approximate Barrel Life	N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun	N/A

Range

Range with 500 lbs. (227 kg) AP
Elevation	Distance
25 degrees	about 27,300 yards (25,000 m)

Mount/Turret Data

Designation	Twin Turrets: San Marco (2)
Weight	N/A
Elevation	-5 / +25 degrees
Elevation Rate	N/A
Train	about +150 / -150 degrees
Train Rate	N/A
Gun recoil	N/A
Loading Angle	N/A

Additional Pictures

Click for larger image. — Armored Cruiser Pisa in 1923. Marina Militare Photograph.

Click for larger image. — 10"/45 (25.4 cm) and 7.5"/45 (19.1 cm) turrets on Pisa circa 1915. Note the 3"/40 (7.62 cm) gun in casemate mounting. Bain News Service Photograph. Library of Congress Photograph ID LC-DIG-ggbain-10036.

Sources

Data from:

"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Italian Warships of World War II" by Aldo Fraccaroli

Press releases:

Marina Militare

Sources

28 December 2008: Benchmark
13 September 2011: Added link to 3"/40 (7.62 cm) gun