Description

Elswick Pattern "W" guns used on Italian pre-dreadnoughts as secondary weapons. Reused as coastal defense guns after those ships were scrapped.

These and similar EOC designs were also used on Garibaldi class armored cruisers sold to other nations, including Argentina and Japan.

These guns were partially wire wound and had screw breech blocks.

Gun Characteristics

Designation 8"/45 (20.3 cm) EOC Pattern "W"
Ship Class Used On Regina Elena and Garibaldi Classes
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service about 1900
Gun Weight 19.1 tons (19.4 mt) including breech mechanism
Gun Length oa N/A
Bore Length about 360 in (9.144 m)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire about 2 rounds per minute

Ammunition

Type Bag
Projectile Types and Weights AP: 256 lbs. (116 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge N/A
Muzzle Velocity 2,592 fps (790 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A

Range

Range of 256 lbs. (116 kg) AP shell
Elevation Distance
30 degrees About 19,700 yards (18,000 m)

Mount / Turret Data

Designation Twin Mounts: Regina Elena (6) and Garibaldi (1) or (2)
Weight N/A
Elevation -5 / +30 degrees (?)
Elevation Rate N/A
Train about +150 / -150 degrees
Train Rate N/A
Gun recoil N/A
Loading Angle N/A

Sources

Data from:

  • "Naval Weapons of World War Two" and "The Battle of Tsu-Shima" articles in "Warship Volume II" all by John Campbell
  • "Navy and Army Illustrated Annuals, Volume VI - 1898"

Marina Militare Press Releases

Special help by Dave Perkins