These guns were designed by Brink, at the time the leading designer of Russian guns. They were used on armored cruisers and gunboats of the 1880s.
The first gun was made in 1886 and by 1887 a total of 29 had been ordered. As was the custom of the time, after their removal from ships in 1904-05, these guns were turned over to the Army for use as coastal defense guns. Some were still in use during World War I.
Constructed of an inner tube, barrel and three rows of hoops. The breech mechanism was pneumatically operated.
| Designation | 8"/35 (20.3 cm) Pattern 1885 203 mm/35 (8") Pattern 1885 |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Admiral Nakhimov, Pamiat' Azova, Rurik, Koreets class gunboats |
| Date Of Design | 1885 |
| Date In Service | 1887 |
| Gun Weight | 13 tons (13.710 mt) |
| Gun Length oa | 280 in (7.112 m) |
| Bore Length | N/A |
| Rifling Length | N/A |
| Grooves | 48 |
| Lands | N/A |
| Twist | N/A |
| Chamber Volume | N/A |
| Rate Of Fire | N/A |
| Type | Bag |
|---|---|
| Projectile Types and Weights | HE & AP "Light": 176 -198 lbs. (80 - 90 kg) HE & AP "Heavy": 193 lbs. (133 kg) |
| Bursting Charge | HE "Light": 8.5 - 9.1 lbs. (3.86 - 4.14 kg) HE "Heavy": 14.3 lbs. (6.5 kg) AP "Heavy": 5.9 lbs. (2.66 kg) |
| Projectile Length | N/A |
| Propellant Charge | 112 lbs. (51 kg) of brown powder |
| Muzzle Velocity | "Light": 2175 fps (663 mps) "Heavy": 1912 fps (583 mps) |
| Working Pressure | N/A |
| Approximate Barrel Life | N/A |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | N/A |
| Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|
| 6 degrees | 5,800 yards (5,310 m) |
| 15 degrees | 10,000 yards (9,150 m) |
| Designation | Twin barbette mount: Admiral Nakhimov Single barbette mount: all other ships |
|---|---|
| Weight | Single barbette: 21 tons (21.36 mt) Twin barbette: N/A |
| Elevation | -5 / +15 for all mounts |
| Rate of Elevation | N/A |
| Train | 200 degrees for open mounts |
| Rate of Train | N/A |
| Gun Recoil | 38 in (96.5 cm) for open mounts |
| Loading Angle | N/A |
Data from:
- "Entsiklopedia Otechestvennoi Artillerii" (Encyclopedia of Fatherland [Russian] Artillery) by A.V. Shirokorad
Special help from Vladimir Yakubov