Used to arm French pre-dreadnoughts, these guns were similar in design, and apparently used to test various design concepts such as longer barrel lengths.
The construction of all Model types was a complicated built-up design, similar to other French heavy guns. Used a three-motion Farcot breech mechanism. Actual bore diameter was 30.50 cm (12.008").
| Designation | 305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893/1896
305 mm/45 (12") Model 1893 305 mm/40 (12") Model 1893 305 mm/45 (12") Model 1887 |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Model 1893/1896: Gaulois, Iéna, Suffren, République and Liberté Classes
Model 1893: Bouvet Model 1893: Massèna Model 1887: Bouvines |
| Date Of Design | 1893/1896 |
| Date In Service | 1895/1898 |
| Gun Weight | Model 1893/1896: 47 tons (48 mt)
Model 1893: 45 tons (46 mt) Model 1893: 43 tons (44 mt) Model 1887: N/A |
| Gun Length oa | N/A |
| Bore Length | Model 1893/1896: about 480 in (12.200 m)
Model 1893: about 535 in (13.588 m) Model 1893: about 480 in (12.200 m) Model 1887: about 535 in (13.588 m) |
| Rifling Length | N/A |
| Grooves | N/A |
| Lands | N/A |
| Twist | N/A |
| Chamber Volume | N/A |
| Rate Of Fire | about 1 round per minute |
| Type | Bag |
|---|---|
| Projectile Types and Weights | AP: 770 lbs. (349 kg)
SAP: 770 lbs. (349 kg) HE: 770 lbs. (349 kg) |
| Bursting Charge | N/A 1 |
| Projectile Length | N/A |
| Propellant Charge | Model 1893/1896: 245 lbs. (111 kg)
Model 1893: 196 lbs. (89 kg) Model 1893: 217 lbs. (98 kg) Model 1887: N/A |
| Muzzle Velocity | Model 1893/1896: 2,674 fps (815 mps)
Model 1893: 2,559 fps (780 mps) Model 1893: 2,559 fps (780 mps) Model 1887: N/A |
| Working Pressure | N/A |
| Approximate Barrel Life | N/A |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | Iéna: 45 rounds
Others: N/A |
- ^HE projectiles were made with either black powder (gunpowder) or Melinite bursters, while AP and SAP were made with Melinite bursters.
| Elevation | Range |
|---|---|
| 15 degrees | 13,120 yards (12,000 m) |
| Designation | One-gun Turret
Jaureguiberry (2), Bouvines (2), Massèna (2) and Bouvet (2) Two-gun Turret 1a 2a |
|---|---|
| Weight | N/A |
| Elevation | Iéna: -5 (?) / +15 degrees
Others: N/A |
| Rate of Elevation | N/A |
| Train | about +150 / -150 degrees |
| Rate of Train | N/A |
| Gun Recoil | N/A |
| Loading Angle | N/A |
- ^The two-gun mountings had nearly all of the gun operating machinery inside of the turret itself, with no barbette as such. Instead, a narrow armored tube protected the ammunition hoists. This arrangement differed little in total weight from other 305 mm (12") mountings built by other nations, but did have a penalty in that all the weight was carried higher in the ship, leading to stability problems.
- ^A novel feature of these mountings was that they used a hydraulic pivot which supported the rotating structure when it trained. When the proper angle was reached, the mounting was lowered onto a seating ring.
"The Big Gun: Battleship Main Armament 1860-1945" by Peter Hodges
"The Iéna Disaster, 1907" article by Philippe Caresse in "Warship 2007"
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"Bibliographic Notes" article in Proceedings, April 1897, Volume 23/2/82
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Ministère de la défense
11 October 2007 - Benchmark
04 March 2012 - Updated to latest template
07 October 2021 - Converted to HTML 5, reorganized notes, corrected typographical error
30 August 2023 - Added Farcot Breech mechanism