The Model 1930 was a mid-range anti-aircraft gun first used on the old battleship Lorraine and the heavy cruiser Algérie. These guns were removed from Lorraine in 1939 and replaced some of the unsuccessful 152 mm DP guns on the battleship Richelieu.
These guns had an autofretted barrel and a semi-automatic breech mechanism. Loading was via spring-powered rammers.
The Model 1933 was an improved version which did not see service use. After the end of the war, the design of this gun and its mounting was improved and became the Model 1945.
Unless otherwise noted, the data below is for the Model 1930.
| Designation | 100 mm/45 (3.9") Model 1930
100 mm/45 (3.9") Model 1933 |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Model 1930: Lorraine, Richelieu and Algérie Classes
Model 1933: Élan, Chamois, Le Fier, De Grasse, Clemenceau and Gascogne |
| Date Of Design | 1930 |
| Date In Service | 1939 |
| Gun Weight | 3,629 lbs. (1,620 kg) 1 |
| Gun Length oa | 186.7 in (4.742 m) |
| Bore Length | 177.2 in (4.500 m) |
| Rifling Length | N/A |
| Grooves | N/A |
| Lands | N/A |
| Twist | N/A |
| Chamber Volume | N/A |
| Rate Of Fire | Theoretical: 16 rounds per minute
Practical: 10 rounds per minute |
- ^A Note on Sources: "Naval Weapons of World War Two" states that the Model 1933 gun would have weighed 1.48 tons (1.5 mt).
| Type | Fixed |
|---|---|
| Weight of Complete Round 1a | SAP: 53.24 lbs. (24.15 kg)
HE: 49.98 lbs. (22.67 kg) Starshell: N/A |
| Projectile Types and Weights | SAP: 32.96 lbs. (14.95 kg)
HE: 29.76 lbs. (13.5 kg) Starshell: N/A |
| Bursting Charge | N/A |
| Projectile Length | about 17.7 in (45 cm)
Complete Round 39.8 in (1.011 m) |
| Cartridge Case Type, Size and Empty Weight | Aluminum Bronze, 100 x 617 mm, 11.7 lbs. (5.3 kg) |
| Propellant Charge | SAP and HE: 8.6 lbs. (3.9 kg) BM7
Illum: 6.6 lbs. (3.0 kg) |
| Muzzle Velocity | SAP: 2,510 fps (765 mps)
HE: 2,559 fps (780 mps) Starshell: N/A |
| Working Pressure | N/A |
| Approximate Barrel Life | N/A |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | Richelieu: 400 rounds 2a De Grasse: 300 rounds Others: N/A |
- ^
Actual French designations SAP OPf Mle 1928 HE OEA Mle 1928 Starshell OEcl Mle 1928 - ^Richelieu carried no more than 10 rounds of SAP per gun as it was considered to be unnecessary given her powerful secondary armament of 152 mm (6") guns.
- A Note on Sources: "Naval Weapons of World War Two" states that the Model 1933 gun would have fired a 32.8 lbs. (14.9 kg) shell at 2,493 fps (760 mps).
| Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|
| 45 degrees | 17,388 yards (15,900 m) |
| AA Ceiling | 32,280 feet (10,000 m) |
| Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|
| 45 degrees | 17,280 yards (15,800 m) |
| Designation | Twin Mount
Lorraine (4), Richelieu (6) and Algérie (6): Model 1931 1b Elan (1), Chamois (1), Le Fier (2), De Grasse (3), Clemenceau (6) and Gascogne (8): Model 1937 2b |
|---|---|
| Weight | Model 1931: 13.3 tons (13.5 mt)
Model 1937: 29.3 tons (29.8 mt) 3b |
| Elevation | Model 1931: -10 / +80 degrees
Model 1937: -10 / +90 degrees |
| Rate of Elevation | N/A |
| Train | About -80 / +80 degrees |
| Rate of Train | N/A |
| Gun Recoil | 17.7 in (45 cm) |
- ^The Model 1931 twin mounting was open-back and the Model 1930 guns shared a single cradle. Distance between gun axes was 23.6 inches (60 cm). The mountings on Lorraine were later removed and then installed on Richelieu along with two other mountings from the Niolon Battery near Marseille.
- ^The Model 1937 was an enclosed mounting with the Model 1933 guns individually sleeved but did not enter service use. Gun axes were 25.6 in (65 cm) apart. This mounting was originally designed for small minesweeping sloops and had two pusher hoists per gun, one for ASu shells and one for AA shells. The hoists rotated with the mounting.
- ^The Weight given above for the Model 1937 is for the original design which was for small warships and had 4 mm protective plating. Mountings for the battleships would have had 30 mm plating and larger servo-motors.
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Battleships: Allied Battleships in World War II" by W.H. Garzke, Jr. and R.O. Dulin, Jr.
"French Battleships of World War One" by John Jordan and Philippe Caresse
"French Battleships: 1922 - 1956" by John Jordan and Robert Dumas
"French Cruisers: 1922 - 1956" by John Jordan and Jean Moulin
"Cruisers of World War Two" by M.J. Whitley Page History
07 October 2006 - Benchmark
29 November 200 - Added photograph of Richelieu, information on projectiles and Model 1937 Mounting
29 March 2013 - Added ammunition details
26 December 2022 - Converted to HTML 5 format, minor formatting changes
14 December 2023 - Added photograph of Lorraine
02 February 2024 - Added gun and ammunition details, added details for Model 1933 gun