Description

These were of the Elswick Pattern "I" and were used on Italy's equivalent to a battlecruiser. This Italian version allowed all-around loading and the mountings were electrically powered.

After these ships were scrapped, their guns were reused on floating batteries.

Gun Characteristics

Designation 12"/40 (30.5 cm)
Ship Class Used On Benedetto Brin and Regina Elena Classes
Pontoons GM191 and 192
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1908
Gun Weight 50.8 tons (54.3 mt)
Gun Length oa N/A
Bore Length 480.0 in (12.192 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

Ammunition

Type Bag
Projectile Types and Weights APC: 919 lbs. (417 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge 194 lbs. (88 kg)
Muzzle Velocity 2,559 fps (780 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A

Range

Range with 919 lbs. (417 kg) AP
Elevation Distance
20 degrees about 21,870 yards (20,000 m)

Mount/Turret Data

Designation Single Turrets: Regina Elena (2)
Twin Turrets: Benedetto Brin (2)
Weight N/A
Elevation about -5 / +20 degrees
Elevation Rate N/A
Train about +150 / -150 degrees
Train Rate N/A
Gun recoil N/A
Loading Angle N/A

These mountings were generally similar in design to the British 12" (30.5 cm) BVI mountings, although the Italian mountings allowed all-around loading and those for the Regina Elena class were electrically powered, used springs for the run out and elevation was by arc and pinion gear.

Sources

Data from:

  • "Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
  • "Italian Warships of World War II" by Aldo Fraccaroli
  • "The Big Gun: Battleship Main Armament 1860-1945" by Peter Hodges

Special help by Cliff McMullen

Sources

14 April 2007
Benchmark
26 May 2012
Updated to latest template