Description

Originally designed by Krupp in 1886. In service, it was noted that the barrel was weak and in 1891 they were chase hooped by the Obukhovski factory to strengthen them.

These guns were removed from most of ships by 1909 at which time there were attempts by the Naval Ministry to convince the Artillery ministry to use them for coastal defense. However, by then their rate of fire was 1 round every 10 minutes and they were deemed useless. In spite of this, at least 11 of these guns were kept in storage until 1917.

Gun Characteristics

Designation 12"/35 (30.5 cm) Pattern 1886
Ship Class Used On Chesma class, Georgy Pobedonosets class, Navarin
Date Of Design Krupp guns: 1886
Obukhovski guns: 1891
Date In Service 1891
Gun Weight 56 tons (57 mt)
Gun Length oa 421 in (10.700 m)
Bore Length 385 in (9.770 m)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves 68
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire 1 shot every 2 minutes and 22 seconds

Ammunition

Type Bag
Projectile Types and Weights "Light" shell AP and HE: 731.3 lbs. (331.7 kg)
"Heavy" shell AP and HE: 1,003 lbs. (455 kg)
Bursting Charge "Heavy" HE: 54 lbs. (24.5 kg)
Projectile Length "Light" rounds: about 32.4 in (82.3 cm)
"Heavy" rounds: 50.4 in (128 cm)
Propellant Charge "Light" rounds: 339.5 lbs (154 kg)
"Heavy" rounds: 325 lbs. (147.4 kg)

Around 1900 "smokeless charges" of 68.8 kg were introduced. These had the same ballistic result as the older propellants.
Muzzle Velocity "Heavy" round: 2,000 fps (610 mps)
"Light" round: 2,090 fps (637 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A

Range

Range with 731.3 lbs. (331.7 kg) "Light" shell
Elevation Distance
6 degrees 6,600 yards (6,040 m)
15 degrees 11,600 yards (10,610 m)

Mount/Turret Data

Designation Chesma and Georgy Pobedonosets: Twin Barbette Mount
Navarin: Twin Turret Mount
Weight Chesma and Georgy Pobedonosets: 157 tons (160 mt)
Navarin: 167 tons (169 mt)
Elevation Chesma and Georgy Pobedonosets: -2 / +15 degrees
Navarin: -4 / +12.5 degrees
Rate of Elevation N/A
Train
  • Chesma
    • Bow barbette: +/- 107 degrees
    • Stern barbette: +/- 140 degrees
  • Georgy Pobedonosets
    • Bow barbette: +/- 100 degrees
    • Stern barbette: +/- 135 degrees
  • Navarin
    • Bow turret: +/- 121.5 degrees
    • Stern turret: +/- 107 degrees
Rate of Train
  • Barbette Mounts: 3 degrees per second
  • Navarin
    • Bow turret: 4.6 degrees per second
    • Stern turret: 3.5 degrees per second
Gun Recoil Chesma and Georgy Pobedonosets: 39 in (99 cm)
Navarin: 28 in (71 cm)
Loading Angle N/A

Sources

Data from:

  • "Entsiklopedia Otechestvennoi Artillerii" (Encyclopedia of Fatherland [Russian] Artillery) by A.V. Shirokorad

Other:

  • Citadel Magazine

Special help from Vladimir Yakubov