This was one of a pair of Canet designs, the other being a 15.2 cm/45 (6") gun, which were shown to a Russian delegation in 1891. By using fixed ammunition the French were able to achieve an amazing rate of fire for the time of 12 rpm for the 12 cm/45 (4.7") and 10 rpm for the 15.2 cm/45 (6"). A license was purchased and production in Russian began in 1892. By 1901 some 76 of the 12 cm (4.7") guns had been manufactured by OSZ.
During the Russo-Japanese war there were several cases of the 15.2 cm (6") guns suffering burst barrels. This led to the design of strengthened versions of both weapons after the war.
Between 1909 and 1915 OSZ built an additional 34 guns and between 1914 and 1916 Perm' factory built a further 14 unstrengthened and 18 strengthened guns. There were a total of 83 guns on the navy's rolls by 1917. These were actively used in both World War I and the Russian Civil War as ship guns, coastal defense guns, railroad guns and to arm river craft and armored trains. In 1941 there were 35 still in service.
The gun had an unfastened barrel, which was made from an inner tube fastened with a casing and an extra ring. The breech was of a piston type design.
| Designation | 120 mm/45 (4.7") Pattern 1892 |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Andrey Pervosvanny class BBs, BB Imperator Alexandr II (rearmed), BB Tri Svyatitleya, Admiral Ushakov class CBBs, Vladimir Monomakh class ACs (rearmed), AC Rurik (I), Novik class CLs, CL Boyarin, CL Almaz, AMCs, Koreets class gunboats, Gilyak class gunboats, Kars class gunboats, Lieutenant Shestakov class DDs, Amur class minelayers, Vogul class river gunboats |
| Date Of Design | N/A |
| Date In Service | 1892 |
| Gun Weight | 2.906 tons (2.952 mt) |
| Gun Length oa | 212.6 in (5.400 m) |
| Bore Length | N/A |
| Rifling Length | 167.8 in (4.262 m) |
| Grooves | 30 |
| Lands | N/A |
| Twist | N/A |
| Chamber Volume | N/A |
| Rate Of Fire | 12 - 15 rounds per minute |
| Type | Fixed |
|---|---|
| Projectile Types and Weights | AP "old model": 45.15 lbs. (20.47 kg) SAP mod 1911: 63.87 lbs. (28.97 kg) HE mod 1907: 45.15 lbs. (20.48 kg) FRAG mod 1911: 50.71 lbs. (23 kg) Shrapnel: 45 lbs. (20.41 kg) Diving: 57.54 lbs. (26.1 kg) |
| Bursting Charge | SAP mod 1911: 8.22 lbs. (3.73 kg) HE mod 1907: 5.64 lbs. (2.56 kg) FRAG mod 1911: 6.97 lbs. (3.16 kg) Shrapnel: 0.64 lbs. (0.29 kg) Diving: 11.38 lbs. (5.16 kg) |
| Projectile Length | SAP mod 1911: 5.0 calibers HE mod 1907: 3.55 calibers FRAG mod 1911: 4.96 calibers Shrapnel: 3.73 calibers Diving: 5.0 calibers |
| Propellant Charge | 14.33 lbs.: 16.5 lbs. (6.5 kg: 7.48 kg) |
| Muzzle Velocity | AP "old model": 2,700 fps (823 mps) SAP mod 1911: 2,250 fps (686 mps) HE mod 1907: 2,700 fps (823 mps) FRAG mod 1911: 2,400 fps (731.5 mps) Shrapnel: 2,700 fps (823 mps) Diving: 710 fps (216.4 mps) |
| Working Pressure | N/A |
| Approximate Barrel Life | N/A |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | Andrey Pervozvanny class: 200 rounds Others: N/A |
The gun could also fire the rounds from the Russian 12 cm/50 Pattern 1905.
| Elevation | Range |
|---|---|
| 20 degrees | 13,000 yards (11,895 m) |
| 25 degrees | 14,000 yards (13,176 m) |
| 38 degrees | 16,410 yards (15,006 m) |
| Elevation | Range |
|---|---|
| 18 degrees | 11,000 yards (10,065 m) |
| Elevation | Range |
|---|---|
| 25 degrees | 12,364 yards (11,306 m) |
Elevations above 25 degrees would only be applicable to coastal artillery mounts.
| Designation | Canet single mount Canet Casemate mount Metal Factory Single Mount |
|---|---|
| Weight | Canet single mount: 7.383 tons (7.5 mt) Canet Casemate mount: 7.71 tons (7.833 mt) Metal Factory Single Mount: 8.643 tons (8.78 mt) |
| Elevation | Canet single mount: -7 / +20 degrees Metal Factory Single Mount: -7 / +25 degrees |
| Rate of Elevation | N/A |
| Train | Single mounts: 360 degrees Canet Casemate mount: 100 degrees |
| Rate of Train | N/A |
| Gun Recoil | Canet single mount: 11.58 in (294 mm) Metal Factory Single Mount: 11.18 in (284 mm) |
| Loading Angle | Any |
Data from:
- "Morskaya Artilleriya Rossiyskogo Flota 1867-1922" (Naval Artillery of the Russian Fleet 1867-1922) and "Entsiklopedia Otechestvennoi Artillerii" (Encyclopedia of Fatherland [Russian] Artillery) both by A.V. Shirokorad
Special help from Vladimir Yakubov