These guns were designed by Vickers with the first units reaching the Russia in 1905. They were widely used in Army coastal artillery emplacements as well as on many Russian ships built between 1905 and 1913. By 1918 some 170 guns had been completed with another 20 in the final stages of construction at OSZ. The Russian Revolution slowed production, but some of the latter were finished in 1921-24. By 1941 there were 110 guns in the navy's inventory, 39 in the Baltic Fleet, 20 in the Black Sea Fleet, 24 in the Amur Flotilla, 11 in the Pacific Fleet and 6 in the Pinsk flotilla.
Constructed of an inner tube fastened through out its length with one layer of 3 cylinders. From the midpoint to the breech there was also an outer casing. The cylinders and casing assembled while the gun was still hot. The breech was Vickers type cylindrical with OSZ modifications.
| Designation | 120 mm/50 (4.7") Pattern 1905 |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Gangut class, Rurik (II), Shkval class river monitors, gunboat Khivinets, Smol'ny class river gunboats, Coastal defense guns, Armored trains and riverine craft |
| Date Of Design | N/A |
| Date In Service | 1905 |
| Gun Weight | 3.096 tons (3.145 mt) |
| Gun Length oa | 263.22 in (6.000 m) |
| Bore Length | 231.38 in (5.877 m) |
| Rifling Length | 198.5 in (5.042 m) |
| Grooves | 28 |
| Lands | N/A |
| Twist | N/A |
| Chamber Volume | Single mounts: 604 in3 (9.9 dm3)
Twin turrets: 640.7 in3 (10.5 dm3) |
| Rate Of Fire | Single mounts: 7 rounds per minute
Twin turrets: 6.5 rounds per minute |
| Type | Fixed |
|---|---|
| Projectile Types and Weights | SAP mod 1911: 63.87 lbs. (28.97 kg)
HE mod 1907: 45.15 lbs. (20.48 kg) SAP mod 1928: 57.98 lbs. (26.3 kg) FRAG mod 1911: 63.93 lbs. (29 kg) Shrapnel (US): 45 lbs. (20.41 kg) Star Shell: 48.79 lbs. (22.13 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) SAP mod 1928: 4.12 lbs. (1.87 kg) FRAG mod 1911: 6.97 lbs. (3.16 kg) Shrapnel (US): 0.64 lbs. (0.29 kg) Star Shell: 0.06 lbs. (0.025 kg) Diving: 11.38 lbs. (5.16 kg) |
| Projectile Length | SAP mod 1911: 5.0 calibers
HE mod 1907: 3.55 calibers SAP mod 1928: 4.17 calibers FRAG mod 1911: 4.96 calibers Shrapnel (US): 3.73 calibers Star Shell: 4.32 calibers Diving: 5.0 calibers |
| Propellant Charge | 15.4 lbs. - 17.6 lbs. (7 kg - 8 kg) |
| Muzzle Velocity | SAP mod 1911: 2,600 fps (792.5 mps)
HE mod 1907: 2,700 fps (823 mps) SAP mod 1928: 2,707 fps (825 mps) FRAG mod 1911: 2,400 fps (731.5 mps) Shrapnel (US): 2,690 fps (820 mps) Star Shell: 2,165 fps (660 mps) Diving: 710 fps (216.4 mps) |
| Working Pressure | 2800 kg/cm2 |
| Approximate Barrel Life | 350 rounds |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | Twin turrets: 140 rounds per gun
Single casemate mounts on Ganguts: 250 rounds |
These guns could also use projectiles made for the Russian 12 cm/45 (4.7") gun and the French 12 cm (4.7") Model 1878 gun.
| Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|
| 19.5 degrees | 15,000 yards (13,718 m) |
| 25 degrees | 16,800 yards (15,364 m) |
| 40 degrees | 19,535 yards (17,863 m) |
| Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|
| 20 degrees | 18,600 yards (17,010 m) |
| 40 degrees | 25,200 yards (23,045 m) |
| Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|
| 22 degrees | 11,400 yards (10,431 m) |
In the above tables, elevations above 27 degrees would only be applicable to coastal artillery mounts.
| Designation | Single Open and Casemate Mounts
Twin Turret Mounts |
|---|---|
| Weight | Single Mounts: 8.613 tons (8.750 mt)
Twin Turret Mounts: 44.89 tons (45.6 mt) |
| Elevation | Single Mounts: -10 / +20 degrees
Twin Turret Mounts: -3 / +27 degrees |
| Rate of Elevation | Single Mounts: 3.5 degrees per second
Twin Turret Mounts: 3 degrees per second |
| Train | Single Mounts: 360 degrees
Twin Turret Mounts: 360 degrees |
| Rate of Train | Single Mounts: 6-8 degrees per second
Twin Turret Mounts: 3.5 degrees per second |
| Gun Recoil | Single Mounts: 11.4 in (29 cm)
Twin Turret Mounts: 11 in (28 cm) |
| Loading Angle | Any |
"Sovetskie Boevye Korabli 1941-45: IV Vooruzhnie" (Soviet Warships 1941-45: Volume IV Armament) by A.V. Platonov
"Entsiklopedia Otechestvennoi Artillerii" (Encyclopedia of Fatherland (Russian) Artillery) by A.V. Shirokorad>
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Special help from Vladimir Yakubov and Larry Sawh