Description

These were the Russian versions of the well-known 6-pdr. (2.72 kg) Hotchkiss guns. They were originally purchased from France starting in 1904 when it became apparent that the 47 mm and 37 mm guns being used as the standard anti-torpedo boat guns were ineffective in that role. Three different lengths of the 6-pdr. guns were used in the Russian Navy: 40, 50 and 58 calibers. These were installed on destroyers built in 1905-1907, but were quickly removed in 1909-1910 when it was realized that they were almost as ineffective as the smaller guns they had replaced. In 1911-12 they were turned over to the Army for use as close defense guns in coastal fortresses. A number of them were then converted into AA guns in 1914 but the majority of them were destroyed in a fire at the warehouse where they were stored.

In addition to the Hotchkiss guns, there were also 57 mm Nordenfeld Guns originally used as ranging guns for coast defense batteries. In 1914-15 many of these were converted into AA guns and other 57 mm/40 guns bought from Japan were also used for AA. In 1917 there were nine 57 mm/40 Japanese Guns and sixteen 57 mm Nordenfeld guns remaining in the Black Sea Fleet.

The data below applies to the Hotchkiss guns except where specified.

Gun Characteristics

Designation 57 mm/40 Hotchkiss Gun
57 mm/50 Hotchkiss Gun
57 mm/58 Hotchkiss Gun
57 mm/40 Japanese AA Gun
57 mm/48 Nordenfeld AA Gun
Ship Class Used On
  • 57 mm Hotchkiss Gun
    • Ukraina, Finn, Okhotnik, Vsadnik class DDs, Training Ship Petr Veliky, Transports Taimyr and Vaigach and others
  • 57 mm Nordenfeld AA Gun
    • BB Panteleimon, PC Almaz, PC Pamiat' Merkuriya, Sea Plane Tender Nikolay II
Date Of Design N/A
Date In Service 1904
Gun Weight 57 mm/40: 849 lbs. (385 kg)
57 mm/50: 972 lbs. (441 kg)
57 mm/58: 1411 lbs. (640 kg)
Gun Length oa N/A
Bore Length N/A
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire Theoretical: 30 rounds per minute
Practical: 15 rounds per minute

Ammunition

Type Fixed
Weight of Complete Round about 9.5 lbs. (4.3 kg)
Projectile Types and Weights HE (French): 6.0 lbs. (2.72 kg)
HE (Russian): 4.9 lbs. (2.22 kg)
Shrapnel 1: 6.55 lbs. (2.97 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length HE (French): 3.8 calibers
HE (Russian): 3.8 calibers
Propellant Charge 57 mm/40, 57 mm/50: 1 lbs. (0.45 kg)
57 mm/58: 2.7 lbs. (1.23 kg)
Cartridge Length 57 mm/40, 57 mm/50: 19 in (483 mm)
57 mm/58: 27.8 in (706 mm)
Muzzle Velocity
  • 57 mm/40
    • 6.0 lbs. (2.72 kg): 2130 fps (649 m/s)
    • 4.9 lbs. (2.22 kg): 2400 fps (731 m/s)
  • 57 mm/50
    • 6.0 lbs. (2.72 kg): 2250 fps (686 m/s)
    • 4.9 lbs. (2.22 kg): 2526 fps (770 m/s)
  • 57 mm/58
    • 6.0 lbs. (2.72 kg): 3000 fps (914 m/s)
    • 4.9 lbs. (2.22 kg): 3250 fps (991 m/s)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
  • ^Shrapnel was available in very limited numbers.

Range

Range with 6.0 lbs. (2.72 kg) Shell
Gun Elevation Distance
57 mm/40 6 degrees 4,050 yards (3,704 m)
57 mm/50 7.3 degrees 5,060 yards (4,630 m)
57 mm/58 6.3 degrees 6,075 yards (5,556 m)
Range with 4.9 lbs. (2.22 kg) Shell
Gun Elevation Distance
57 mm/40 22.3 degrees 8,100 yards (7,408 m)
57 mm/50 20.8 degrees 8,100 yards (7,408 m)
57 mm/58 21 degrees 9,320 yards (8,520 m)

Mount/Turret Data

Designation 57 mm/40 Hotchkiss Gun
57 mm/50 Hotchkiss Gun
57 mm/58 Hotchkiss Gun
Weight N/A
Elevation 57 mm/58: -5.5 degrees/ +7.5 degrees
AA mount: +65 degrees
Elevation Rate Manually operated, only
Train 360 degrees
Train Rate Manually operated, only
Gun recoil N/A

Sources

Data from:

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

Other:

  • "Flot vo Slavu Rossii" (Fleet in Honor of Russia) CD

Special help from Vladimir Yakubov