Description

A Vickers-Armstrong design used as anti-aircraft guns on the Canarias class and Mendez Nunez as rebuilt as an AA cruiser. Constructed of A tube, partial jacket that did not go to the muzzle, breech ring and used a semi-automatic breech-block.

Gun Characteristics

Designation 12 cm/45 (4.7") Mark F
Ship Class Used On Canarias and Mendez Nunez Classes
Date Of Design About 1933
Date In Service 1935
Gun Weight 2.95 tons (3.0 mt)
Gun Length oa 224 in. (5.692 m)
Bore Length 212.6 in (5.400 m)
Rifling Length 212.6 in. (5.400 m)
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume 630 in3 (10.32 dm3)
Rate Of Fire 15 - 20 rounds per minute

Ammunition

Type Fixed
Weight of Complete Round 79.4 lbs. (36 kg)
Projectile Types and Weights HE: 48.5 lbs. (22 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge 14.33 lbs. (6.5 kg)
Cartridge: 30.9 lbs. (14 kg)
Muzzle Velocity HE: 2,800 fps (853 mps)
Working Pressure 20 tons/in2 (3,150 kg/cm2)
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A

Range

Range with 48.5 lbs. (22 kg) HE
Elevation Distance
45 Degrees about 22,000 yards (20,000 m)

Mount/Turret Data

Designation Single half-shield Mountings: Canarias (8) and Mendez Nunez (8) 1
Weight N/A
Elevation -5 / +80 degrees
Elevation Rate N/A
Train about +120 / -120 degrees
Train Rate N/A
Gun recoil N/A
  • ^
    Mendez Nunez was originally equipped with six 6"/45 (15.2 cm) guns. She was rebuilt and rearmed as an AA-cruiser during 1944 - 1947.
  • The loading gear was powered by compressed air.

Additional Pictures

Sources

"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Cruisers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia" by M.J. Whitley
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Special help by Javier Villarroya del Real
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Tony DiGiulian's personal files

Page History

10 August 2003 - Benchmark
18 February 2012 - Updated to latest template, added mounting note, picture of Mendez Nunez
23 October 2015 - Added construction details
02 February 2021 - Converted to HTML 5 format, added photograph of guns on Canarias and gun sketch