240mm/50 Modèle 1902 gun

240mm/50 Modèle 1902 gun
Secondary guns of the Condorcet
TypeNaval gun
Coastal defense gun
Place of originFrance
Service history
Used byFrance
WarsFirst World War
Second World War
Production history
Designed1902/1906
Produced1910
Specifications
Mass29.55 t (29.08 long tons)
Barrel length12.508 m (41 ft) L/50
ShellSeparate loading bagged charges and projectiles
Shell weight240 kg (530 lb)
Caliber240 mm (9.4 in)
BreechManz interrupted screw
RecoilHydro-pneumatic
ElevationNaval: +13°
Coastal: +45°
Traverse-80° to +80°[1]
Rate of fire2 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity800 m/s (2,600 ft/s)
Maximum firing rangeNaval: 14,000 m (15,000 yd) at +13°
Coastal: 23,812 m (26,041 yd) at +45°[2]
FillingPicric acid

The 240mm/50 Modèle 1902 gun was a heavy naval gun and Coastal defense gun of the French Navy.

The type was used on the Danton-class battleships as secondary battery, mounted in six twin turrets.

The guns were later used as coastal artillery after the ships were broken up, and served during the Second World War, notably in the Battle of Dakar. One open-top twin gun turret is preserved at the battery Castel Gorée, where it has been installed after 1934 to the older coastal defence armoured turret.

Two further examples in single open barbettes are preserved near the Jesus Christ Statue at Vũng Tàu in reasonably good condition. These emplacements were part of a system of coastal fortifications constructed in French Indochina during the early 20th century.

  • Batterie du Castel at Gorée, Senegal
    Batterie du Castel at Gorée, Senegal

Bibliography

  • Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
  • Jordan, John (2013). "The 'Semi-Dreadnoughts' of the Danton Class". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2013. London: Conway. pp. 46–66. ISBN 978-1-84486-205-4.
  • Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.

References

  1. ^ DiGiulian, Tony. "France 24 cm/50 (9.45") Model 1902-1906 - NavWeaps". www.navweaps.com. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  2. ^ Campbell, Naval Weapons of WWII, p.290.