15 cm/45 41st Year Type

15 cm/45 41st Year Type
6"/45 (15.2 cm) Elswick
6"/45 (15.2 cm) 41st Year Type
15 cm/45 41st Year Type; 6"/45 (15.2 cm) Elswick; 6"/45 (15.2 cm) 41st Year Type
Type	naval gun; coastal artillery
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1906–1945
Used by	Empire of Japan
Wars	World War I; World War II
Production history
Designer	Elswick Ordnance Company
Designed	1904
Manufacturer	Armstrong Whitworth; Kure Naval Arsenal
Produced	1906
Specifications
Mass	7.5 t (7.4 long tons; 8.3 short tons)
Length	7 m (23 ft 0 in)
Barrel length	6.858 m (22 ft 6.0 in), 45 calibres
Shell	Separate loading bagged charge 49 lb (22 kg) and projectile
Shell weight	100 lb (45 kg)
Calibre	6 in (152.4 mm)
Breech	Interrupted screw
Elevation	-5° to +18°
Traverse	-150° to +150° (single pedestal mount)
Rate of fire	5 rpm
Muzzle velocity	825 m/s (2,710 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	14.8 km (9.2 mi) at 18°

The 15 cm/45 41st Year Type was a British naval gun designed by the Elswick Ordnance Company for export in the years before World War I that armed warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Initially known as 6"/45 (15.2 cm) Elswick and 6"/45 (15.2 cm) 41st Year Type

These guns served aboard Japanese ships during World War I and as coastal artillery during World War II.

History

The 15 cm/45 41st Year began life as a design produced by the parent company of Elswick, Armstrong Whitworth for export customers and called the Pattern GG. These guns did not serve aboard ships of the Royal Navy. The gun was renamed "6 inch /45 (15.2 cm) 41st Year Type" on 25 December 1908. On 5 October 1917 the Japanese designation system for artillery changed to metric and the gun was designated the "15 cm/45 41st Year Type". Whether the guns originated in Britain or were built in Japan they still shared the same 41st Year designation.^[2]^{[page needed]}

Construction

The 15 cm/45 41st Year was constructed of an A tube and wire wound with a protective outer jacket. Ships built in British shipyards for Japan were armed with Pattern GG guns and later Japan produced their own versions under license at the Kure Naval Arsenal. Four different models were produced at Kure which differed in the style of rifling used. Although sometimes referred to as QF guns, they were actually BL guns which used separate loading bagged charges and projectiles.^[2]^{[page needed]}

Naval use

15 cm/45 41st Year guns equipped armoured cruisers, pre-dreadnought battleships and protected cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Armoured cruisers

Tsukuba-class cruiser - The two ships of this class had a secondary armament of twelve EOC Pattern GG guns in single casemated mounts amidships.
Aso - This ship was the former Bayan of the Imperial Russian Navy sunk and captured at Port Arthur in 1905. The ship was repaired and recommissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1908 as the Aso. The Bayan's secondary armament of eight single casemated 152 mm 45 calibre Pattern 1892 guns were replaced with eight EOC Pattern GG guns.

Pre-dreadnought battleships

Kawachi-class battleships - The two ships of this class had a secondary armament of ten 15 cm/45 41st Year guns in single casemated mounts amidships.
Aki - One of the two Satsuma-class ships, had a secondary armament of eight 15 cm/45 41st Year guns in single casemated mounts amidships.
Kashima - This Katori-class ship had a secondary armament of ten EOC Pattern GG guns in single casemated mounts amidships.
Mikasa - This ship had a secondary armament of fourteen 15 cm/45 41st Year guns in single casemated mounts amidships after a 1908 refit replaced the original 6 inch 40 calibre guns.

Protected cruisers

Chikuma-class cruiser - The three ships of this class had a primary armament of six 15 cm/45 41st Year guns. There was one single shielded mount fore and aft, and three shielded mounts per side in sponsons amidships.
Tsugaru - This ship was the former Pallada of the Imperial Russian Navy sunk and captured at Port Arthur in 1905. The ship was repaired and recommissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1908 as the Tsugaru. The Pallada's original primary armament of eight 152 mm 45 calibre Pattern 1892 guns were replaced with eight 15 cm/45 41st Year guns.

Ammunition

Ammunition was of separate loading bagged charge and projectile. The bagged charges weighed 22 kg (49 lb), while the projectiles weighed 100 lb (45 kg).^[1]

The gun was able to fire armor-piercing and Common (HE) shells^[2]^{[page needed]}