1. Guns.

The early Japanese warships were equipped with Krupp guns, the Naniwa and Takachiho being so fitted. At a later date Canet guns were introduced, but only for the heavy pieces, and the Matsushima class carried a big 12.6 Canet and Elswick guns for the smaller pieces. Subsequently, with the Fuji and Yashima, Elswick guns alone were employed, and a factory for the construction of guns on the Elswick model was established in Japan. The pieces selected were the 12-in. 40-calibre, the 8-in. 40-calibre, the 40-calibre 6-in., and the 45-calibre 4.7-in. Up to and including the Mikasa, all ships were mounted with these guns.

In 1902-3 the Vickers 50-calibre 6-in. was experimented with and adopted.

12-IN. GUNS OF THE MIKASA.

24-CM. (9.4-IN.) CANET GUN OF 36 CALIBRES
ON DISAPPEARING MOUNTING,
AS SUPPLIED FOR JAPANESE COAST FORTS.
LOADING AND TRAINING POSITION.

The guns at present mounted in the Japanese fleet, excluding a few old pieces about to be replaced or already removed, are as follows:—

Nominal calibre.		—	Long.	Initial velocity.	Initial energy.	Shell.	Weight of gun.
in.	cm.		cals.	foot secs	foot tons.	lbs.	tons.
12.6	32	Canet[36]	40	2306	35220	990	66
12	30.5	Elswick[37]	40	2423	34600	850	49
12	30.5	Krupp[38]	20	1755	14750	725	35.4
10.2	26	Krupp[39]	25	1640	8400	450	..
8.2	21	Krupp	30	1935	6167	..	13
8	20.3	Elswick	40	2242	7319	210	15½
8	20.3	Elswick	40	2068	7413	250	15½
6	15	Vickers	50	3000	6240	100	8
6	15	Elswick	40	2500	4334	100	6½
6	15	Elswick	40	2220	3417	100	6
6	15	..	35	1958	2554	100	5
4.7	12	Elswick	40	2150	1442	45	2
4.7	12	Elswick[40]	32	1938	900	36	1⅔
3	7.5	Elswick	40	2200	420	12	2

All guns of 40-calibres and over—that is to say, all the modern pieces—fire a smokeless nitro-cellulose powder of Japanese invention, and the maximum service velocities of all, save the 50-calibre Vickers, are now up to the nominal initial velocity.

A.P. shot, A.P. shell, and common shell are fired by all guns, and, in addition, those of 8 ins. or less calibre fire a special Japanese high explosive of the lyddite type.

In smaller pieces, a 2½-pounder exists, which is to a certain extent a Japanese invention; but it differs from models existing elsewhere only in a few minor details of a semi-automatic nature. From what I have seen of it, the piece would be better without these innovations.

VICKERS 50-CALIBRE 6-IN. JAPANESE GUN.

THE VICKERS 6-IN. AND 7.5-IN. OF 50 CALIBRES.

(The former is adopted, the latter under consideration.)

The maximum penetrations of the larger pieces through Krupp cemented armour at 3000 yards are as follows:—

	Capped.	Uncapped.
Schneider-Canet 12.6-in.	16	13
Elswick 12-in.	15½	12½
Elswick 8-in.	7½	6
Vickers 6-in.	6½	5
Elswick 6-in.	4	4

For coast defence, Schneider-Canet guns are mostly employed, many 9.4’s on disappearing mounting having been supplied for forts.