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 |
| 2068 | 7413 | 250 | |||||
| 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.