France 130 mm/40 (5.1") Model 1924

France
130 mm/40 (5.1") Model 1924
Updated 17 June 2012

An improved version of the 130 mm (5.1") Model 1919 with an autofretted barrel. Fired seperate ammunition but still used a Welin breech-block. Used the same ammunition as did the earlier weapon, but its slightly lower maximum elevation gave it a correspondingly shorter range.

Destroyer Boulonnais (1,500 tonnes class) in June 1939
M. Bar photograph

130 mm/40 M1924 and ammunition
Official sketch in the collection of Robert Dumas

Gun Characteristics .

Designation	130 mm/40 (5.1") Model 1924
Ship Class Used On	L'Alcyon (1,500 tonnes) class
Date Of Design	1924
Date In Service	1927
Gun Weight	3.75 tons (3.81 mt)
Gun Length oa	212.1 in (5.387 m)
Bore Length	204.7 in (5.200 m)
Rifling Length	N/A
Grooves	N/A
Lands	N/A
Twist	N/A
Chamber Volume	N/A
Rate Of Fire (see Note)	5 - 6 rounds per minute
Note: In theory this gun had a firing cycle of about 8 - 9 rounds per minute but in practice it was closer to 5 rounds per minute. Inhibitors had been installed to prevent firing unless the ship was in the middle of a roll and they rolled badly in heavy seas and heeled greatly at large rudder angles. The inhibitors also had the effect of slowing or halting firing when they malfunctioned.

Ammunition .

Type	Separate
Projectile Types and Weights (see Note)	HE - 76.83 lbs. (34.85 kg) SAP - 70.4 lbs. (32 kg)
Bursting Charge	SAP - about 4 lbs. (1.8 kg) HE - about 8 lbs (3.6 kg)
Projectile Length	about 25.6 in (65 cm)
Propellant Charge	17 lbs. (7.7 kg) BM9 Cartridge - 38.6 lbs. (17.5 kg)
Muzzle Velocity	2,379 fps (725 mps)
Working Pressure	16.3 tons/in² (2,570 kg/cm²)
Approximate Barrel Life	N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun	N/A
Note: There were several types of SAP shells issued. The figure above represents an average weight of these projectiles.

Range .

Elevation	With 76.83 lbs. (34.85 kg) HE Shell
Range @ 35 degrees	20,450 yards (18,700 m)

Armor Penetration with 70.4 lbs. (32 kg) SAP shell .

Range	Side Armor	Deck Armor
10,936 yards (10,000 m)	3.15" (80 mm)	---
Note: This data is from "Destroyers of World War Two."

Armor Penetration with 76.83 lbs. (34.85 kg) HE shell .

Range	Vertical Armor	Deck Armor
3,820 yards (3,500 m)	7.87" (200 mm)	---
18,150 yards (16,600 m)	3.46" (88 mm)	---
Note: This data is from "Warships after Washington" which notes that the low muzzle velocity of this gun made it inaccurate at long ranges.

Mount / Turret Data .

Designation	Single Splinter Shielded Mounts L'Alcyon (4)
Weight	12.5 tons (12.7 mt)
Elevation	-10 / +35 degrees
Rate of Elevation	Manually operated, only
Train	about +150 / -150 degrees
Rate of Train	Manually operated, only
Gun Recoil	18 in (45 cm)
Loading Angle	Any (see note)
Notes: 1) Unlike the Model 1919, this weapon used an automatic spring-powered rammer which gave it a slightly faster firing rate, but loading was difficult at angles over 15 degrees. 2) The trunnions were 6.3 inches (16 cm) lower than on the Model 1919 to make loading easier.

Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Warships after Washington: The Development of the Five Major Fleets 1922 - 1930" by John Jordan
"Destroyers of World War Two" by M.J. Whitley

Page History

16 May 2006 - Benchmark
28 March 2012 - Updated to latest template
17 June 2012 - Added gunnery and armor penetration information and sketch