France
194 mm/45 (7.64") Model 1887
194 mm/45 (7.64") Model 1891
194 mm/40 (7.64") Model 1893
194 mm/50 (7.64") Model 1902
Updated 28 August 2013

A medium caliber gun used on the last of France's pre-dreadnoughts and armored cruisers.  Some weapons were reused as coastal artillery after these ships were scrapped after World War I.

Model 1891 differed from the Model 1887 in having a long breech block.

Unless otherwise stated, the data that follows is for the Model 1902.

WNFR_76-50_m1902_Liberte_pic.jpg

Pre-dreadnought Liberté
The 194 mm/50 (7.64") guns are in both the amidships turrets and in casemates

WNFR_76-50_m1902_Gloire_pic.jpg

Cruiser Gloire in January 1904
Ministère de la Défense Photograph

WNFR_76-50_m1902_Chanzy_pic.jpg

Armored Cruiser Chanzy
Ministère de la Défense Photograph

WNFR_76-50_m1902_Aube_bow_pic.jpg

Bow 194 mm/50 mounting on Armored Cruiser Amiral Aube
Bain News Service Photograph
Library of Congress Photograph ID LC-DIG-ggbain-03070

WNFR_76-50_m1902_Aube_pic.jpg

194 mm/50 (7.64") stern mounting on Armored Cruiser Amiral Aube
Bain News Service Photograph
Library of Congress Photograph ID LC-DIG-ggbain-24308

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Gun Characteristics
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Designation 194 mm/45 (7.64") Model 1887
194 mm/40 (7.64") Model 1891
194 mm/40 (7.64") Model 1893
194 mm/50 (7.64") Model 1902
Ship Class Used On Model 1887:  Dupuy de Lôme
Model 1891:  Amiral Charner class
Model 1893:  Gloire class
Model 1902:  Liberté, Edgar Quinet, Ernest Renan and Jules Michelet classes
Date Of Design 1902
Date In Service about 1910
Gun Weight N/A
Gun Length N/A
Bore Length about 381.9 in (9.700 m)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire about 2 rounds per minute
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Ammunition
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Type Bag
Projectile Types and Weights
(see Note)
1887
   AP - 165 lbs. (75 kg)

1898
   AP - 190 lbs. (86 kg)

1940s
   AP - 197.3 lbs. (89.5 kg)
   HE - 202.4 lbs. (91.8 kg)

Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge 1887
   N/A

1898
   N/A

1940s
   AP:  84.7 lbs. (38.4 kg)
   HE:  86.4 lbs. (39.2 kg)

Muzzle Velocity 1887
   2,625 fps (800 mps)

1898
   2,525 fps (770 mps)

1940s
   AP:  3,100 fps (945 mps)
   HE:  3,084 fps (940 mps)

Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A
Note:  "Armored Cruiser Dupuy de Lôme" states that the Model 1887 gun fired 165 lbs. (75 kg) rounds when originally introduced.  A heavier round was adopted in the late 1890s.  "Naval Weapons of World War Two" states that heavier projectiles and higher muzzle velocities were in use during the 1940s.
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Range
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Elevation With 197.3 lbs. (89.5 kg) AP Shell
Range @ 45 degrees
(as coastal artillery)
28,390 yards (25,960 m)
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Mount / Turret Data
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Designation Twin Turrets
   Démocratie (4), Edgar Quinet (2), Ernest Renan (2) and Jules Michelet (2):  Model 1902

Single Turrets
   Dupuy de Lôme (2):  Model 1887
   Amiral Charner (2):  Model 1891
   Gloire (2):  Model 1893 (?)
   Edgar Quinet (6):  Model 1902 (?)

Single Casemate mounts
   Démocratie (4) and Edgar Quinet (4):  Model 1902 (?)

Weight  N/A
Elevation Dupuy de Lôme:  -5 / +15
Amiral Charner:  -6 / +14.2

Others:  N/A, but probably similar to the above

Elevation Rate N/A
Train Turrets:  about -150 / +150 degrees
Casemates:  about -80 / +80 degrees
Train Rate N/A
Gun recoil N/A
Loading Angle N/A
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Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"French Warships of World War I" by Jean Labayle Couhat - Ian Allan Series
"Armored Cruiser Dupuy de Lôme" by D.B. Yakimovich and A.S. Alexandrov (Marine Campaign 2007, No 5)
"Armored Cruiser Charner" by D.B. Yakimovich and A.S. Alexandrov (Marine Campaign 2008, No 3)
and
Tony DiGiulian's personal files
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Ministère de la défense
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Special Help by Michal Derela
Page History

28 December 2008 - Benchmark
01 May 2009 - Added picture of bow gun on Amiral Aube, added Mount / Turret information
25 February 2012 - Added mounting information for Edgar Quinet class
28 August 2013 - Added information on shell weight and model numbers