Cannone da 152/50
| Industry | Defense manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | Artillery, including Cannone da 152/50 |
Template:Infobox weapon The Cannone da 152/50, also known as the 152/50 A. Mod. 1918, was a substantial naval artillery piece originally designed in the United Kingdom and subsequently manufactured under licence in Italy. Its primary role was as a coastal defense weapon throughout the duration of the Second World War.
Beginning production in 1918, this artillery was built by Gio. Ansaldo & C. under licence from Armstrong Whitworth, which is denoted by the "A" in its designation. It was deployed within fortifications operated by the Regia Marina and crewed by personnel from the Milizia Marittima di Artiglieria (MILMART), who were responsible for manning these coastal batteries.
Specifications
The barrel, constructed from nickel steel and equipped with a stepped screw breech, features a rifling pattern consisting of 58 evenly spaced right-hand grooves. It weighs approximately 8.118 tonnes and is mounted within a cradle that is supported by various types of carriages depending on installation requirements.
Cupola installation
This fully enclosed setup features a rotating drum-shaped platform that moves on a ring of rollers along a rail anchored to the base of the concrete pit. The cylindrical platform is sealed at the top, where it emerges above ground, by an armored hemispherical dome measuring 5.18 meters in diameter, constructed from 150 mm thick steel. Attached to the platform is the ring carriage, which supports the cradle connected via two hydraulic recoil brake cylinders equipped with spring recuperators.
Pedestal installation
The cradle is mounted atop the pedestal carriage, secured by hydraulic brakes. This carriage rests on an armored platform that pivots on a ring of rollers. The entire assembly is fixed to a foundation plate, allowing rotation on a turntable supported by another set of rollers positioned on the base plate.
Bibliography
- (in Italian) Le armi e le artiglierie in servizio by F. Grandi, Ed. fuori commercio, 1938.