240mm/50 Modèle 1902 gun

The 240mm/50 Modèle 1902 gun was a heavy naval gun and Coastal defense gun of the French Navy.

240mm/50 Modèle 1902 gun
Secondary guns of the Condorcet
Type	Naval gun Coastal defense gun
Place of origin	France
Service history
Used by	France
Wars	First World War Second World War
Production history
Designed	1902/1906
Produced	1910
Specifications
Mass	29.55 t (29.08 long tons)
Barrel length	12.508 m (41 ft) L/50
Shell	Separate loading bagged charges and projectiles
Shell weight	240 kg (530 lb)
Caliber	240 mm (9.4 in)
Breech	Manz interrupted screw
Recoil	Hydro-pneumatic
Elevation	Naval: +13° Coastal: +45°
Traverse	-80° to +80°[1]
Rate of fire	2 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity	800 m/s (2,600 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	Naval: 14,000 m (15,000 yd) at +13° Coastal: 23,812 m (26,041 yd) at +45°[2]
Filling	Picric acid

The type was used on the Danton-class battleships as secondary battery, mounted in six twin turrets.

The guns were later used as coastal artillery after the ships were broken up, and served during the Second World War, notably in the Battle of Dakar. One open-top twin gun turret is preserved at the battery Castel Gorée, where it has been installed after 1934 to the older coastal defence armoured turret.

Two further examples in single open barbettes are preserved near the Jesus Christ Statue at Vũng Tàu in reasonably good condition. These emplacements were part of a system of coastal fortifications constructed in French Indochina during the early 20th century.

Photo Gallery

• 
  Batterie du Castel at Gorée, Senegal
• 
• 

Bibliography

• Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
• Jordan, John (2013). "The 'Semi-Dreadnoughts' of the Danton Class". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2013. London: Conway. pp. 46–66. ISBN 978-1-84486-205-4.
• Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.