Canon de 194 mm Modèle 1893–1896

The Canon de 194 mm Modèle 1893–1896 was a turret mounted medium-caliber naval gun used as the primary armament of a number of armored cruisers of the French Navy during World War I.

Canon de 194 mm Modèle 1893–1896
One of the two single turrets aboard the Gloire.
Type	Naval gun
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1893–?
Used by	France
Wars	World War I
Production history
Designed	1892
Produced	1893–1896
Specifications
Mass	12.6 t (13.9 short tons)
Length	8.12 m (26.6 ft)
Barrel length	7.7 m (25 ft) 40 caliber
Shell	separate-loading, bagged charge
Shell weight	75–90 kg (165–198 lb)
Caliber	194 mm (7.6 in)
Elevation	-6° to +15°
Traverse	-150° to +150°
Rate of fire	2 rpm
Muzzle velocity	840–875 m/s (2,760–2,870 ft/s)

Design

The mle 1893–1896 guns were typical built-up guns of the period with several layers of steel reinforcing hoops. The guns used an interrupted screw breech and fired separate loading bagged charges and projectiles.

Naval service

Ships that carried the Mle 1893–1896 include:

• Gloire class – The primary armament of this class of five armored cruisers consisted of two, 194/40 guns, in single turrets, fore and aft.
• Gueydon class – The primary armament of this class of three armored cruisers consisted of two, 194/40 guns, in single turrets, fore and aft.
• Léon Gambetta class – The primary armament of this class of three armored cruisers consisted of four, 194/40 guns, in twin turrets, fore and aft.
• Jeanne d'Arc – The primary armament of this armored cruiser consisted of two, 194/40 guns, in single turrets, fore and aft.
• Pothuau – The primary armament of this armored cruiser consisted of two, 194/40 guns, in single turrets, fore and aft.

Ammunition

The Mle 1893–1896 used separate-loading ammunition with a bagged charge weighing 33.8-kilogram (75 lb).

Shell type	Weight	Muzzle velocity
Armor-piercing, capped	90 kg (200 lb)	840 m/s (2,800 ft/s)
Common shell	75 kg (165 lb)	875 m/s (2,870 ft/s)
Semi-armor-piercing, capped	89.5 kg (197 lb)	840 m/s (2,800 ft/s)