15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type naval gun

The 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type (60口径三年式15.5cm3連装砲, 60 kōkei sannenshiki 15.5 centi sanrensōhō) was a dual-purpose naval gun used by the Imperial Japanese Navy on the Yamato-class battleships as secondary armament in four triple turrets, the Mogami-class cruisers in five triple turrets (later converted to five twin 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun turrets) and on the light cruiser Ōyodo in two triple turrets. The Tone-class cruisers were also initially planned to carry the 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type in five triple turrets, but were redesigned with the 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type in four twin turrets. They were also deployed on 60° single mounts as coastal defense guns in the Tokyo Bay area. Construction was of the monobloc type with autofretting and used a Welin breech block mechanism which could be operated either hydraulically or by hand. Their slow rate of fire, limited elevation and slow traverse made them unsuitable for the AA role, but they were an excellent anti-ship weapon.

15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type
Aft 155-mm triple turret on Yamato under construction, September 1941
Type	Naval gun
Place of origin	Japan
Service history
In service	1935–1945
Used by	Imperial Japanese Navy
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designed	1933
Manufacturer	Kure Naval Arsenal
No. built	80
Specifications
Mass	12.7 metric tons (28,000 lb)
Length	9.615 metres (31.55 ft)
Barrel length	9.3 metres (31 ft)
Shell	55.87 kilograms (123.2 lb)
Caliber	155 millimetres (6.1 in) 60 caliber
Elevation	-7° to +45°
Rate of fire	5 rpm
Muzzle velocity	925 metres per second (3,030 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	27,400 metres (30,000 yd) at 45°

See also

• Canon de 155 mm Modèle 1920 French counterpart by caliber

References

• Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
• Tony DiGiulian, Japanese 15.5 cm/60 (6.1") 3rd Year Type

External links

Media related to 15.5 cm/60 3rd Year Type at Wikimedia Commons