140mm Naval Gun Type 3 (1914) "Sea Coast Gun"
Technical Information

Background
The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) 14cm/50 3rd Year Type Naval Gun / 140mm Naval Gun Type 3 (1914) "Sea Coast Gun" was adopted in 1914 at the start of World War I, the third year of the Taishō Period of Emperor Taisho in Japan. Also known as 14cm "Sea Coast Gun" or 140mm Naval Gun. This weapon was a low-angle naval gun with a 23' barrel, a three-cylinder hydropspring recoil system above the barrel, and a step-interrpted threaded Welin breech block. This Naval gun fired a 45-pound shell, either high explosive (HE), illumination (Star Shell) or practice. Each shell was loaded individually with a bagged charge with a rate of fire of six rounds per minute, fired electrically by the elevation operator.

Wartime History
During World War I, this naval gun was used as secondary armament aboard Japanese warships including battleships and cruisers and as the primary armament of destroyers and submarines using a shorter-barrel version. Aboard warships, the gun could be mounted in single casemate (turret) mount, single pedestal mount or twin mount.

During World War II, 140mm guns continued to be used on Japanese warships and submarines. Many 140mm naval guns were emplaced as coastal defense guns. The gun could mount either a small forward armor shield or enclosed inside a casemate (turret) mount.

Technical Details
Caliber  140mm (4.72 inches, 45 caliber)
Muzzle Velocity  2,700' per second with normal charge
Shell  45 lbs
Barrel Length  23', 7m (bore length)
Rate of Fire  6 rounds per minute
Horizontal Range  16,500 yards
Total Weight  12,346 pounds
Ammunition  HE, Illuminating, Practice
Fuses  Type 5, Type 92

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