41,700 m (45,600 yd) 35° elevation, streamlined shell
The 380mm/45 Modèle 1935 gun was a heavy
naval gun of the
French Navy. It was the largest calibre naval gun ever fielded in French service.
History
The
built-up guns were used on the two battleships of the
Richelieu class,
Richelieu and
Jean Bart. They were mounted in quadruple turrets, which allowed mounting all the main battery at the bow, and saved weight on turret armour in the context of the
Washington Naval Treaty.
During World War II seven guns were captured by the Germans and three of these were taken to Norway. It was planned to install them in a coastal battery at Vardaasen (MKB 6./501 Nötteröy), using Bettungsschiessgerüst (Firing platform) C/39 armoured single mounts, but the war ended before the battery became operational. In 1949 the guns were returned to France (in exchange for 3 German 38 cm SKC/34 from
"Batterie Todt") where they were then refurbished at Ruelle.
Five guns remain: one is on display at the Arsenal of
Brest, under Recouvrance Bridge; another at
Lanvéoc at the
École Navale; and a third gun survives at
Gâvres, near
Lorient.[1] Two others are on display, at Ruelle and at La Spezia.[2] The honour room of the École Navale also displays two 380mm shells and
tampions.[3]
Wahl, Jean-Bernard (2008). "Installés par les Allemands en batterie côtière en Norvège, retour en France des canons de 380 du Jean-Bart". Bunkerarchéo (in French): 44–57.
41,700 m (45,600 yd) 35° elevation, streamlined shell
The 380mm/45 Modèle 1935 gun was a heavy
naval gun of the
French Navy. It was the largest calibre naval gun ever fielded in French service.
History
The
built-up guns were used on the two battleships of the
Richelieu class,
Richelieu and
Jean Bart. They were mounted in quadruple turrets, which allowed mounting all the main battery at the bow, and saved weight on turret armour in the context of the
Washington Naval Treaty.
During World War II seven guns were captured by the Germans and three of these were taken to Norway. It was planned to install them in a coastal battery at Vardaasen (MKB 6./501 Nötteröy), using Bettungsschiessgerüst (Firing platform) C/39 armoured single mounts, but the war ended before the battery became operational. In 1949 the guns were returned to France (in exchange for 3 German 38 cm SKC/34 from
"Batterie Todt") where they were then refurbished at Ruelle.
Five guns remain: one is on display at the Arsenal of
Brest, under Recouvrance Bridge; another at
Lanvéoc at the
École Navale; and a third gun survives at
Gâvres, near
Lorient.[1] Two others are on display, at Ruelle and at La Spezia.[2] The honour room of the École Navale also displays two 380mm shells and
tampions.[3]
Wahl, Jean-Bernard (2008). "Installés par les Allemands en batterie côtière en Norvège, retour en France des canons de 380 du Jean-Bart". Bunkerarchéo (in French): 44–57.