View source for 135 mm/45 Italian naval gun

{{infobox weapon
| name               = Cannone da 135/45 OTO 1937 and 1938, Ansaldo 1938
| origin             = Italy
| type               = [[Naval gun]]
<!-- Type selection -->
| is_ranged = YES
| is_bladed =
| is_explosive =
| is_artillery = YES
| is_vehicle =
| is_UK =
<!-- Service history -->
| service            = 1940 - 1972
| used_by            = [[Kingdom of Italy]]
| wars               = [[Second World War]]
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = Odero Terni Orlando
| manufacturer       = [[Odero Terni Orlando]]<br>[[Gio. Ansaldo & C.|Ansaldo]]
| weight             = {{convert|6.01|t|lb|abbr=on}}
| length             = {{convert|6.075|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge_weight       = AP and HE: {{convert|32.7|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| caliber            = {{convert|135|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| rate               = 6-7 rounds per minute
| velocity           = {{convert|825|m/s|ft/s}}
| elevation          = -5° to +45°
| max_range          = {{convert|19600|m|yd|abbr=on}}
}}
The '''Cannone da 135/45 OTO 1937''' was a 135&nbsp;mm (5.3&nbsp;in) 45-caliber naval gun built for the [[Regia Marina]] in the late 1930s. Built as a response to the French [[Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1929]], it was meant to have the same range as the widespread [[120 mm Italian naval gun|120 mm gun]], but with less muzzle velocity and less dispersion.<ref>Bagnasco, p. 35</ref>
==Description==
This gun was of loose barrel, jacket and bracket ring, with a horizontal, hand-operated sliding block. The mountings, all with individual cradles for each gun, were either triple (on battleships) or double, with electrical-powered ramming (which, however, was too weak for elevations above 30°, which therefore required hand loading, which rendered the gun unsuitable for anti-aircraft use).<ref>Campbell, p. 334-5</ref>
The gun fired both AP and HE shells, all weighing 32.7&nbsp;kg (72.1&nbsp;lb), at a muzzle velocity of 825 M/S (2,707 F/S).
==Service==
The triple mountings were used on the {{sclass|Andrea Doria|battleship|1}}s as a secondary battery (with each having four turrets); four double mountings each were fitted on the three completed {{sclass2|Capitani Romani|cruiser|1}}s. Single shielded mounts were used to rearm the [[Yugoslav destroyer Dubrovnik|Premuda]] (captured Yugoslav destroyer Dubrovnik) and [[Yugoslav destroyer Split|Spalato]] (captured Yugoslav destroyer Split) while others were built for the never completed aircraft carrier [[Italian aircraft carrier Aquila|Aquila]] and {{sclass2|Comandanti Medaglie d'Oro|destroyer|1}}s.  Studies for twin dual-purpose mountings were begun, intended for the two unfinished {{sclass|Etna|cruiser (1941)|0}} cruisers and the salvaged battleship {{ship|Italian battleship|Conte di Cavour||2}}, but this work was still far from finished in 1943.<ref>Campbell, ibidem</ref>
The gun proved successful (having only a quarter of the dispersion of the 120&nbsp;mm gun); however, with the 45° maximum elevation and the limit for mechanical ramming being at 30°, it could not be used against aircraft.<ref>Bagnasco, p. 36</ref><ref>Campbell, ibidem</ref>
After the war, when the light cruiser {{ship|Italian cruiser|Giuseppe Garibaldi|1936|2}} was rebuilt in 1961 as a [[missile cruiser]], its original 152&nbsp;mm turrets were removed, and two new 135&nbsp;mm double DP turrets were fitted.<ref>Bagnasco, p. 37</ref>
==See also==
===Weapons of comparable role, performance and era===
* [[Canon de 138 mm Modèle 1929]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last1=Bagnasco|first1=Erminio|title=Le armi delle navi italiane nella Seconda Guerra Mondiale|date=1978|publisher=Ermanno Albertelli Editore|location=Parma|isbn=8887372403}}
*{{cite book |last=Campbell |first=John|title=Naval Weapons of World War Two |publisher=Naval Institute Press |date =1985 |location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn =0-87021-459-4}}
==External links==
* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNIT_53-45_m1938.htm 135 mm/45 on NavWeaps.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:135 mm  45 Italian naval gun}}
[[Category:135 mm artillery]]
[[Category:World War II naval weapons]]
[[Category:World War II artillery of Italy]]
[[Category:Naval guns of Italy]]