12 cm/45 10th Year Type gun
The Type 10 or 12 cm/45 10th Year Type naval gun was a Japanese 120 mm calibre dual purpose anti-aircraft and coastal defense gun used during the Second World War. It was derived from the 12 cm/45 3rd Year Type naval gun. The Type 10 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, the 10th year of Emperor Taishō's reign, 1921 in the Gregorian calendar.
12 cm/45 10th Year Type gun
Imperial Japanese Navy · Imperial Japanese Navy via WIŚNIEWSKI, Piotr · Public domain
- Name
- Type 10 120 mm dual-purpose gun
- Field
- naval artillery · rifled breech loader
- Region
- Empire of Japan
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Documentary summary
The Type 10 or 12 cm/45 10th Year Type naval gun was a Japanese 120 mm calibre dual purpose anti-aircraft and coastal defense gun used during the Second World War. It was derived from the 12 cm/45 3rd Year Type naval gun. The Type 10 number was designated for the year the gun was accepted, the 10th year of Emperor Taishō's reign, 1921 in the Gregorian calendar.
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wikidata · Q4548745
In this article
Overview
Overview
It served as the secondary armament on a number of Japanese aircraft carriers and cruisers and as the main armament on smaller ships, in single or twin mountings. Despite mediocre traverse and muzzle velocity, the 12cm Type (Taisho) 10 was widely used throughout the Pacific since it was relatively simple to produce, threw a powerful shell, and did not require external power (making it easier to emplace at remote sites).
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Type 10 120 mm dual-purpose gun • Origin — Japan • Type — Dual-purpose gun • Is Ranged — y • Is Artillery — y • Service — 1921–1945 • Used By — Empire of Japan • Wars — Second World War • Production Date — 1921–1945 • Number — approx 2000 • Weight — 8.5 tons • Length — 19 ft • Part Length — 5.4 m L/45 • Width — 7 ft • Height — 7 ft • Cartridge — Fixed QF 120×708mmR • Cartridge Weight — 20.6 kg • Caliber — 120 mm • Action — Semi-automatic • Rate — 10 to 12 rounds per minute • Velocity — 825 m/s • Range — Horizontal: 16,000 m Vertical: 8,500 m • Max Range — Vertical: 10,000 m • Breech — Horizontal sliding-wedge • Recoil — Hydro-spring • Carriage — Pedestal mount • Elevation — -5 to +75 degrees • Traverse — 360 degrees
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
• QF 4.7 inch Mk VIII naval gun: British equivalent naval anti-aircraft gun
Description
The weapon was originally designed for ship use and was produced in large numbers. The gun was also adapted for land use as a dual-purpose gun. It was one of the few Japanese cannons that could readily handle more heavily armored allied tanks such as the M4 Sherman. The barrel was of autofretted mono-block construction and was held in a sleeve cradle mounted on a pedestal mount which permits 360° of traverse. The gun uses a hydro-spring recoil mechanism attached to the sleeve cradle and there are three recoil cylinders located on top of the breech with the two outside cylinders housing the recoil springs, and the center cylinder housing the hydraulic recuperator. The elevating handwheel is on the right side of the mount, while the traversing handwheel is on the left. To compensate for muzzle preponderance, spring equilibrators are mounted below the gun barrel. The gun is said to be well balanced, and easy to elevate. A semi-automatic horizontal sliding-wedge breech is used and Fixed QF 120 x 708R ammunition was used. The gun fired either high explosive or incendiary shrapnel shells that weighed 20.6 kg, with a complete round weighing 32.4 kg.
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1- naval artilleryTerminology
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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