15 cm/50 41st Year Type

• Name — 15 cm/50 41 Year Type • Origin — Japan • Type — Naval gun, coastal defence • Is Ranged — yes • Is Artillery — yes • Service — 1913–1945 • Used By — Imperial Japanese Navy • Wars — World War I World War II • Design Date — 1908 • Weight — 8360 kg • Length — 7.8 m • Part Length — 7.6 m • Cartridge — 100 lb • Caliber — 6 in • Rate — 6 (effective) • Velocity — 850 m/s • Range — Kongō & Fusō: 18000 m at 30° Agano: 21000 m at 45° • Elevation — Kongō & Fusō: -5 to +30 Agano: -5 to +55 • Traverse — Kongō & Fusō: -70 to +70 Agano: -150 to +150

The Type 41 was a Japanese version of the Vickers "Mark M", originally introduced by Vickers-Armstrong (Barrow) as the secondary battery for the Kongō-class. These original guns were designated by the Japanese Navy as the "Mark II", whereas the Japanese-designed copy (adopted from 1912) were designated as the "Mark III". In the 1930s, the Kongō-class were modernized, at which time these guns were replaced by new 12.7 cm/40 DP guns. The old guns were placed in storage and were reused on the Agano-class. Some were taken to Guam and were used for coastal defense batteries. In the Agano-class, the gun could elevate to 55° for anti-aircraft fire; however, its manual loading method allowed a rate of fire of only about 6 rounds per minute, which significantly limited its utility as an anti-aircraft weapon.

• BL 6 inch Mk XI naval gun: British Empire equivalent naval gun • 6"/50 caliber gun: US equivalent