French 100 mm naval gun

At the end of the Second World War, the French Navy was equipped with guns of numerous calibres, most of which were obsolete. In 1953, the STCAN of Paris, under engineer Tonnelé, drafted the design of a multi-purpose 100 mm gun. The gun was designed to be effective for anti-aircraft defence, anti-ship combat, and shore bombardment fire support. The first model of the family, "modèle 53", was tested at sea on the escort Le Brestois in 1958 and the escort aviso Victor Schoelcher in 1961.

Over the years, the 100 mm turret went through several improvements, notably bringing more reliable operation and increased firing rate, new ammunition optimized to shoot down missiles, and compatibility with modern firing computers. There are four main versions of French 100 mm guns: Modèle 53: the first shell had to be fed manually, with subsequent shots taking advantage of recoil to load automatically, firing at up to 60 rounds per minute. Employs electro-mechanical fire control, with two manual command stations on the front of the turret. Modèle 64 is a direct offspring of the 53, with a 78 round/min rate of fire. This version can be connected to modern firing computers. Modèle 68 In this model, the turret was lightened and can load the first round automatically, but rate of fire is reduced back to 60 rounds per minute. This version may operate with automatic action and control with only one manual station remaining as a backup. This version was later improved to the CADAM standard (CADence AMéliorée, "improved rate of fire"), restoring the 78 rounds/min rate of fire. A derivative is the modèle 100 TR (used on the La Fayette-class frigates), mechanically similar to the 68, but with a stealth armour. The manual control has been removed. Compact: This weapon has only been exported to China (see also China's Type 210 100 mm naval gun), Malaysia, Portugal and Saudi Arabia. It is even lighter than the modèle 68, at only 19 metric tons including gunhouse (14 metric ton alone), deck and magazine. Later Mk 2 versions also fire faster, at up to 90 rounds per minute. However, it is also limited to firing short bursts of no more than 6 rounds.

The 100 mm gun sp has been used in the French navy on most warships equal or greater than avisos (the A69 especially, built and exported in 20 units). The aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, with her MBDA Aster-only defence, is the main exception. Also, Horizon CNGF frigates are equipped with the 76 mm Oto-Melara gun. The 100 mm has been sold abroad, and is used by the navies of Argentina, Belgium, China, Portugal, Turkey, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria, Malaysia & Germany (mounted on Köln-class frigates and Hamburg-class destroyers; both classes are now retired), and others. Belgian Wielingen-class frigates equipped with the system were sold to Bulgaria in 2004-2008.

Below is a list of ship classes fitted with the weapon.

4.5 inch Mark 8 naval gun: contemporary standard naval gun for British ships 5"/54 caliber Mark 45 gun: contemporary standard naval gun for US ships AK-100: contemporary 100 mm standard naval gun mounting for Russian ships Type 210 100 mm naval gun: contemporary 100 mm standard naval gun mounting for Chinese ships Otobreda 127/54 Compact and Otobreda 127/64: contemporary 127 mm naval gun from Italian manufacturer Oto Melara