WesWorld

Guide to French Naval Weapons

Naval Guns

Torpedoes

Mines

Antisubmarine Weapons

Other

Naval Guns

381mm/L50 (15") Modele 1931
The largest naval gun currently used to arm French warships. Used in two developments, one with a quad turret (as used on the Richelieu and Libertie class battleships) and one in a triple turret (used aboard the Paris class battlecruisers).
- Shell weight: 925 kg (2039 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 2 rounds per minute maximum
- Maximum Range: 38900 meters at 46.5 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 45 cm @ 16800m, 40cm @ 20600m, 35cm @ 25000m
- Deck Penetration: 8cm @ 16800m, 12cm @ 24700m, 16cm @ 29100m
- AA Performance: N/A

381mm/L40 (15") Modele 1922
France's first 15" gun, as used in triple turrets on the France class battleships.
- Shell weight: 925 kg (2039 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 2 rounds per minute maximum
- Maximum Range: 30100 meters at 45.4 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 45 cm @ 13800m, 40cm @ 17200m, 35cm @ 20900m
- Deck Penetration: 8cm @ 13300m, 12cm @ 19300m, 16cm @ 23100m
- AA Performance: N/A

34cm/L50 (13.4") Modele 1933
This gun was a development of the preceding Modele 1912 gun, with a lengthened barrel and comprehensive modernization. It was used in a triple mounting on the Dunkerque class battlecruisers.
- Shell weight: 600 kg (1323 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 2.5-3 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: __ meters at __ deg elevation
- Belt Penetration:
- Deck Penetration:
- AA Performance: N/A

34cm/L45 (13.4") Modele 1912
Developed before the Great War as the main battery of the Bretagne class dreadnoughts.
- Shell weight: 575 kg (1267 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 2-3 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 34600 meters at 46.3 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 40cm @ 14400m, 35cm @ 17700m, 30cm @ 21700m
- Deck Penetration: 8cm @ 17400m, 10cm @ 21700m, 12cm @ 24200m
- AA Performance: N/A

24cm/L50 (9.45") Modele 1927, 1934
Originally developed as the triple secondary battery for the Dunkerque and Paris class battlecruisers, this gun was highly regarded for its accuracy and rate of fire, being selected later for use aboard the Jean Bart class heavy cruisers.
- Shell weight: 250 kg (551 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 3-4 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 30,000 meters at 45.7 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 35 cm @ 8000m, 25 cm @ 14800m, 15cm @ 25400m
- Deck Penetration: 4cm @ 11900m, 6cm @ 16700m, 8cm @ 20900m, 10cm @ 23500m
- AA Performance: N/A

20cm/L55 (8") Modele 1931
20cm gun used aboard the heavy cruiser Téméraire in 1940. This piece was developed from the preceding 20cm gun, but modified for longer range and accuracy, and mounted in a triple turret.
- Shell weight: 130 kg (287 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 4-5 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 30600 meters at 46.2 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 20cm @ 12600m, 15cm @ 17400m, 10cm @ 24700m
- Deck Penetration: 4cm @ 16300m, 6cm @ 21700m, 8cm @ 25100m
- AA Performance: N/A

20cm/L50 (8") Modele 1919, 1931
20cm gun used on the French heavy cruisers of the 1920s, starting with the Suffren class, and in triple turrets for to the Duquesne class. The Modele 1931 guns used aboard the Indochinie and Téméraire were modified versions of the M1931.
- Shell weight: 110 kg (243 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 3-4 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 26500 meters at 45.4 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 20cm @ 12100m, 15cm @ 16400m, 10cm @ 22500m
- Deck Penetration: 4cm @ 13700m, 6cm @ 18700m, 8cm @ 21500m
- AA Performance: N/A

15.2cm/L55 (5.9") Modele 1930
Improved variant of the preceding Modele 1918 152mm gun. These guns were used in twin turrets as secondary guns for the Richelieu and Libertie class battleships, and in triple turrets aboard the Nouvelle-Calédonie, Algerie, and Senegal class cruisers.
- Shell weight: 50 kg (110 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 4-6 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: __ meters at __ deg elevation
- Belt Penetration:
- Deck Penetration:
- AA Performance: N/A

15.2cm/L50 (5.9") Modele 1918
Gun used on a number of French light cruisers of the 1920s, beginning with the De Grasse class and continuing to the Roland and Emile Bertin class cruisers. In 1930, this gun was modified into the Modele 1930.
- Shell weight: 50 kg (110 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 4-5 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 20900 meters at 43.8 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 15cm @ 7700m, 10cm @ 11500m, 5cm @ 18000m
- Deck Penetration: 2cm @ 10300m, 4cm @ 16200m, 6cm @ 19300m
- AA Performance: N/A

13.8cm/L50 (5.4") Modele 1932, 1936, 1940
The Modele 1932 mounting was developed for use on the Fantasque and Mogador class contre-torpillieurs. The French naval arsenals dedicated considerable effort to improving this gun and its mounting, as the original versions suffered from a very poor rate of fire, less than half of what was originally intended. A modified high-angle mounting was used aboard the Volta class cruisers in 1937, followed by the definitive Modele 1940 mounting, which was used to re-arm the Roland class cruisers, the Fantasque and Mogador class contre-torpillieurs and the De Grasse class minelayers; it was also used new aboard the Surcouf class contre-torpillieurs.
- Shell weight: 43 kg (95 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 6-7 rounds per minute practical (M1932); 8-9 rounds per minute (M1936); 12 rounds per minute (M1940)
- Maximum Range: 21600 meters at 44.0 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 15cm @ 6500m, 10cm @ 10800m, 5cm @ 18200m
- Deck Penetration: 2cm @ 11200m, 4cm @ 17500m, 6cm @ 20600m
- AA Performance: N/A

13.8cm/L45 (5.4") Modele 1884, 1888, 1891, 1893
This gun armed several French pre-dreadnought battleships and cruisers. They were refurbished for use as coast artillery.
- Shell weight: 43 kg (95 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 5-6 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 20,000 meters at 43.6 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 15cm @ 6200m, 10cm @ 10500m, 5cm @ 17600m
- Deck Penetration: 2cm @ 10200m, 4cm @ 16100m, 6cm @ 19000m
- AA Performance: N/A

13cm/L54 (5.12") Modele 1943
The 13cm/L54 Modele 1943 gun uses the same shell, barrel, breech, and loading system as the Russian 13cm gun, but is housed in a gun turret of French design.
- Shell weight: 36 kg (95 lbs);
- Rate of Fire: 15-18 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 22,000 m @ 45 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration:
- Deck Penetration:
- AA Performance: 9,000 m @ 85 deg elevation

12cm/L50 (4.7") Modele 1926, 1932, 1936
Improved high-angle version of the Modele 1914 12cm deck gun. Single guns were used on destroyers as a main battery, while dual mountings were regularly used aboard numerous warships as a secondary dual-purpose gun. The definitive version, the Modele 1936, was used on the Jaguar class destroyers, as well as the earliest Sabre class destroyers. The 12cm gun was replaced in service by the more modern 10cm and 13cm guns, which gave better performance both in anti-surface and anti-aircraft roles, offering more reliability and higher rates of fire.
- Shell weight: 28 kg (62 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 10-16 rounds per minute (M1936 mounting)
- Maximum Range: 17700 meters at 42.5 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 10cm @ 8100m, 5cm @ 13600m
- Deck Penetration: 2cm @ 10900m
- AA Performance: N/A

12cm/L50 (4.7") Modele 1914
Deck gun used on Great War era destroyers, including the Arabe and Audaciaux classes.
- Shell weight: 28 kg (62 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 8-12 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 17700 meters at 42.5 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 10cm @ 8100m, 5cm @ 13600m
- Deck Penetration: 2cm @ 10900m
- AA Performance: N/A

10cm/L55 (3.94") Modele 1940
A highly-modern 10cm mount that came into service in 1941, supplanting the earlier 100mm mounts. The Modele 1940 was very well regarded by the French Navy as a dual purpose gun, with a high rate of fire at almost any angle, and good maintenance characteristics.
- Shell weight: 16 kg (35 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 20-25 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 17,000 meters at 45 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 10cm @ 6200, 5cm @ 10900
- Deck Penetration: 2cm @ 12200m, 4cm @ 16100m
- AA Performance: 11,300 meters at 85.0 deg elevation

10cm/L55 (3.94") Modele 1919
Originally developed for use aboard the Suffren class heavy cruisers, this gun was highly regarded and continually improved.
- Shell weight: 16 kg (35 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 10 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 16700 meters at 42.0 deg elevation
- Belt Penetration: 10cm @ 6200, 5cm @ 10900
- Deck Penetration: 2cm @ 12200m, 4cm @ 16100m
- AA Performance: 12,230 meters at 85.0 deg elevation

10cm/L45 (3.94") Modele 1920, 1938
Used as a deck gun on submarines, originally with the Q165 class; modified in the 1930s for use aboard the Daphne and Protée class subs.
- Shell weight: 16 kg (35 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 10 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: N/A
- AA Performance: N/A

90mm/L50 (3.54") Modele 1938
A modified Army AA gun, used on a number of designs in the early 1940s as an alternative to the 100mm or 75mm AA guns. Used on the two rebuilt Roland class scout cruisers, the rebuilt Suffren, and a number of mine warfare ships and auxiliaries.
- Shell weight: 10.1 kg (22 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 12-15 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 15,440 meters at 45 deg elevation
- AA Performance: 10,600 meters at 80 deg elevation

75mm/L50 (2.95")
Used in place of the 90mm gun on a number of light craft.
- Shell weight: 5.8 kg (13 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 15-20 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 13,350 meters at 45 deg elevation
- AA Performance: 9,270 meters at 80 deg elevation

75mm/L35 (2.95") Modele 1918
Used as a deck gun on submarines, originally with the Q125 class, and continuing on to the Q180 and Q200 class. A lightly modified version of this gun was used aboard the Belle Poule class sail training ships for use as a training and saluting piece.
- Shell weight: 6.175 kg (13.6 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 15 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: N/A

57mm/L60 (2.24") Modele 1942
This 57mm anti-aircraft gun, developed as a scaled-up version of the successful 40mm/L60 Quarante Soixante, was designed to provide heavier and more accurate anti-aircraft fire at longer ranges, taking advantage of advances in proximity-fused shells and electronic gunlaying. Although usually mounted in a fully-enclosed twin hoist mount, a single semi-enclosed mount was also designed for use in auxiliaries and light warships.
- Shell weight: 3 kg (6.61 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 120 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 13,000 m @ 45 degrees, 5,500 m anti-air

40mm/L60 (1.57") Modele 1931, 1938
A major reworking of the Modele 1925 40mm AA gun; this eliminated a number of production and maintenance issues while improving range. Called the "Quarante Soixante" (Forty Sixty) by sailors. It is very close to the Atlantean 40mm gun, but differs on a number of points.
- Shell weight: 1 kg (2 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 120-140 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 8500 meters at 35.4 deg elevation
- AA Performance: 6690 meters at 85.0 deg elevation

40mm/L60 (1.57") Modele 1910, 1919, 1925
Automatic AA gun developed by the French Navy. Identified as one of the best mid-caliber antiaircraft guns of the 1920s, this was eventually re-developed into an even better gun for the 1930s.
- Shell weight: 1 kg (2 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 120-140 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 8500 meters at 35.4 deg elevation
- AA Performance: 6690 meters at 85.0 deg elevation

20mm/L70 (0.79") Hotchkiss Modele 1920, 1934
- Shell weight: 0.11 kg (0.24 lbs)
- Rate of Fire: 250-300 rounds per minute
- Maximum Range: 4,389 meters at 45 deg elevation

Torpedoes

In Service
55cm (21.7") 42G Torpedo (Toulon)
The 42G was a development of the 23DT torpedo, powered by an oxygen-fueled turbine.
- Range: 3000m at 55 knots, or 18000m at 40 knots
- Maximum Speed: 55 knots
- Warhead: 415 kg (915 lb) TNT
- Weight: 2,243 kg (4,945 lbs)

55cm (21.7") 23DT Torpedo (Toulon)
The 23DT, powered by a Schneider alcohol/air heater, was the primary torpedo used by surface ships of the French Navy between 1923 and 1941.
- Range: 9000m at 39 knots, or 13000m at 35 knots
- Maximum Speed: 39 knots
- Warhead: 310 kg (683 lbs) TNT
- Weight: 2,068 kg (4,560 lbs)
- Notes: although replaced by the 42G torpedo, the 23DT remains in inventory

50cm (19.7") 44C Torpedo (Toulon)
The 44C was the first French acoustic seeking torpedo, designed for antisubmarine use by surface ships and escorts. Fired from a standard 55cm torpedo tube.
- Range: 4,000m at 25 knots, or 9,400m at 12 knots
- Maximum Speed: 25 knots
- Warhead: 50 kg (110 lbs)
- Weight: 320 kg (705 lbs)

55cm (21.7") 24V and 24M Torpedoes (Toulon)
The primary 55cm torpedo used by French submarines from 1926 onward.
- Range: 4000m at 45 knots, or 8000m at 35 knots
- Maximum Speed: 45 knots
- Warhead: 310 kg (683 lbs) TNT; a 415 kg (915 lb) charge was also developed later.
- Weight: 2,068 kg (4,560 lbs)

Retired
45cm (17.7") M18 Torpedo (Toulon)
Torpedo produced immediately after the Great War, and used on early destroyers and cruisers.
- Range: 3000m at 34 knots
- Maximum Speed: 34 knots
- Warhead: N/A
- Weight: N/A

40cm (15.75") M26 Torpedo (Toulon, St. Tropez)
Light torpedo used by MTBs and aircraft; entered service 1926. The torpedo is powered by a single stage turbine engine.
- Range: 2000m at 44 knots, or 3000m at 35 knots
- Maximum Speed: 44 knots
- Warhead: 144 kg (317 lbs.) TNT
- Weight: 674 kg (1,486 lbs)

Naval Mines

Antisubmarine Weapons

Guiraud Model 1922 200 KG
Date: 1922 (design), 1923 (in service)
Total Weight: 260 kg (573 lbs)
Explosive Charge: 200 kg (441 lbs)
Sinking Rate: 3 meters per second (10 feet per second)
Notes: Standard depth charge for destroyers

Guiraud Model 1930 100 KG
Date: 1930 (design), 1933 (in service)
Total Weight: 130 kg (287 lbs)
Explosive Charge: 100 kg (220 lbs)
Sinking Rate: 2.2 meters per second (7.2 feet per second)
Notes: Smaller depth charge carried by sloops and gunboats.

Lance roquettes anti-sous-marin de 265mm modèle 1942 (LR265)
Date: 1940 (design), 1943 (in service)
Projectile Diameter: 265mm (10.4 in)
Projectile Length: 1.7m (5 ft 7 in)
Projectile Weight: 130 kg (287 lbs) total
Explosive Charge: 62 kg (137 lbs) Hexanite
Mounting Weight: 10 tons for stabilized 4-barreled launcher and reloads; 25 tons total system
Range: 300m to 500m
Sinking Rate: 6 meters per second (19.7 feet per second)
Notes: Antisubmarine rocket. Complete system fires eight 265mm rocket-propelled depth charges to a range of between 300-500 meters. Four charges are set to detonate deep while four charges are set shallow, creating a "box" of explosions around the target. The LR265 can be fired automatically using a ranging sonar or manually by the weapons officer. Mountings are usually amidships or aft.

Other Weapons