The Canon de 100 mm Modèle 1891 was a Frenchnaval gun developed in the late 1800s that armed a variety of warships before World War I and during World War II. In addition to its naval role it was also deployed as coastal artillery.
History
The Canon de 100 mm Modèle 1891 was French naval gun designed by the French designer Gustave Canet and produced at Schneider et Cie of Le Creusot in 1889. Five models of varying length were produced: Modèle 1891, Modèle 1892, Modèle 1893, Modèle 1895 and Modèle 1897. At some point in the guns development there was a switch from Separate loading QF ammunition to Fixed QF ammunition. However the dimensions of the guns and their performance stayed largely the same.
Construction
The Modèle 1891 was constructed of an A tube, with a Canet screw breech which screwed onto the A tube. There was also a jacket and three layers of reinforcing hoops which all screwed into the breech.
Coastal Artillery
In addition to their naval role this family of guns was also used as coastal artillery by France and Poland. In French service there were two main models the Canon de 100 mm Modèle 1889 T97 and Canon de 100 mm Modèle 1897 T97. Poland also had two Modèle 1891 guns in service as coastal artillery under the designation Canet 100 mm wz. 1891. The two Polish guns were purchased in March 1924 with a French loan to rearm the Polish army. They were intended to arm two ex-Russian Filin-class gunboats purchased from Finland the ORP General Haller and ORP Komendant Pilsudski. However it was found that the guns were too heavy for the ships and two Russian made Canet 75mm 50 caliber Pattern 1892 were fitted instead. In 1932 the two guns formed the 13th coastal artillery battery was created at Oksywie to defend the approaches to the Port of Gdynia. In September 1939 the captain of the battery was Capt. Art. Antoni Ratajczyk and his deputy was Mar. Stanislaw Brychcy. One of the guns was knocked out of action on the first day of fighting, while second gun fired over a hundred rounds before being captured.
Gueydon-class - The three ships of this class had an anti-torpedo boat armament consisting of four 100 mm guns, in single mounts, on the forecastle deck.
Bouvines-class - The two ships of this class had an anti-torpedo boat armament consisting of eight 100 mm guns. Four were mounted in individual casemates. The other four were on single pivot mounts with gun shields on the shelter deck directly above the four casemated guns on the corners of the superstructure.
Destroyers
Aventurier-class - The four ships of this class had a primary armament consisting of four, 100 mm guns. One was on the forecastle, one between the funnels, and two on the quarterdeck, in front and behind the searchlight platform.
Bisson-class - The six ships of this class had a primary armament consisting of two, 100 mm guns, on single mounts, fore and aft.
Bouclier-class - The twelve ships of this class had a primary armament consisting of two, 100 mm guns, on single mounts, fore and aft.
Enseigne Roux-class - The two ships of this class had a primary armament consisting of two, 100 mm guns, on single mounts, fore and aft.
Gunboats
Crête-à-Pierrot - This ship had a tertiary armament consisting of four, 100 mm guns, on single mounts.
K class river gunboats - The four ships of this class had a primary armament consisting of two, shielded, 100 mm guns, on single mounts, fore and aft.
Surprise-class - The three ships of this class had a primary armament consisting of two, shielded, 100 mm guns, on single mounts, fore and aft.
Nadezhda - This ship had a primary armament consisting of two, shielded, deck-mounted guns on single mounts.
Minesweepers
Chamois-class - The five ships of this class commissioned before World War II had a primary armament consisting of one, shielded, 100 mm gun, on a forward mount, due to shortages of the intended 100/45 M1933 guns.
Pre-dreadnought Battleships
Bouvet - This ship had an anti-torpedo boat armament consisting of eight, 100 mm guns, in single mounts, amidships.
Charlemagne-class - The three ships of this class had an anti-torpedo boat armament consisting of eight, shielded, 100 mm guns, in single mounts on the superstructure.
Iéna - This ship had an anti-torpedo boat armament consisting of eight, shielded, 100 mm guns, in single mounts on the shelter deck.
Masséna - This ship had an anti-torpedo boat armament consisting of eight, 100 mm guns, in single mounts, amidships.
Suffren - This ship had an anti-torpedo boat armament consisting of eight, shielded, 100 mm guns, in single mounts, on the shelter deck and on the superstructure.
Protected Cruisers
Destrées-class - The two ships of this class had a secondary armament consisting of four shielded, 100 mm guns, in sponsons, amidships.
Linois-class - The three ships of this class had a secondary armament consisting of two 100 mm guns, in single mounts.
Seaplane Tender
Foudre - This ship had a primary armament consisting of eight 100 mm guns, in single mounts.
Ammunition
Ammunition was fixed QF type 100 x 869 mm R. A complete cartridge weighed and projectiles weighed. The gun was able to fire:
