10 cm/50 Type 88 naval gun
A 10 cm/50 Type 88 naval gun aboard I-165 in 1932.
Type	Naval gun
Place of origin	Empire of Japan
Service history
In service	1932–1945
Used by	Imperial Japanese Navy
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designed	1928
Specifications
Mass	2,830 kg (6,240 lb)
Length	5.3 m (17 ft 5 in)
Barrel length	5 m (16 ft 5 in)[1]
Shell	Fixed Quick Fire 100 mm x 380 mm[2]
Shell weight	13 kg (29 lb)
Caliber	100 mm (3.9 in)
Breech	Horizontal sliding block
Recoil	Hydro-pneumatic
Carriage	Central Pivot
Elevation	-7° to +90°
Traverse	-150° to +150°[2]
Rate of fire	Theoretical: 12 rpm Practical: 6 rpm
Muzzle velocity	885–895 m/s (2,900–2,940 ft/s)
Effective firing range	11,200 m (36,700 ft) at +90°
Maximum firing range	16.2 km (10 mi) at +45°[1]
Feed system	Manual

The 10 cm/50 Type 88 naval gun was a dual-purpose gun used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

Description

There were two variants of the 10 cm/50 Type 88 naval gun. One variant had a removable barrel liner while the other had an autofretted monoblock barrel.^[2] Both variants had horizontal sliding block breaches, hydro-pneumatic recoil mechanism, and Fixed Quick Fire ammunition. They were dual-purpose guns mounted on HA/LA central pivot mounts with a wide range of elevation that allowed the guns to be used against surface and aerial targets. The gun was capable of a theoretical rate of fire of 12 rounds per minute but this was limited to a practical rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute due to the speed of the pneumatic shell hoist.^[1]

Uses

The 10 cm/50 Type 88 naval gun was used as a Deck gun aboard I-165 class Type KD5 submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.^[1]