Difference between revisions of "3-inch Mk.34 (76 mm)"

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[[File:3-inch Mk.34 (76 mm).jpg|thumb|x250px|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' on {{Specs-Link|us_destroyer_mitscher}}]]
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.''
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<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' -->
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The '''3-inch/50 calibre Mark 34''' gun was developed by the US Navy during World War II as a response to the ineffectiveness of existing 20 mm and 40 mm anti-aircraft batteries against Japanese Kamikaze attacks. Designed as an upgrade of the 3"/50 calibre Mk. 22 gun, the Mk. 34 featured an autoloader that significantly improved its rate of fire, making it more effective against fast-moving aircraft. The gun entered service too late for use in World War Two, but it saw service from the late 1940s to the 1980s, replacing 40 mm Bofors on many US and allied ships. The Mark 34 was the single-mount variant, used notably on ships like [[USS Roanoke]] and other early post-WW2 vessels.
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In-game, '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is an exceptionally effective anti-aircraft gun, owing to her rapid-fire {{Annotation|HE-VT|High-explosive variable time fuse}} rounds and a very good vertical guidance of +85°. She can also be used against surface targets with either HE or AP rounds, though the armour-piercing ammunition suffers from a very small explosive filler.
  
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
 
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===
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* {{Specs-Link|jp_escort_akebono_class}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|jp_escort_akebono_class}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|us_ashville_class}}
 
* {{Specs-Link|us_ashville_class}}
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* {{Specs-Link|us_frigate_dealey}}
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* {{Specs-Link|us_ashville_class_douglas}}
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* {{Specs-Link|us_destroyer_mitscher}}
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* {{Specs-Link|us_cruiser_worcester_class_roanoke}}
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''
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<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.'' -->
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Being a rapid-fire gun with an excellent choice of ammunition and good penetration characteristics, the 3-inch Mk. 34 can be used in a wide variety of roles. From dealing with aerial targets to countering coastal vessels and even breaching the [[ammo racks]] of destroyers, the gun performs well in every role. Its only downside is its relatively small calibre, which limits its damage potential against larger surface targets.
  
 
=== Available ammunition ===
 
=== Available ammunition ===
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''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''
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<!-- ''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).'' -->
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{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|76 mm HC Mk.27, 76 mm APHE, 76 mm AA Mk.31}}
  
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
 
=== Comparison with analogues ===
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''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''
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<!-- ''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' -->
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Typically, for post-WW2 guns, the 3-inch Mk. 34 features an excellent rate of fire and damage output. The only problematic round is the APHE, which has an unusually low explosive filler without any increase in penetration compared to guns such as the [[39-K (76 mm)|76 mm 39-K]].
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==== HE ====
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{{Naval 76mm HE}}
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==== SAP/AP ====
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{{Naval 76mm AP}}
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
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''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''
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<!-- ''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.'' -->
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The 3-inch Mk. 34 is usually assigned to either the secondary or primary armament group. Vessels that have it in the secondary group will automatically engage enemy aircraft and surface combatants using AI gunners, but manual control can be taken over with the use of select secondary weapon control (default {{Key press|Alt|2}}). If the gun is in the primary group, it can be delegated to AI by switching to any other weapon group (weapon group switch, default {{Key press|Left Ctrl|E}}). This is important, as AI gunners will engage enemy vessels from as far as 4 kilometres away, which, combined with the {{Annotation|HE-VT|High-explosive variable time fuse}} rounds, can often be a lifesaver, destroying enemy aircraft long before they have an opportunity to drop bombs on your vessel.
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The gun is also very effective against surface vessels, particularly motor torpedo boats, owing to her high rate of fire and good muzzle velocity, making it easy to correct aim on target, while the {{Annotation|HE|High-explosive}} rounds will effectively destroy them in a few hits. Against frigates and destroyers, a choice of {{Annotation|APHE|Armour-piercing high-explosive}} rounds might be preferable, especially when targeting [[ammo racks]].
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''
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<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
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*
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* High rate of fire
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* Excellent vertical guidance
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* Often available in a twin-mount
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* Good muzzle velocity
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* Access to a wide choice of rounds
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
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* Very low explosive filler of the APHE rounds, equivalent to only 63.7 grams TNT
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''
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<!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' -->
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The 3-inch Mk. 34 gun was developed by the United States Navy in response to Japanese Kamikaze attacks. Designed as an intermediate-calibre solution between the lighter 40 mm Bofors and the heavier 5-inch/38 (127 mm), the gun used a 76.2 mm, 50-calibre-long barrel with an electrically-driven autoloader. This allowed for a high rate of fire and tracking of fast-moving aircraft.
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The Mk. 34's single mount was similar in size to the quad 40 mm Bofors, and despite the heavier mass, it was possible to replace Bofors on a one-for-three basis. During testing, it was found that a single 3"/50 was as effective as two 40 mm quad guns, making it a net loss in capability at comparable ranges. However, the 3-inch gun could effectively engage targets at longer ranges, which became increasingly important with the advent of jet-powered aeroplanes.
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 +
The initial prototype was ready by 1 September 1945, but with the end of the war, deployment was delayed until 1948. It became the weapon of choice on numerous US and allied ships from the late 1940s through to the 1980s. However, the history of the gun dates back to 1915, when the initial versions were introduced as dual-purpose weapons, undergoing modernisations and redesigns over the decades, culminating in the Mk. 34, which was the last significant upgrade for the gun.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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== External links ==
 
== External links ==
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''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
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* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
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* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''
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* ''other literature.'' -->
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* ''other literature.''
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* [[wikipedia:3-inch/50-caliber gun|[Wikipedia] 3-inch/50-caliber gun]]
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* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-50_mk27-33-34.php <nowiki>[NavWeaps]</nowiki> 3"/50 (7.62 cm) Marks 27, 33 and 34]
  
 
{{USA naval cannons}}
 
{{USA naval cannons}}

Latest revision as of 10:10, 29 August 2024

3-inch Mk.34 (76 mm) on USS Mitscher

Description

The 3-inch/50 calibre Mark 34 gun was developed by the US Navy during World War II as a response to the ineffectiveness of existing 20 mm and 40 mm anti-aircraft batteries against Japanese Kamikaze attacks. Designed as an upgrade of the 3"/50 calibre Mk. 22 gun, the Mk. 34 featured an autoloader that significantly improved its rate of fire, making it more effective against fast-moving aircraft. The gun entered service too late for use in World War Two, but it saw service from the late 1940s to the 1980s, replacing 40 mm Bofors on many US and allied ships. The Mark 34 was the single-mount variant, used notably on ships like USS Roanoke and other early post-WW2 vessels.

In-game, 3-inch Mk.34 (76 mm) is an exceptionally effective anti-aircraft gun, owing to her rapid-fire HE-VT rounds and a very good vertical guidance of +85°. She can also be used against surface targets with either HE or AP rounds, though the armour-piercing ammunition suffers from a very small explosive filler.

Vehicles equipped with this weapon

General info

Being a rapid-fire gun with an excellent choice of ammunition and good penetration characteristics, the 3-inch Mk. 34 can be used in a wide variety of roles. From dealing with aerial targets to countering coastal vessels and even breaching the ammo racks of destroyers, the gun performs well in every role. Its only downside is its relatively small calibre, which limits its damage potential against larger surface targets.

Available ammunition

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
100 m 1,000 m 2,000 m 3,000 m 4,000 m 5,000 m
HC Mk.27 HE 8 8 8 8 8 8
APHE APHE 121 98 77 61 49 39
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(s) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HC Mk.27 HE 823 5.9 0 0.1 500 79° 80° 81°
APHE APHE 823 5.9 0.01 4 63.7 47° 60° 65°
Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Arming
distance (m) 		Trigger
radius (m) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
AA Mk.31 HE-VT 823 5.85 0 0.1 548 15 352.8 79° 80° 81°

Comparison with analogues

Typically, for post-WW2 guns, the 3-inch Mk. 34 features an excellent rate of fire and damage output. The only problematic round is the APHE, which has an unusually low explosive filler without any increase in penetration compared to guns such as the 76 mm 39-K.

HE

Cannon Sample Ship Ammo Calibre
(mm) 		Muzzle velocity
(m/s) 		Sustained rate of fire
(rounds/min) 		Targeting speed
(°/s) 		Vertical guidance
(°) 		TNT equivalent
(kg) 		TNT equivalent
per minute (kg) 		Penetration
@ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
Horizontal Vertical
USA flag.png 3-inch Mark 10 USS Raleigh HE 76 825 17 8.5 15 85 0.5 8.5 8
USA flag.pngBritain flag.pngJapan flag.pngItaly flag.png 3 inch Mk.33 Geniere HE 76.2 823 6 20 26 85 0.5 3 8
USA flag.pngJapan flag.png 3-inch Mk.34 USS Asheville HE 76.2 823 49.8 20 26 85 0.5 24.9 8
USSR flag.png 34-K (76 mm) Soobrazitelny HE 76.2 845 27 12 8 85 0.483 13.04 8
USSR flag.png 39-K (76 mm) Tashkent HE 76.2 845 20 18 11 87 0.483 9.66 8
USSR flag.png 76 mm/60 AK-176M MPK Pr.12412 HE 76.2 845 20 30 26 85 0.616 12.32 10
USSR flag.png AK-726 (76 mm) SKR-7 HE 76.2 980 16.2 26 30 85 0.616 9.98 10
Britain flag.png 3 inch 12pdr 12 cwt QF Mk.V (76 mm) HMS Churchill HE 76.2 823 17 25 25 70 0.5 8.5 8
Britain flag.png 76 mm/45 QF 3in 20cwt (76 mm) HMS Valhalla HE 76.2 762 12 13 10 40 0.32 3.84 6
Japan flag.png Type 88 AA (75 mm) Type 5 HE 75 720 20 21 20 50 0.42 8.4 5
Japan flag.png 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type (76 mm) Type K-8 No.13 late HE 76.2 685 20 11 10 75 0.48 9.6 8
Japan flag.png 8 cm/60 Type 98 (76 mm) IJN Agano HE 76.2 902 25 18 16 85 0.399 9.98 7
Kingdom Italy flag.png 76 mm/40 Ansaldo mod.1917 (76 mm) RN Aquila HE 76.2 690 15 11 10 75 0.65 9.75 10
Italy flag.pngGermany flag.pngBritain flag.png 76 mm/62 OTO-Melara Compact (76 mm) Sparviero HE 76 925 85.7 51 30 85 1.08 92.57 15
Italy flag.png 76 mm/62 SMP 3 (76 mm) Albatros HE 76.2 930 8.57 34 60 85 0.864 7.40 15
France flag.png 75 mm/50 model 1922 Duguay-Trouin HE 75 850 15 19 18 85 0.45 6.75 8

SAP/AP

Cannon Sample Ship Ammo Calibre
(mm) 		Muzzle velocity
(m/s) 		Sustained rate of fire
(rounds/min) 		Targeting speed
(°/s) 		Vertical guidance
(°) 		TNT equivalent
(kg) 		TNT equivalent
per minute (kg) 		Penetration
@ 0° Angle of Attack
@ 5000 m (mm)
Horizontal Vertical
USA flag.png 3-inch Mark 10 USS Raleigh APCBC 76 823 17 8.5 15 85 0.13328 2.27 57
USA flag.pngJapan flag.png 3-inch Mk.34 USS Asheville APHE 76.2 823 49.8 20 26 85 0.0637 3.17 62
USSR flag.png 34-K (76 mm) Soobrazitelny APHEBC 76.2 816 27 12 8 85 0.119 3.21 65
USSR flag.png 39-K (76 mm) Tashkent APHEBC 76.2 816 20 18 11 87 0.119 2.38 65
Japan flag.png Type 88 AA (75 mm) Type 5 APHEBC 75 720 20 21 20 50 0.150 3 55
Kingdom Italy flag.png 76 mm/40 Ansaldo mod.1917 (76 mm) RN Aquila APHE 76.2 690 15 11 10 75 0.319 4.79 20
Italy flag.pngGermany flag.pngBritain flag.png 76 mm/62 OTO-Melara Compact (76 mm) Sparviero SAP 76 925 85.7 51 30 85 0.6552 57.46 32

Usage in battles

The 3-inch Mk. 34 is usually assigned to either the secondary or primary armament group. Vessels that have it in the secondary group will automatically engage enemy aircraft and surface combatants using AI gunners, but manual control can be taken over with the use of select secondary weapon control (default Alt+2). If the gun is in the primary group, it can be delegated to AI by switching to any other weapon group (weapon group switch, default Left Ctrl+E). This is important, as AI gunners will engage enemy vessels from as far as 4 kilometres away, which, combined with the HE-VT rounds, can often be a lifesaver, destroying enemy aircraft long before they have an opportunity to drop bombs on your vessel.

The gun is also very effective against surface vessels, particularly motor torpedo boats, owing to her high rate of fire and good muzzle velocity, making it easy to correct aim on target, while the HE rounds will effectively destroy them in a few hits. Against frigates and destroyers, a choice of APHE rounds might be preferable, especially when targeting ammo racks.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • High rate of fire
  • Excellent vertical guidance
  • Often available in a twin-mount
  • Good muzzle velocity
  • Access to a wide choice of rounds

Cons:

  • Very low explosive filler of the APHE rounds, equivalent to only 63.7 grams TNT

History

The 3-inch Mk. 34 gun was developed by the United States Navy in response to Japanese Kamikaze attacks. Designed as an intermediate-calibre solution between the lighter 40 mm Bofors and the heavier 5-inch/38 (127 mm), the gun used a 76.2 mm, 50-calibre-long barrel with an electrically-driven autoloader. This allowed for a high rate of fire and tracking of fast-moving aircraft.

The Mk. 34's single mount was similar in size to the quad 40 mm Bofors, and despite the heavier mass, it was possible to replace Bofors on a one-for-three basis. During testing, it was found that a single 3"/50 was as effective as two 40 mm quad guns, making it a net loss in capability at comparable ranges. However, the 3-inch gun could effectively engage targets at longer ranges, which became increasingly important with the advent of jet-powered aeroplanes.

The initial prototype was ready by 1 September 1945, but with the end of the war, deployment was delayed until 1948. It became the weapon of choice on numerous US and allied ships from the late 1940s through to the 1980s. However, the history of the gun dates back to 1915, when the initial versions were introduced as dual-purpose weapons, undergoing modernisations and redesigns over the decades, culminating in the Mk. 34, which was the last significant upgrade for the gun.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;
  • references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.

External links


USA naval cannons
20 mm  20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II · 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mark V · 20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mark 24
25 mm  25 mm/87 Mk.38
28 mm  1.1 inch/75 Mk.1
37 mm  AN-M4
40 mm  Bofors L/60 Mark 1 · Bofors L/60 Mark 2 · Bofors L/60 Mark 3
76 mm  3 inch/23 Mk.4 · 3-inch/50 Mk.10 · 3-inch/70 Mk.37 · 3-inch Mark 10 · 3 inch Mk.33 · 3-inch Mk.34
102 mm  4 inch/50 Mk.9
127 mm  5 inch/25 Mk.11 · 5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA · 5 inch/38 Mk.12 · 5-inch/50 Mk.5 · 5 inch/51 Mk.7 · 127 mm/54 Mark 18
152 mm  6 inch/47 Mk.16 · 6 inch/47 DP Mk.16 · 6 inch/53 Mk.12 · M81
203 mm  8 inch/55 Mark 9 · 8 inch/55 Mark 12 · 8 inch/55 Mark 14 · 8 inch/55 Mark 16
305 mm  12-inch/45 Mk.5 · 12 inch/50 Mk.7 · 12 inch/50 Mk.8
356 mm  14 inch/45 Mk.8 · 14 inch/45 Mk.12 · 14 inch/50 Mk.11

Japan naval cannons
20 mm  JM61 · Type 98
25 mm  25 mm/60 Type 96
37 mm  Type 4 · Type 11 pattern 1922
40 mm  40 mm/62 Vickers
57 mm  Type 97
75 mm  Type 88 AA
76 mm  3-inch/40 Type 41 · 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type · 8 cm/60 Type 98
100 mm  100/65 mm Type 98 mod A
120 mm  120 mm/45 3rd Year Type · 120 mm/45 10th year type
127 mm  5 inch/40 Type 89 · 127 mm/50 3rd Year Type
140 mm  140 mm/50 3rd Year Type
152 mm  6-inch/45 Type 41 · 15 cm/50 Type 41
155 mm  155 mm/60 3rd Year Type
200 mm  20 cm 3rd year type No.1
203 mm  20 cm/45 Type 41 · 20 cm/50 3rd year type No.2
356 mm  36 cm/45 Type 41
410 mm  410 mm/45 Type 3
  Foreign:
20 mm  20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (USA/Britain)
40 mm  Bofors L/60 Mark 1 (USA) · Bofors L/60 Mark 2 (USA) · Bofors L/60 Mark 3 (USA)
47 mm  3 pdr QF Hotchkiss (Britain)
76 mm  3-inch Mark 10 (USA) · 3 inch Mk.33 (USA) · 3-inch Mk.34 (USA)
120 mm  4,7-inch/40 Armstrong (Britain)
127 mm  5 inch/38 Mk.12 (USA)
305 mm  12-inch/45 Vickers (Britain) · 12-inch/50 Vickers (Britain)

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