Otobreda 127/64
| 127/64 Lightweight Naval Gun Mount[1] | |
|---|---|
| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Oto Melara |
| Designed | 2005[2] |
| Manufacturer | Oto Melara |
| Produced | 2012[2] |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | Empty: 33 tonnes (73,000 lb) |
| Barrel length | 320 inches (810 cm)[1] |
|
| |
| Shell | 127 millimetres (5.0 in) |
| Shell weight | 29 kilograms (64 lb) to 31 kilograms (68 lb)[1] |
| Caliber | 127mm |
| Rate of fire | 35 rpm[1] |
| Muzzle velocity | 808 metres per second (2,650 ft/s)[1] |
| Effective firing range | 30,000 metres (33,000 yd) |
| Maximum firing range | 120 kilometres (75 mi)[1] |
| Hi-res image of Oto Melara 127/64 | |
 Publicity shot of the Oto Melara 127/64 |
The upcoming Oto Melara 127/64 Lightweight (LW) naval gun mount is a rapid fire gun mount suitable for installation on large and medium size ships, intended for surface fire and naval gunfire support as main role and anti-aircraft fire as secondary role. The compactness of the gun feeding system makes possible the installation on narrow section crafts.
The gun can fire all standard 127 mm (5 inch) ammunition including the new Vulcano[3] long range guided ammunition.
Modular automatic feeding magazines allow the firing of up to four different and immediately selectable types of ammunition; the magazines (four drums, each with one shell ready to fire and 13 other ammunitions on store) can be reloaded while the mount is in operation.
An ammunition manipulator system is available to transport projectiles and propelling charges from the main ammunition store to the feeding magazines, which are automatically reloaded. Ammunition flow is reversible. Rounds can be automatically unloaded from the gun. Digital and Analog interfaces are available for any Combat Management System, also according to COBRA protocol.
The 127/64 LW naval gun mounts includes a Vulcano module, which acts twofold:
- Programmer for ammunition's fuse and guidance system
- Mission Planning and Execution for Naval Fire Support Action (firing solutions, selection of ammunition, definition of trajectories and firing sequences, ballistic computations accounting for ammunition type, etc.), as a standalone or in interaction with ship's Network Centric System
Operators
Current operators
- on MEKO A200 frigates under construction for the Algerian National Navy (4 127/64 ordered) [4]
- on F125 class frigate: 5 ordered [5][6]
Indian Navy: 13 ordered in 2015 [7]
- on FREMM GP class frigates (1 127/64 in service and 5 ordered)
- on PPA frigates (7 ordered, 3 on option, 6 planned)
See also
Notes
- 1 2 http://www.epicos.com/WARoot/News/Procurement_and_Modernisation_Programmes_and_activities.pdf
- ↑ Vulcano
- ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014304010016
- ↑ Defence Update about 127/64 F125 fregates (engl.)
- ↑ Oto Melara-website press release on use of the 127/64 on the German F125 (engl.)
- ↑ http://www.janes.com/article/47555/indian-navy-selects-oto-melara-127-64-lw-gun
External links
- Information sheet on Oto Melara website
- Oto Melara Introduces Vulcano 76mm Derivative Defense-Update