In 1891 a Russian naval delegation was shown three guns designed by the French designer Canet. One was a 75/50 gun, one was a 120/45 gun, and the last was a 152/45 gun. All three guns used fixed QF ammunition which produced a rate of fire of 15 rpm for the 75/50 gun, 12 rpm for the 120/45 gun and 10 rpm for the 152/45 gun. The Russians were impressed and in 1892 they negotiated a production license for all three guns.
Construction
There were two main series of the 120/45 guns produced. The first series of 76 guns were built between 1897-1905 at the Obhukov factory. During the Russo-Japanese war a number of barrels of the 152/45 guns burst in action and a strengthened series of 152/45 and 120/45 guns were ordered. 34 of the second series of strengthened guns were built between 1905-1915 at the Obhukov factory. Between 1914-1916 production switched to the Perm factory and a further 18 strengthened guns were produced there.
Dmitriy Donskoi-class - The secondary armament of Dmitrii Donskoi consisted of ten, 120/45 guns, in single mounts after an 1895 refit. The secondary armament of Vladimir Monomakh consisted of six, 120/45 guns, in single mounts after an 1897 refit.
Rurik - The tertiary armament of this ship consisted of six, 120/45 guns, in single mounts.
Auxiliary Cruisers
Angara - The primary armament of this ship consisted of six, shielded, 120/45 guns.
Dnepr - The primary armament of this ship consisted of seven, shielded, 120/45 guns.
Don - The primary armament of this ship consisted of two, shielded, 120/45 guns.
Lena - The primary armament of this ship consisted of six, shielded, 120/45 guns.
Kuban - The primary armament of this ship consisted of two, shielded, 120/45 guns.
Oryol - The primary armament of this ship consisted of two, shielded, 120/45 guns.
Rion - The primary armament of this ship consisted of eight, shielded, 120/45 guns.
Terek - The primary armament of this ship consisted of two, shielded, 120/45 guns.
Ural - The primary armament of this ship consisted of two, shielded, 120/45 guns.
Admiral Ushakov-class - The secondary armament of this class of three ships consisted of four, 120/45 guns, in casemates amidships.
Destroyers
Lieutenant Shestakov-class - The primary armament of this class of four ships consisted of one, forward, shielded, 120/45 gun.
Gunboats
Gilyak - The primary armament of this ship consisted of one, forward, shielded, 120/45 gun.
Gilyak-class - The primary armament of this class of four ships consisted of two, shielded, 120/45 guns, in single mounts, fore and aft.
Korietz-class - Four ships of this class the Donets, Kubanets, Terets and Uralets had a tertiary armament of one, 120/45 gun, after 1905-1921 refits.
Vogul-class - The primary armament of this ship consisted of two, shielded, 120/45 guns, in single mounts, fore and aft.
Minesweepers
Sofiya - This ships primary armament consisted of one, 120/45 gun, in a forward single mount.
Amur-class - This class of two ships primary armament consisted of five 120/45 guns, in single mounts.
Pre-dreadnought Battleships
Andrei Pervozvanny-class - This class of two ships tertiary armament consisted of twelve, casemated, 120/45 guns, in single mounts. Four guns were in the bow, four in the stern and four amidships.
Sissoi Veliky - This ships tertiary armament consisted of four, 120/45 guns, in single mounts after a 1904 refit.
Tri Sviatitelia - This ships tertiary armament consisted of four, 120/45 guns, in single mounts.
Navarin - This ships tertiary armament consisted of four, 120/45 guns, in single mounts after a 1904 refit.
Protected Cruisers
Boyarin - The primary armament of this ship consisted of six, shielded, 120/45 guns, in single mounts. One each at the bow and stern and four in sponsons amidships.
Izumrud-class - This class of two ships primary armament consisted of six, 120/45 guns, in single mounts.
Novik - The primary armament of this ship consisted of six, 120/45 guns, in single mounts.
