The Cannone da 90/53 was an Italian anti-aircraft gun used during World War II, both in the anti-aircraft role and an anti tank gun. (The designation meant that the gun had a 90 mm caliber and that the barrel was 53 caliber-lengths long).

History

The Cannone da 90/53 was designed by Ansaldo and the first examples were produced in 1939.

The original plan was for the gun to be manufactured in three variants:

• the modello 41P was for static emplacement; 1087 were ordered
• the modello 41C was to be towed; 660 were ordered
• 57 were ordered to be mounted on heavy trucks designated autocannoni da 90/53

However Italian industry was not up to producing these quantities and by July 1943 only 539 guns had been delivered.

After Italy surrendered, guns captured by Germany were designated 9-cm Flak 41(i) or 9-cm Flak 309/1(i); some of these guns were used for the air defence of Germany and others were kept in Italy.

Characteristics

• Caliber: 90 mm
• Length of barrel: 4.736 m
• Firing weight: travelling 8950 kg, firing 6240 kg
• Maximum effective ceiling: 12000 m
• Elevation: –0º to +85º
• Traverse: 360º
• Muzzle velocity: 830 m/s
• Rate of fire:20rpm
• Shell weight: 10.33 kg
• Users: Italy, Germany

See also

• Semovente 90/53, a tank destroyer employing the Cannone da 90/53
• Italian Army equipment in World War II
• the Cannone da 75/46 C.A. modello 34 was another contemporary Italian anti-aircraft gun
• the German 88 mm gun was a comparable weapon

References

• Artillery by Chris Chant, published by Amber Books, ISBN 1-84509-248-1