The OTO 127/64 LW (light-weight) Gun assembly is a rapid-fire gun mount suitable for installation on large and medium size ships. It also has a version for coastal defense, 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 installation on narrow section crafts possible.
| OTO 127/64 LW - VULCANO System | |
|---|---|
 The OTO 127/64 LW gun mount on Italian OPV Francesco Morosini | |
| Type | Naval gun |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Oto Melara |
| Designed | 2005[1] |
| Manufacturer | Oto Melara (now Leonardo S.p.A.) |
| Produced | 2012[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | Empty: 33 t (73,000 lb) [2] |
| Barrel length | 320 in (8.1 m)[3] |
| Shell | 127x835mmR shell weight: 29 to 31 kg (64 to 68 lb)[3] |
| Caliber | 127 mm (5.0 in) |
| Rate of fire | 32 rpm[3] |
| Muzzle velocity | 808 m/s (2,650 ft/s)[3] |
| Effective firing range | 30 km (19 mi) VULCANO: 70–120 km (43–75 mi) |
| Maximum firing range | 120 km (75 mi)[3] |
| External image | |
|---|---|
| Hi-res image of Oto Melara 127/64 | |
 Publicity shot of the Oto Melara 127/64 |
The gun can fire all standard 127 mm (5 inch) ammunition including Vulcano long range guided ammunition. By that, it is officially branded as the OTO 127/64 LW - VULCANO System by Leonardo for marketing.
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 connecting to a vessel's combat management system, including a CORBA based network interface.[4]
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
editCurrent operators
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- 2 × FREMM multipurpose class frigate[6] (2 in option)
- 3 x Al-Aziz-class frigates (3 on order)
- 4 × Baden-Württemberg-class frigate[7][8] and 1 used for training
- 6 × F126 frigate
- 6 × FREMM multipurpose frigate (2 in option)
- 7 × Thaon di Revel-class Offshore Patrol Vessel
- 4 × De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate[9] Ordered April 2020, replacing current 127mm from 2023 to 2025.[10]
Future operators
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See also
editNotes
edit- ^ a b "PROCUREMENT AND MODERNISATION PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-27. Retrieved 2012-07-11.
- ^ (https://electronics.leonardo.com/documents/16277707/18425031/Cannone+OTO+127_64+LW.pdf?t=1671010931795 Leonadro marketing brochure
- ^ "127/64 LIGHT WEIGHT NAVAL GUN MOUNT" (PDF). Oto Melara. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2009.
- ^ Defense News
- ^ "Italy approves the sale of two Fincantieri FREMM frigates for Egyptian Navy". Navy recognition. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
- ^ "127/64 F125 fregates". Defence Update. Archived from the original on 2008-05-12. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
- ^ press release on use of the 127/64 on the German F125, Oto Melara Archived 2008-12-24 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Leonardo to Supply New 127mm Main Guns for Netherlands Navy's LCF Frigates". 21 April 2020.
- ^ Karreman, Jaime (19 July 2023). "Nieuw kanon Evertsen geleverd, contract volgende kanons 'nabij'". Marineschepen.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Las nuevas fragatas españolas llevarán el cañón 127/64 Vulcano de Leonardo". Infodefensa. ES. 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Ottawa awards design contract for $60-billion warship fleet to Lockheed Martin". CTV News. 8 February 2019. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019. 8 February 2019.
- ^ "Canada Selects Leonardo Naval Gun Systems for the CSC Combat Ships". Naval News. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.