20.3 cm SK C/34 naval gun
| 20 cm SK C/34 naval gun | |
|---|---|
| 300px Four turrets seen aboard Admiral Hipper was the standard mounting of 20 cm SK C/34 guns. | |
| Type | Naval gun Coast defence gun |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1939 - 1945[1] |
| Used by | 22x20px Kriegsmarine |
| Wars | Second World War |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 20.7 tonnes[2] |
| Length | 12 meters (40 feet)[2] |
| | |
| Shell | 122 kilograms (269 lb)[2] |
| Caliber | 8-inch (20 cm)[2] |
| Muzzle velocity | 925 meters per second (3000 ft/sec)[2] |
| Maximum range | 33 km (21 miles)[2] |
The 20 cm SK C/34 naval gun was the main battery gun used on all German World War II heavy cruisers.
Contents
Description
These built-up guns consisted of a rifled tube encased within an inner and outer jacket with a horizontal sliding breech block. The breech was sealed with an 18 kg (40 lb) brass case containing 30 kg (66 lb) of smokeless powder with a 160 gram (5.6 oz) gunpowder igniter. A cloth bag containing an additional 21 kg (40 lb) of smokeless powder and 380 grams (13 oz) of gunpowder was loaded between the projectile and the brass case. Each gun could fire approximately five rounds per minute. Useful life expectancy was 510 effective full charges (EFC) per barrel.[2]
Admiral Hipper, Blücher, and Prinz Eugen each mounted eight of these guns in 248-tonne Drh LC/34 twin turrets with a maximum elevation of 37 degrees.[2]
Coast defence guns
Two turrets intended for the incomplete cruiser Seydlitz were installed as coastal artillery on Ile de Croix.[2]
Shell trajectory
| Range[2] | Elevation | Time of flight | Descent | Impact velocity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 km (3 miles) | 1° 54′ | 6 sec | 2° 6′ | 744 m/s (2440 ft/s) |
| 10 km (6 miles) | 4° 24′ | 14 sec | 6° 6′ | 587 m/s (1930 ft/s) |
| 15 km (9 miles) | 8° 6′ | 23 sec | 12° 48′ | 463 m/s (1520 ft/s) |
| 20 km (12 miles) | 13° 18′ | 36 sec | 23° 36′ | 382 m/s (1250 ft/s) |
| 25 km (15 miles) | 20° 18′ | 51 sec | 36° 48′ | 353 m/s (1160 ft/s) |
| 30 km (18 miles) | 29° 6′ | 69 sec | 48° 48′ | 363 m/s (1190 ft/s) |
See also
- 203mm/50 Modèle 1924 gun French equivalent
- 203 mm /53 Italian naval gun Italian equivalent
- 20 cm/50 3rd Year Type naval gun Japanese equivalent
- BL 8 inch Mk VIII naval gun UK equivalent
- 8"/55 caliber gun US equivalent
Notes
Cite error: Invalid <references> tag;
parameter "group" is allowed only.
<references />, or <references group="..." />References
- Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
- Whitley, M.J. (1995). Cruisers of World War Two. Brockhampton Press. ISBN 1-86019-8740.
