38 cm SKC 34 naval gun

The 38 cm SKC 34 Naval gun (SC - Schiffkanone, C - Konstruktionsjahr) was developed by Germany in the late 1930s. It armed the Bismarck class battleships and was planned as the armament of the O Class battlecruisers and the re-armed battlecruiser Gneisenau. Six mountings were also sold to the Soviet Union and it was planned to use them on the Kronshtadt class battlecruiser. These guns were however never delivered to the Russians. Spare guns were used as coastal artillery including the Hanstholm fortress in Denmark, the Vara fortress in Kristiansand, Norway and the battery Todt in Haringzelles in the Pas de Calais. This latter gun had a lighter shell and higher velocity than other 15 inch guns.

pecifications

* Date of design- 1934
* Entered service - 1939
* Bore - 15 inches (380 mm)
* Length - 52 calibres (19.63 m)
* Weight - 111 metric tonnes
* Rate of fire - 2.3 rounds per minute
* Shell weight - 1,764 lbs (800 kg)
* Propellant weight - 2 part charge 99.5 and 112.5 kg
* Range - up to 36,500 yards at 40.7 degrees
* Muzzle Velocity - Standard Charge: 2690 feet per second (820 m/s) naval mounting, 3445 fps (1050 m/s) coastal artillery
* Mountings
**2 gun turret Drh LC/38 (1052 Metric tons, up to 30 degree elevation)

References

* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_15-52_skc34.htm page from Nav weapons.com]