15 cm SK L/40 Naval Gun Overview
The 15 cm SK L/40 was a notable German naval artillery piece employed as secondary armament on pre-dreadnought battleships, protected cruisers, and armored cruisers during World War I. Additionally, it served as a coast-defense gun throughout both World Wars I and II.
Construction
This gun was designed with a robust structure comprising an A tube and two layers of hoops, utilizing a Krupp horizontal sliding-wedge breech block. It employed separate loading metallic cased propellant charges alongside projectiles. Unlike many other large naval guns of its era that utilized bagged charges, the SK L/40 utilized charges encased in a brass cartridge case for effective obturation. These guns were typically mounted in single casemates or turrets positioned amidships. Beyond its primary production for the Imperial German Navy, comparable export models were manufactured for the Royal Netherlands Navy and produced under license by Škoda for the Austro-Hungarian Navy.
Naval Use
Ship classes that notably carried the 15 cm SK L/40 include:
- Haiyung class protected cruiser (China)
Ammunition
The ammunition type for the 15 cm SK L/40 was characterized as separate loading quick fire. The projectiles measured between 39–46.5 cm (1–2 ft) in length and came with a cartridge case and a bagged charge weighing approximately 10 kg (22 lb).
The gun was capable of firing the following types of ammunition:
- Armor Piercing: 51 kg (112 lb)
- High Explosive Base Fuzed: 45 kg (99 lb)
- High Explosive Nose Fuzed: 45 kg (99 lb)
- Common Shell Nose Fuzed: 45 kg (99 lb)
See Also
- List of naval guns
- Battery Lothringen
- 15 cm L/40 Feldkanone i.R.
- 15 cm K (E)
- QF 6 inch /40 naval gun (British equivalent, firing slightly heavier shell)
- 6″/40 caliber gun (US equivalent, firing slightly heavier shell)
References
Reichs-Marine-Amt, ed. (1909). Bedienungsvorschrift für die 15 cm Schnellade-Kanone L/40 in 15 cm Mittel-Pivot-Lafette C/97 in Einzelkasematte. Berlin: E. S. Mittler. OCLC 252061246.
Campbell, John (2002). Naval Weapons of World War Two. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
Gander, Terry; Chamberlain, Peter (1979). Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939–1945. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-15090-3.
Hogg, Ian V. (1997). German Artillery of World War Two (2nd corrected ed.). Mechanicsville, PA: Stackpole Books. ISBN 1-85367-480-X.
Rolf, Rudi (1998). Der Atlantikwall: Bauten der deutschen Küstenbefestigungen 1940-1945. Osnabrück: Biblio. ISBN 3-7648-2469-7.
Schmalenbach, Paul (1983). “German Navy Large Bore Guns Operational Ashore During World War I”. Warship International. XX (2): 123–153. ISSN 0043-0374.