10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun
| 10.5 cm SK C/32 | |
|---|---|
|
U-123 SK C/32 deck gun. | |
| Type |
Naval gun Anti-aircraft gun Coastal defence gun |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1936—1945 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany |
| Wars | World War II |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1,585–1,785 kilograms (3,494–3,935 lb)[1] |
| Length | 4.74–4.86 meters (15 ft 7 in–15 ft 11 in)[1] |
| Barrel length | 4.4 meters (14 ft 5 in)[1] (bore length) |
|
| |
| Shell | Fixed |
| Shell weight | 15.1 kilograms (33 lb) |
| Caliber | 10.5 centimeters (4.1 in)[1] |
| Elevation |
Dependent on mount:
|
| Muzzle velocity | 785 m/s (2,580 ft/s)[1] |
| Maximum firing range |
Horizontal: 15 kilometers (16,000 yd) at +44.4° Ceiling: 10,300-metre (33,800 ft) at +80°[1] |
The 10.5 cm SK C/32 (SK - Schnelladekanone (quick loading cannon) C - Construktionsjahr (year of design), was a widely used German naval gun on a variety of Kriegsmarine ships during World War II. Originally designed as a surface weapon, it was used in a number of other roles such as anti-aircraft and coastal defence; wet-mounts were developed for U-Boats.
Description
The 10.5 cm SK C/32 was a built-up gun, 45 calibers long, with a jacket and breech that weighed about 1.8 tons. The gun fired 10.5 centimeters (4.1 in) fixed ammunition, which was 1.51 metres (5.0 ft) long, weighed 24.2 kilograms (53 lb) and had a 4.08-kilogram (9.0 lb) propellant charge. Useful life expectancy was 4,100 effective full charges (EFC) per barrel.[1]
Surface ships
The 10.5 cm SK C/32 was widely deployed on three different types of single mounts. The high-angle MPLC/30 was a modified 8.8 cm mount. The low-angle MPLC/32 was used on Type 35 torpedo boats, Type 37 torpedo boats, f-boats and Type 40 minesweepers. The high-angle MPLC/32 gE was used on the cruiser Emden, the battleship Schlesien, the battleship Schleswig-Holstein, Type 39 torpedo boats, Type 35 minesweepers and Type 43 minesweepers.[1]
U-boats
The 10.5 cm SK C/32 was the standard low-angle deck gun mounted forward of the conning tower in type I, type IX and type X U-boats. The Ubts LC/32 mounting used in type I and early type IX U-boats weighed about 5 tonnes. Later type IX and type XB U-boats used the lighter Ubts LC/36 mounting with a maximum elevation of +30° .[1] During the early war years, these guns were used to encourage surrender of independently routed merchant ships or to sink ships damaged by torpedoes.[2] Some of these guns were later removed from U-boats for mounting aboard type 40 minesweepers after unshielded deck guns proved impractical in action against Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships and escorted trade convoys.[3]
Coastal defence
Norway used this gun in coastal defence batteries until 2002.
See also
Weapons of comparable role, performance and era
- QF 4 inch Mk XII & Mk XXII guns : Slightly less powerful British equivalent submarine guns
Notes
References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 10.5cm SK C32. |
- Blair, Clay (1996). Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters 1939-1942. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-394-58839-8.
- Campbell, John (2002). Naval Weapons of World War Two. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
- Lenton, H.T. (1976). German Warships of the Second World War. New York: Arco. ISBN 0-668-04037-8.
External links
- Tony DiGiulian, Germany 10.5 cm/45 (4.1") SK C/32