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{{Infobox Weapon
{{Infobox weapon
|name=15 cm SK L/45
|name=15 cm SK L/45
|image=[[File:German gun from SMS Bremse - geograph.org.uk - 118942.jpg|300px]]
| image=German gun from SMS Bremse - geograph.org.uk - 118942.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=Gun salvaged from {{SMS|Bremse}}, at the [[Scapa Flow#Scapa Flow Visitor Centre|Scapa Flow Visitor Centre]], [[Hoy]], [[Orkney]]
|caption=Gun salvaged from {{SMS|Bremse}}, at the [[Scapa Flow#Scapa Flow Visitor Centre|Scapa Flow Visitor Centre]], [[Hoy, Orkney|Hoy]], [[Orkney]]
|origin= [[German Empire]]
|origin= [[German Empire]]
|type=[[Naval gun]]<br /> [[Railroad gun]]<br />[[Coastal artillery|Coast-defence gun]]
|type=[[Naval gun]]<br /> [[Railroad gun]]<br />[[Coastal artillery]]
<!-- Type selection -->
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_ranged=
|is_ranged=
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|service=1908—45
|service=1908—45
|used_by= Germany
|used_by= Germany
|wars=[[World War I]], [[World War II]]
|wars=[[World War I]]<br>[[World War II]]
<!-- Production history -->
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=[[Krupp]]
|designer=[[Krupp]]
|design_date=1906—08
|design_date=1906
|manufacturer=[[Krupp]]
|manufacturer=[[Krupp]]
|production_date=
|production_date=1908
|number=
|number=
|variants=
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
<!-- General specifications -->
|weight=
|weight={{convert|5730|kg|lb}}
|length={{convert|6.71|m|ftin|sigfig=1}}
|length=
|part_length={{convert|6.71|m|ft|sigfig=1}}
|part_length={{convert|6.32|m|ftin|sigfig=1}}L/45
|width=
|width=
|height=
|height=
|crew=
|crew=
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
<!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
|cartridge=separate-loading, case charge
|cartridge=[[Glossary of British ordnance terms#Separate QF|separate loading quick fire]]
|caliber={{convert|149.1|mm|in}}
|caliber={{convert|149.1|mm|in}}
|action=
|action=
|rate=
|rate=5-7 rpm
|velocity={{convert|840|m/s|ft/s}}
|velocity={{convert|840|m/s|ft/s}}
|range=
|range=
|max_range=
|max_range=See table
|feed=
|feed=
|sights=
|sights=
<!-- Artillery specifications -->
<!-- Artillery specifications -->
|breech=horizontal sliding-wedge
|breech=horizontal [[Rifled breech loader#The sliding block|sliding-wedge]]
|recoil=hydro-spring
|recoil=[[Glossary of British ordnance terms#Hydro-spring|Hydro-spring]]
|carriage=
|carriage=
|elevation=
|elevation=See table
|traverse=
|traverse=−150° to +150°
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->
|blade_type=
|blade_type=
|hilt_type=
|hilt_type=
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|head_type=
|head_type=
|haft_type=
|haft_type=
<!-- Explosive specifications -->
<!-- Explosive specifications -->
|diameter=
|diameter=
|filling=
|filling=
Line 73: Line 74:


==Naval service==
==Naval service==
The 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 was a widely used naval gun on many classes of World War I [[dreadnought]]s and [[cruisers]] in both [[Casemate#Single casemates .281889 onwards.29|casemates]] and [[Gun turret|turrets]]. It was constructed of an A tube and two layers of hoops with a Krupp horizontal [[Rifled breech loader#The sliding block|sliding-wedge]] breech block. During World War I a few pre-war cruisers that were armed with 10.5&nbsp;cm guns were rearmed with these weapons. In World War II the 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 was widely used as [[coastal artillery]] and as primary armament on [[List of auxiliary and merchant cruisers#German auxiliary cruiser raiders|German auxiliary cruisers]].
This gun was fitted as the casemate-mounted secondary armament in all [[German Empire|Imperial German]] [[dreadnought]] battleships and battlecruisers, the armored cruiser {{SMS|Blücher}} and as primary armament in the {{sclass-|Pillau|cruiser|5}}, {{sclass-|Wiesbaden|cruiser|5}}, [[Königsberg-class cruiser (1915)|''Königsberg'']], {{sclass-|Cöln|cruiser|5}} and the {{sclass-|Brummer|cruiser}}s. After World War I it was fitted to the light cruiser {{ship|German cruiser|Emden||2}}.


Ship classes that carried the 15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 include:
{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|
* [[Bremen-class cruiser|Bremen-class]]
* [[Brummer-class cruiser|Brummer-class]]
* [[Graudenz-class cruiser|Graudenz-class]]
* [[Kolberg-class cruiser|Kolberg-class]]
* [[Magdeburg-class cruiser|Magdeburg-class]]
* [[Pillau-class cruiser|Pillau-class]]
}}
{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
|+ '''15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 Mounts'''<ref>from NavWeaps</ref>
|+ '''15&nbsp;cm SK L/45 mounts'''<ref>from NavWeaps</ref>
! Type of mount
| align="left" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Type of Mount'''
! Designation
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Designation'''
! Weight
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Weight'''
! Elevation
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Elevation'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Range (during World War I)'''
! Range (during World War I)
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Ship classes'''
! Ship classes
|-
|-
| rowspan="4"| Single pedestal mounts in casemates||MPL C/06||{{convert|15770|kg|lb}}||-7° to +20°||{{convert|14900|m|yd}}||Nassau, Helgoland, Kaiser, von der Tann, Moltke, Blücher
| rowspan="4"| Single pedestal mounts in casemates||MPL C/06||{{convert|15770|kg|lb|abbr=on}}||−7° to +20°||{{convert|14.9|km|mi|abbr=on}} at 20°||[[Nassau-class battleship|Nassau]], [[Helgoland-class battleship|Helgoland]], [[Kaiser-class battleship|Kaiser]], [[SMS Von der Tann|von der Tann]], [[Moltke-class battlecruiser|Moltke]], [[SMS Blücher|Blücher]]
|-
|-
| |MPL C/06.11||{{convert|16533|kg|lb}}||-10° to +19°||{{convert|13500|m|yd}}||König, Seydlitz, Derfflinger
| |MPL C/06.11||{{convert|16533|kg|lb|abbr=on}}||−10° to +19°||{{convert|13.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} at +19||[[König-class battleship|König]], [[SMS Seydlitz|Seydlitz]], [[Derfflinger-class battlecruiser|Derfflinger]], [[SMS Lützow|Lutzow]]
|-
|-
| |MPL C/13||{{convert|17950|kg|lb}}||-8.5° to +19||{{convert|13500|m|yd}}||Bayern, Hindenburg, Mackensen
| |MPL C/13||{{convert|17950|kg|lb|abbr=on}}||−8.5° to +19||{{convert|13.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} at +19||[[Bayern-class battleship|Bayern]], [[SMS Hindenburg|Hindenburg]], [[Mackensen-class battlecruiser|Mackensen]]
|-
|-
| |MPL C/13 mod||{{convert|18350|kg|lb}}||-8.5° to +22||{{convert|15800|m|yd}}||Wartime modification to MPL C/13
| |MPL C/13 mod||{{convert|18350|kg|lb|abbr=on}}||−8.5° to +22||{{convert|15.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} at +22||Wartime modification to MPL C/13
|-
|-
| rowspan="3"| Single pedestal mounts in open half-shields||MPL C/14||{{convert|16185|kg|lb}}||-10° to +22°||{{convert|15800|m|yd}}||Wiesbaden, Königsberg II
| rowspan="3"| Single pedestal mounts in open half-shields||MPL C/14||{{convert|16185|kg|lb|abbr=on}}||−10° to +22°||{{convert|15.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} at +22||[[Wiesbaden-class cruiser|Wiesbaden]], [[Königsberg-class cruiser (1915)|Königsberg II]]
|-
|-
| |MPL C/16||{{convert|17116|kg|lb}}||-10° to +27°||{{convert|16800|m|yd}}||Cöln II, Emden
| |MPL C/16||{{convert|17116|kg|lb|abbr=on}}||−10° to +27°||{{convert|16.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} at +27||[[Cöln-class cruiser|Cöln II]], [[SMS Emden (1916)|Emden II]]
|-
|-
| |MPL C/16 mod||||-10° to +30||{{convert|17600|m|yd}}||wartime modification to MPL C/16
| |MPL C/16 mod||||−10° to +30||{{convert|17.6|km|mi|abbr=on}} at +30||wartime modification to MPL C/16
|}
|}


== Ammunition ==
==Ammunition==
Ammunition was of [[Glossary of British ordnance terms#Separate QF|separate loading quick fire]] type. The projectiles were {{convert|61|cm|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=1}} long with a single bagged charge which weighed {{convert|13-14|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.
It used {{convert|45.3|kg|lb}} 15&nbsp;cm Spgr L/4.1 [[Shell (projectile)#High Explosive (HE)|HE]] shells with a bursting charge weight between {{convert|3.9|kg|lb}} and {{convert|4.09|kg|lb}}, depending on how the shell was fuzed.


The gun was able to fire:
⚫
== Coast Defense Gun ==
* [[Shell (projectile)#Armor-piercing shells|Armor piercing]] {{convert|45.3|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
⚫
[[File:15 cm SK L45 coastal artillery gun at Nordarnøy, Norway - 1.jpg|thumb|15 cm SK L/45 coastal artillery gun at [[Nordarnøy]], [[Gildeskål]], Norway]]
* [[High Explosive|High explosive]] [[Artillery fuze#Base fuzes|base fuzed]] {{convert|45.3|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
* [[High Explosive|High explosive]] [[Artillery fuze#Direct action fuzes|nose fuzed]] {{convert|45.3|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
* [[Glossary of British ordnance terms#Common shell|Common shell]] {{convert|45.3|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

⚫
== Coast defense gun ==
⚫
[[File:15 cm SK L45 coastal artillery gun at Nordarnøy, Norway - 1.jpg|thumb|15 cm SK L/45 coastal artillery gun at [[Nord-Arnøya]], [[Gildeskål Municipality]], Norway]]
[[File:15 cm SK L45 coastal artillery gun at Nordarnøy, Norway - 2.jpg|thumb|Rear view of the above pictured gun]]
[[File:15 cm SK L45 coastal artillery gun at Nordarnøy, Norway - 2.jpg|thumb|Rear view of the above pictured gun]]
The same gun was used for coast defense duties in concrete emplacements after World War I. One example was ''3./Marine-Artillerie Abteilung 604'' ("3rd Battery of Naval Artillery Battalion 604") in [[Jersey]].<ref>Gander and Chamberlain, p. 266</ref> They show it using {{convert|44|kg|lb}} shells with a range of {{convert|18000|m|yd}}
The same gun was used for coast defense duties in concrete emplacements after World War I. One example was ''3./Marine-Artillerie Abteilung 604'' ("3rd Battery of Naval Artillery Battalion 604") in [[Jersey]].<ref>Gander and Chamberlain, p. 266</ref> They show it using {{convert|44|kg|lb}} shells with a range of {{convert|18000|m|yd}}


== Railroad Gun ==
== Railroad gun ==
{{main|15 cm SK "Nathan"}}
{{main|15 cm SK "Nathan"}}
It was also used as a railroad gun during [[World War I]].
It was also used as a railroad gun during [[World War I]].


==See also==
==See also==

===Weapons of comparable role, performance and era===
===Weapons of comparable role, performance and era===
*[[BL 6 inch Mk XII naval gun]] British equivalent
*[[BL 6 inch Mk XII naval gun]] British equivalent
Line 125: Line 140:
== References ==
== References ==
* {{cite book|last=Gander|first=Terry|author2=Chamberlain, Peter|title=Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939–1945|publisher=Doubleday|location=New York|year=1979|isbn=0-385-15090-3}}
* {{cite book|last=Gander|first=Terry|author2=Chamberlain, Peter|title=Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939–1945|publisher=Doubleday|location=New York|year=1979|isbn=0-385-15090-3}}
* {{cite book|title=Naval Weapons of World War Two |author=Campbell, John |publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1985|isbn=0-87021-459-4}}
* {{cite book|title=Naval Weapons of World War One|last=Friedman|first=Norman|publisher=Seaforth|year=2011|isbn=978-1-84832-100-7|location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK}}
* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1985|isbn=0-85177-245-5|location=Annapolis, Maryland|editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|15 cm Schnelladekanone L/45}}
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_59-45_skc16.htm the 15cm SK L/45 on NavWeaps]
* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_59-45_skc16.htm the 15cm SK L/45 on NavWeaps]


{{WWIGermanNavalWeapons}}
⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:15 Cm Schnelladekanone L 45}}
{{WWIIGermanGuns}}

⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:15 cm 4th cat SK L/45}}
[[Category:Naval guns of Germany]]
[[Category:Naval guns of Germany]]
[[Category:Krupp naval guns]]
[[Category:World War I naval weapons]]
[[Category:World War II naval weapons]]
[[Category:World War II naval weapons]]
[[Category:150 mm artillery]]
[[Category:150 mm artillery]]
[[Category:Coastal artillery]]
[[Category:Coastal artillery]]

{{Germany-mil-stub}}
{{artillery-stub}}

Latest revision as of 00:44, 23 September 2024

15 cm SK L/45
Gun salvaged from SMS Bremse, at the Scapa Flow Visitor Centre, Hoy, Orkney
TypeNaval gun
Railroad gun
Coastal artillery
Place of originGerman Empire
Service history
In service1908—45
Used byGermany
WarsWorld War I
World War II
Production history
DesignerKrupp
Designed1906
ManufacturerKrupp
Produced1908
Specifications
Mass5,730 kilograms (12,630 lb)
Length6.71 metres (22 ft 0 in)
Barrel length6.32 metres (20 ft 9 in)L/45
Shellseparate loading quick fire
Caliber149.1 millimetres (5.87 in)
Breechhorizontal sliding-wedge
RecoilHydro-spring
ElevationSee table
Traverse−150° to +150°
Rate of fire5-7 rpm
Muzzle velocity840 metres per second (2,800 ft/s)
Maximum firing rangeSee table

The 15 cm SK L/45[Note 1] was a German naval gun used in World War I and World War II.

[edit]

The 15 cm SK L/45 was a widely used naval gun on many classes of World War I dreadnoughts and cruisers in both casemates and turrets. It was constructed of an A tube and two layers of hoops with a Krupp horizontal sliding-wedge breech block. During World War I a few pre-war cruisers that were armed with 10.5 cm guns were rearmed with these weapons. In World War II the 15 cm SK L/45 was widely used as coastal artillery and as primary armament on German auxiliary cruisers.

Ship classes that carried the 15 cm SK L/45 include:

15 cm SK L/45 mounts[1]
Type of mount Designation Weight Elevation Range (during World War I) Ship classes
Single pedestal mounts in casemates MPL C/06 15,770 kg (34,770 lb) −7° to +20° 14.9 km (9.3 mi) at 20° Nassau, Helgoland, Kaiser, von der Tann, Moltke, Blücher
MPL C/06.11 16,533 kg (36,449 lb) −10° to +19° 13.5 km (8.4 mi) at +19 König, Seydlitz, Derfflinger, Lutzow
MPL C/13 17,950 kg (39,570 lb) −8.5° to +19 13.5 km (8.4 mi) at +19 Bayern, Hindenburg, Mackensen
MPL C/13 mod 18,350 kg (40,450 lb) −8.5° to +22 15.8 km (9.8 mi) at +22 Wartime modification to MPL C/13
Single pedestal mounts in open half-shields MPL C/14 16,185 kg (35,682 lb) −10° to +22° 15.8 km (9.8 mi) at +22 Wiesbaden, Königsberg II
MPL C/16 17,116 kg (37,734 lb) −10° to +27° 16.8 km (10.4 mi) at +27 Cöln II, Emden II
MPL C/16 mod −10° to +30 17.6 km (10.9 mi) at +30 wartime modification to MPL C/16

Ammunition

[edit]

Ammunition was of separate loading quick fire type. The projectiles were 61 cm (2 ft) long with a single bagged charge which weighed 13–14 kg (29–31 lb).

The gun was able to fire:

Coast defense gun

[edit]
15 cm SK L/45 coastal artillery gun at Nord-Arnøya, Gildeskål Municipality, Norway
Rear view of the above pictured gun

The same gun was used for coast defense duties in concrete emplacements after World War I. One example was 3./Marine-Artillerie Abteilung 604 ("3rd Battery of Naval Artillery Battalion 604") in Jersey.[2] They show it using 44 kilograms (97 lb) shells with a range of 18,000 metres (20,000 yd)

Railroad gun

[edit]
Main article: 15 cm SK "Nathan"

It was also used as a railroad gun during World War I.

See also

[edit]

Weapons of comparable role, performance and era

[edit]

Footnotes

[edit]
Notes
  1. ^ SK - Schnelladekanone (quick loading cannon); L - Länge in Kaliber (length in caliber)
Citations
  1. ^ from NavWeaps
  2. ^ Gander and Chamberlain, p. 266

References

[edit]
  • 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.
  • Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-459-4.
  • Friedman, Norman (2011). Naval Weapons of World War One. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Seaforth. ISBN 978-1-84832-100-7.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
[edit]
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