The 8.8 cm SK C/35[Note 1] was a German naval gun used in World War II.
8.8 cm SK C/35 | |
---|---|
Type | Naval gun |
Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
Service history | |
In service | 1939–1945 |
Used by | Kriegsmarine Royal Romanian Navy |
Wars | World War II |
Production history | |
Designed | 1935–1938 |
Specifications | |
Mass | 776 kilograms (1,711 lb) |
Length | 3.985 meters (13 ft 0.9 in) |
Barrel length | 3.731 meters (12 ft 2.9 in) (bore length) |
Shell | Fixed Brass Casing: 15 kilograms (33 lb) |
Shell weight | 9–10.2 kilograms (20–22 lb) |
Caliber | 88 millimeters (3.5 in) |
Breech | vertical sliding-block |
Elevation | +30° to −10°[1] |
Traverse | 360° |
Muzzle velocity | 700 m/s (2,300 ft/s) |
Maximum firing range | 11,950 metres (13,070 yd) at +30°[1] |
The 8.8 cm SK C/35 gun weighed 776 kilograms (1,711 lb) and had an overall length of 3.985 meters (13 ft 0.9 in) with a vertical sliding-block breech. The gun fired a 9.5 kg (21 lb) projectile 88 mm in diameter, and the barrel is sometimes described as 45 caliber. A 2.82 kg (6.2 lb) propellent charge produced muzzle velocity of 700 m/s (2,300 ft/s) with nose-fuzed high explosive and high explosive incendiary projectiles (with or without tracer). Useful life expectancy was 12,000 effective full charges (EFC) per barrel.[1]
Ammunition was of a fixed type with a Complete Round Weight of 15 kg (33 lb) and a projectile length of around 355 mm (14.0 in). The gun was able to fire:
The High Explosive (HE) round has a muzzle velocity of 700 m/s (2,300 ft/s).[2]
This was the standard deck gun mounted forward of the conning tower in Type VII boats, although a few substituted a high-angle 8.8 cm SK C/30 naval gun for anti-aircraft defense.[1] The SK C/35 was designed for the prototype VIIA boats of 1935 with a nominal ammunition allowance of 220 rounds. During the early war years, these guns were used to encourage surrender of independently routed merchant ships or to sink ships damaged by torpedoes.[3] Some of these guns were later removed from U-boats for mounting aboard minesweepers and submarine chasers after unshielded deck guns proved impractical in action against Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships and escorted trade convoys.[4]