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During World War II these guns were used only as coastal artillery. They were then supplied with a lighter shell with a larger propellant charge for increased range. Constructed of A tube, two layers of hoops and a jacket. Used the Krupp horizontal sliding wedge breech block. All German 28 cm guns had an actual bore diameter of 28.3 cm (11.1"). |
Battlecruiser Von der Tann
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Battleship Westfalen
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| Designation | 28 cm/45 (11") SK L/45 |
| Ship Class Used On | Nassau and Von der Tann Classes |
| Date Of Design | 1907 |
| Date In Service | 1909 |
| Gun Weight
(see Note) |
87,743 lbs. (39,800 kg) |
| Gun Length oa | 501.4 in (12.735 m) |
| Bore Length | 472.7 in (12.006 m) |
| Rifling Length | 381.9 in (9.699 m) |
| Grooves | (80) 0.11 in D x 0.272 in W (2.8 mm D x 6.92 mm W) |
| Lands | 0.165 in (4.2 mm) |
| Twist | Increasing RH 1 in 45 to 1 in 30 at muzzle |
| Chamber Volume | 9,154 in3 (150 dm3) |
| Rate Of Fire | 3 rounds per minute |
| Note: The often-seen figure of 117,947 lbs. (53,500 kg) for this weapon actually includes the weight of the Weige (gun cradle). | |
| Type | Cartridge - Bag |
| Projectile Types and Weights | World War I
APC L/3,2 - 666 lbs. (302 kg) World War II
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| Bursting Charge | APC L/3,2 - 19.74 lbs. (8.95 kg)
Others - N/A |
| Projectile Length | APC L/3,2 - about 35.3 in (90 cm)
HE L/3,6 base fuze - about 39.7 in (101 cm) HE L/4,4 base and nose fuze - about 48.5 in (123 cm) |
| Propellant Charge | World War I
Main Charge: 174 lbs. (79 kg) RPC/12 Fore Charge: 57 lbs. (26 kg) RPC/12 World War II
Total main cartridge weight: 262.3
lbs. (119 kg)
After 1942 (see Note 2)
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| Muzzle Velocity | World War I
2,805 fps (855 mps) World War II
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| Working Pressure | 20.9 tons/in2 (3,300 kg/cm2) |
| Approximate Barrel Life | 210 - 260 rounds |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | Nassau: 75 rounds
Von der Tann: 82.5 rounds |
| Notes:
1) These guns, like most large caliber German guns of this era, used a "fore charge" which was propellant in a double bag silk case and a "main charge" which was propellant in a brass case. The brass case helped to seal the breech of the gun. 2) I lack the breakdown between the fore and main charges for the RPC/38 propellants used after 1942. 3) Actual Projectile designations were as follows. APC L/3,2 - Psgr. L/3,2 (mhb)
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| Elevation | With 666 lbs. (302 kg) AP Shell |
| Range @ 20 degrees
(maximum elevation of turrets) |
20,670 yards (18,900 m)
After 1915: 22,310 yards (20,400 m) |
| Elevation | With 626 lbs. (284 kg) HE L4,4 Shell |
| Range @ 49.2 degrees
maximum elevation as coastal artillery |
40,350 yards (36,900 m) |
| Range |
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| 13,120 yards (12,000 m) |
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| Note: The above information is from "Die Geschichte der deutschen Schiffsartillerie." | ||
| Designation | Two-gun Turrets
Nassau (6): Drh LC/1906 Von der Tann (4): Drh LC/1907 Single Coastal Artillery Turrets
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| Weight | Drh LC/1906: 394 tons (400 mt)
Drh LC/1907: 418 - 428 tons (425 - 435 mt) |
| Elevation | Drh LC/1906: -6 / +20 degrees
Drh LC/1907: -8 / +20 degrees Coastal artillery: -5 / +50 degrees |
| Elevation Rate | Drh LC/1906: 3.5 degrees per second
Drh LC/1907: 4.0 degrees per second Coastal Artillery: 10 degrees per second with shell loaded |
| Train | End Turrets: About +150 / -150 degrees
Beam Turrets: About +80 / -80 degrees Coastal Artillery: -220 / +220 degrees |
| Train Rate | Drh LC/1906: 3.5 degrees per second
Drh LC/1907: 3.6 degrees per second Coastal Artillery: 4 degrees per second |
| Gun recoil | Nominal: 33.9 in (86 cm)
Mechanical Limit: 35.4 in (90 cm) |
| Loading Angle | Ships: 2 degrees
Coastal Artillery: 0 degrees |
| Notes:
1) Drh LC/1906: These mountings used electrically powered training and elevation gear. Lower hoists did not rotate with the gunhouse. 2) Drh LC/1907: These mountings used electrically powered training gear but the elevation gear was hydraulic. Lower hoists rotated with the gunhouse. 3) Shell rooms were below the magazines in the battleships. On Von der Tann, the bow and wing turrets had the magazines above the shell rooms but the stern turret had the magazine below the shell room. 4) Following the Dogger Bank action, German mountings were modified to improve flash precautions. Double flap doors were installed at the beginning and end of the cartridge hoist and ready ammunition was removed from the gun houses. 5) Gun axes were 89.4 in (227 cm) apart. 6) Armor thickness given in "Naval Weapons of World War One" by Norman Friedman: Drh LC/1906 and Drh LC/1907 except for
those on Von der Tann
Drh LC/1907 on Von der Tann Face: 9.1 in (23
cm)
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24 April 2008 - Benchmark
16 April 2009 - Replaced pictures of Von
der Tann and Westfalen
20 May 2012 - Updated to latest template
24 November 2012 - Added details about
guns, ammunition and mountings