Germany 10.5 cm/45 (4.1") SK C/06, Flak L/45, Tbts L/45 and Ubts L/45

Germany
10.5 cm/45 (4.1") SK L/45
10.5 cm/45 (4.1") SK C/06
10.5 cm/45 (4.1") Flak L/45
10.5 cm/45 (4.1") Tbts L/45
10.5 cm/45 (4.1") Ubts L/45

Updated 20 May 2012

This weapon armed most cruisers built in the early 1900s, with 125 guns manufactured during that time. During World War I, additional guns were built and used as AAA weapons. Late in the war some destroyers and submarines were also armed with these weapons.

During World War II, most surviving guns were altered to take the same ammunition as the 10.5 cm/45 SK C/32 and they were then used on U-boats and small combatants.

10.5 cm Ubts.u.Tbts.K. L/45 from U98 now at the Imperial War Museum in London, UK
Note the horizontally sliding breech block and top-mounted recoil cylinders
Photograph copyrighted by Vladimir Yakubov

Identity Plate on above weapon
Photograph copyrighted by Shane Rogers

Light Cruiser Cöln-II in 1918

German AA Ship Nymphe (ex-Norwegian Tordenskjold) during World War II
I believe these to be 10.5 cm Flak 45 guns
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 71445

Gun Characteristics .

Designation	10.5 cm/45 (4.1") SK L/45 10.5 cm/45 (4.1") SK C/06 10.5 cm/45 (4.1") Flak L/45 10.5 cm/45 (4.1") Tbts L/45 10.5 cm/45 (4.1") Ubts L/45
Ship Class Used On	1907 to 1918 Cruisers: Kolberg, Magdeburg, Karlsruhe and Graudenz classes Destroyers: G96 and V170 classes Submarines: U61 and U62 1925 to 1945 Möwe class, F-boats, Type 40 and older minesweepers Some Type VII submarines as refitted
Date Of Design	1906
Date In Service	1907
Gun Weight	3,200 lbs. (1,450 kg)
Gun Length oa	about 186 in (4.725 m)
Bore Length	N/A
Rifling Length	N/A
Grooves	N/A
Lands	N/A
Twist	N/A
Chamber Volume	N/A
Rate Of Fire	15 rounds per minute

Ammunition .

Type	Fixed
Complete Round Weight	AP - N/A HE - 56.2 lbs. (25.5 kg)
Projectile Types and Weights	AP - N/A HE - 38.4 lbs. (17.4 kg)
Bursting Charge	AP - N/A HE - N/A
Projectile Length	N/A
Propellant Charge	7.0 lbs. (3.18 kg) RPC/12
Muzzle Velocity	2,329 fps (710 mps)
Working Pressure	N/A
Approximate Barrel Life	N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun	1907 to 1918 Cruisers: 150 rounds (later increased to 183) G96 and V170 Destroyers: 80 rounds V25 Destroyers (as rearmed): 70 rounds B97 Destroyers (as rearmed): 80 rounds Submarines: Between 100 and 250 rounds 1925 to 1945 Möwe: 100 rounds Others: N/A

Range .

Elevation	With 38.4 lbs. (17.4 kg) HE Shell
Range @ 30 degrees	13,890 yards (12,700 m)
AA Ceiling (Flak 45 only)	about 27,000 feet (8,230 m)
Notes: 1) This data is for performance during World War I. For performance during World War II, see the 10.5 cm/45 (4.1") SK C/32 data page. 2) During the Falklands Battle of 1914, these 10.5 cm (4.1") guns on SMS Nürnberg significantly outranged the 6"/45 (15.2 cm) guns on HMS Kent. Likewise during this same battle, the 10.5 cm (4.1") guns on SMS Leipzig outranged the 6"/50 (15.2 cm) guns on HMS Glasgow. However, the heavier British shells with their lyddite bursters were much more effective than the lighter German ones.

Mount / Turret Data .

Designation	1907 to 1918 Cruisers (12): MPL C/06 Destroyers B97 (4), V25 (3), G96 (3) and V170 (4): Tbts LC/16 Submarines (1): Ubts LC/16 Capital Ships (AA Mountings): Flak 45 1925 to 1945 Möwe (3) Tbts LC/16 Some small combatants used the MPLC/30 which was an 8.8 cm mounting modified to take the larger weapon
Weight	6,020 lbs. (2,730 kg)
Elevation	MPL C/06: -10 / +30 degrees Tbts LC/16: -10 / +50 degrees Ubts LC/16: -10 / +50 degrees Flak 45: -5 / +70 degrees MPLC/30: -9 / +80 degrees
Elevation Rate	Hand operated, only
Train	360 degrees
Train Rate	Hand operated, only
Gun recoil	8 - 9 in (20 - 23 cm)
Note: Some torpedo boats replaced their 8.8 cm/45 guns with these more powerful weapons starting in the summer of 1916. A few Reichsmarine torpedo boats were rearmed with these guns in 1921.

Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"German Warships 1815-1945" by Erich Gröner
"Graf Spee's Raiders: Challenge to the Royal Navy, 1914-1915" by Keith Yates
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Special Help from Peter Lienau

Page History

19 February 2008 - Benchmark
20 May 2012 - Updated to latest template