Germany
5 cm/40 (1.97") Tbts KL/40
5 cm/40 (1.97") SK L/40
Updated 06 February 2011
The 5 cm SK L/40 was developed for torpedo boats of the 1890s.  The 5 cm Tbts KL/40 was an improved version that was used to replace some of the older guns and used on a few submarines built during World War I.  Still in use during World War II on minor warships and auxiliaries.
WNGER_5cm-40_skc93_pic.jpg

5 cm/40 Tbts KL/40
Picture courtesy of Peter Lienau
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Gun Characteristics
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Designation 5 cm/40 (1.97") SK L/40
5 cm/40 (1.97") Tbts KL/40
Ship Class Used On Cruisers:  Gefion and Hela classes
Torpedo Boats:  S7, S66, S82, A1, D1, D7, D9, D10 and S90 classes
U-boats:  UB18 class
Date Of Design 5 cm SK L/40 about 1892
5 cm Tbts KL/40:  about 1913
Date In Service 5 cm SK L/40 about 1893
5 cm Tbts KL/40:  191
Gun Weight 5 cm Tbts KL/40:  0.280 tons (0.284 mt) including BM
5 cm SK L/40:  0.236 tons (0.240 mt) including BM
Gun Length oa about 78.7 in (2.000 m)
Bore length about 72.0 in (1.830 m)
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire 10 rounds per minute (?)
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Ammunition
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Type Fixed
Complete Round Weight N/A
Projectile Types and Weights HE - 3.86 lbs. (1.75 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length N/A
Propellant Charge N/A
Muzzle Velocity 2,152 fps (656 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun Gefion and Hela:  250 rounds
S7, S66 and S82:  156 rounds
A1:  120 rounds
D1, D7 and D10:  165 rounds
S90:  84 rounds
UB18:  200 rounds
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Range
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Elevation With 3.86 lbs. (1.75 kg) HE Shell
Range @ 12 degrees 5,290 yards (4,840 m)
Range @ 20 degrees 6,780 yards (6,200 m)
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Mount / Turret Data
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Designation Single Mountings

Gefion (6) and Hela (6):  N/A

S7 (1), S66 (1), S82 (1) D1 (3), D7 (3), D9 (3), D10 (5), and S90 (3):  Tbts C/93 (?)
A1 (1):  Tbts C/14

UB18 (1):  Tbts C/14 (?)
Weight  N/A
Elevation -5 (?) / +20 degrees
Elevation Rate Manual operation, only
Train N/A
Train Rate Manual operation, only
Gun recoil N/A
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Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships:  1906-1922" by Randal Gray and Robert Gardiner (Editor)
"German Warships 1815-1945" by Erich Gröner
Special help from Peter Lienau and Cliff McMullen
Page History

21 June 2008 - Benchmark
06 February 2011 - Added gun details