Germany
8.8 cm/45 (3.46") SK C/30
8.8 cm/45 (3.46") KM41
Updated 05 June 2011
These guns were intended for smaller warships such as submarine-chasers and Flak corvettes.  The KM41 was a lighter version but is not believed to have actually entered service.  Both of these guns were significantly lighter than the older 8.8 cm (3.46") SK L/45 guns.

The SK C/30 had a barrel and breech end-piece with a half-length loose liner.  A vertical sliding breech block was used.  The KM41 used a monobloc barrel with a muzzle brake and used a horizontal sliding breech block.  The gun barrel could easily be removed from the breech end-piece.

Unless otherwise noted, the data below is for the 8.8 cm/45 (3.46") SK C/30.
WNGER_88mm-45_skc30_pic.jpg

8.8 cm/45 SK/C30 gun in Flak L C/30 pedestal mount on bows of "KFK" class auxiliary ship
CAW Collection Photograph
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Gun Characteristics
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Designation 8.8 cm/45 (3.46") SK C/30
8.8 cm/45 (3.46") KM41
Ship Class Used On Smaller warships of World War II
Date Of Design C/30:  1930
KM41:  1941
Date In Service C/30:  1933
KM41:  1943 (?)
Gun Weight SK C/30:  2,712 lbs. (1,230 kg)
KM41:  2,116 lbs. (960 kg)
Gun Length oa 155.91 in (3.960 m)
Bore length 145.91 in (3.706 m)
Rifling Length 122.42 in (3.110 m)
Grooves (32) 0.041 in deep x 0.213 in (1.05 mm x 5.4 mm)
Lands 0.126 in (3.2 mm)
Twist Increasing RH 1 in 45 to 1 in 31
Chamber Volume 224 in3 (3.67 dm3)
Rate Of Fire about 15 rounds per minute
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Ammunition
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Type Fixed
Complete Round Weight N/A
Projectile Types and Weights HE, nose fuze - 19.8 lbs. (9.0 kg)
HE, incendiary - 20.94 lbs. (9.5 kg)
AP - 22.5 lbs. (10.0 kg)
Illum - N/A
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length about 14.0 in (385.5 mm)
Propellant Charge 6.22 lbs. (2.82 kg) RPC/38
Muzzle Velocity 2,590 fps (790 mps)
Working Pressure 17.5 tons/in2 (2,750 kg/cm2)
Approximate Barrel Life 7,000 rounds
Ammunition stowage per gun N/A
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Range
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Elevation With 19.8 lbs. (9.0 kg) HE Shell
Range @ 43 degrees 15,500 yards (14,175 m)
AA Ceiling @ 70 degrees about 30,000 feet (9,150 m)
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Mount / Turret Data
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Designation Single Mountings

For SK C/30
   Biaxial MPLC/30
   SKC/30U
   Ubts L C/35
   Ubts Flak LC/41

For KM41
   Triaxial turntable mounting Flak LM41
Weight  MPLC/30:  5.67 tons (5.76 mt)
Flak LM41:  4.675 tons (4.750 mt)
Elevation MPLC/30:  -10 / +70 degrees
Flak LM41:  -10 / +75 degrees (cross-leveling +/- 15 degrees)
Elevation Rate Manual operation, only
Train N/A
Train Rate Manual operation, only
Gun recoil N/A
Note:  The SKC/30U, Ubts L C/35 and Ubts Flak LC/41 were wet-mounts for U-boats.
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Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"German Naval Guns:  1939 - 1945" by Miroslaw Skwiot
Page History

06 October 2006 - Benchmark
05 June 2011 - Added picture