Cutaway model of a 8,8cm SprGr. Patr. 35 (SprGr. Patr. = high explosive shell) for the Sk C/35 (Sk. = Schiffs kanone / schip gun). This gun was the standard deck gun for the German WW2 Type VII U-boat and was also used on so called Marinefährpräme (naval floating vessel), originally a rivership converted to a landingship, and later converted to a minelayer. A couple of years ago one of these vessels was lifted from lake Veere in Zeeland, of which the 8,8cm Sk.C/35deck gun was removed from the wreck and overhauled. These days the gun is an exhibition piece in the ‘bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland’ (picture 05)
The deck gun was used for targets for which torpedo’s were too expensive either unsuitable like land - and air targets, coasters, sailing ships , fishing boats and targets that were easily set on fire like tankers.
Torpedo’s were kept for large vessels ships and war ships.
The shell body consists of a pressed and machined steel body, with a screwed in base flange. In top a so called ‘mundlochbuchse’ (booster bushing) is screwed in. In this bushing the aluminum ‘Zundladung A’ (Booster charge A) is placed, filled with Nitropenta and a flame sensitive detonator in top.
The explosive charge consits of two parts; in top a ring shaped aluminum bushing containing 80 grams of cast FP02 (TNT) is placed, below that a cartboard bushing containing 640 grams FP02 is placed. Both are glued in place with magnesiumkit, a kind of WW2 resign/glue.
Total weight of the explosive charge is 720 grams.
Description and functioning of the E.Kz. C/28 (E.Kz.Empfindlicher kopfzunder = sensitive nose fuze), picture 04;
The fuze consists of an aluminum fuze body (01) onto which the Aluminum nose cap (02) is screwed.
Into the base of the fuze body (01) an aluminium bushing (03) is screwed, containing the firing cap housing (4) and the centrifugal safety weights (7). These centrifugal safety weights are kept in inward position by the bronze ring spring (8), keeping the firing pin (5) fixated in the forward position, and the firing cap housing (4) fixated in the afterward position, so both cannot reach one another when the fuze is in the safe position. On top of the firing pin (05) , the wooden hammer pin (09) is placed.
After firing the projectile the centrifugal force rotates the centrifugal weights (7) outward, overriding the bronze ring spring (8), allowing the firing cap housing (4) and the firing pin (5) to move towards one another, however kept apart by just a small pressure spring (06) around the firing pin.
Upon impact, the hammer pin (09) pushes the firing pin (05) down into the firing cap placed in the firing cap housing (04); the flame will ignite the booster charge (Zundladung A), which ignites the main charge in the projectile.
If the projectile lands on a very low angle either grazes, the deceleration will throw the firing cap housing (04) forward into the firing pin (05), exploding the projectile.
The brass shell case is 390mm long and has a powder charge consisting of 1,68Kg RP32 powder sticks; these are 320mm long and have a diameter of 4,2mm with a 2,3mm hole through. The powder sticks are placed in a linen bag to wich a small bag is sewed to the base containing 20 grams of nitrocellulose rifle powder 1,5x1,5x 0,5mm, which acts as a ignition booster.
In the base of the shell case the primer C12 N.a or C12 N.a. St. (N.a. Neuer art = New type) is placed, a percussion primer with a small black powder magazine that ignites the powder charge in the shell case instantaneous.
Vo.: 790 mtrs/sec
Range : Horizontal 14.175 mtrs , vertical 9.700 mtrs @80 degrees elevation.
Cartridge length : 748mm
Cartridge weight : 13,4 kg
Projectile weight : 9,0 kg
Weight shellcase : 2,15 kg
Regards, DJH
The deck gun was used for targets for which torpedo’s were too expensive either unsuitable like land - and air targets, coasters, sailing ships , fishing boats and targets that were easily set on fire like tankers.
Torpedo’s were kept for large vessels ships and war ships.
The shell body consists of a pressed and machined steel body, with a screwed in base flange. In top a so called ‘mundlochbuchse’ (booster bushing) is screwed in. In this bushing the aluminum ‘Zundladung A’ (Booster charge A) is placed, filled with Nitropenta and a flame sensitive detonator in top.
The explosive charge consits of two parts; in top a ring shaped aluminum bushing containing 80 grams of cast FP02 (TNT) is placed, below that a cartboard bushing containing 640 grams FP02 is placed. Both are glued in place with magnesiumkit, a kind of WW2 resign/glue.
Total weight of the explosive charge is 720 grams.
Description and functioning of the E.Kz. C/28 (E.Kz.Empfindlicher kopfzunder = sensitive nose fuze), picture 04;
The fuze consists of an aluminum fuze body (01) onto which the Aluminum nose cap (02) is screwed.
Into the base of the fuze body (01) an aluminium bushing (03) is screwed, containing the firing cap housing (4) and the centrifugal safety weights (7). These centrifugal safety weights are kept in inward position by the bronze ring spring (8), keeping the firing pin (5) fixated in the forward position, and the firing cap housing (4) fixated in the afterward position, so both cannot reach one another when the fuze is in the safe position. On top of the firing pin (05) , the wooden hammer pin (09) is placed.
After firing the projectile the centrifugal force rotates the centrifugal weights (7) outward, overriding the bronze ring spring (8), allowing the firing cap housing (4) and the firing pin (5) to move towards one another, however kept apart by just a small pressure spring (06) around the firing pin.
Upon impact, the hammer pin (09) pushes the firing pin (05) down into the firing cap placed in the firing cap housing (04); the flame will ignite the booster charge (Zundladung A), which ignites the main charge in the projectile.
If the projectile lands on a very low angle either grazes, the deceleration will throw the firing cap housing (04) forward into the firing pin (05), exploding the projectile.
The brass shell case is 390mm long and has a powder charge consisting of 1,68Kg RP32 powder sticks; these are 320mm long and have a diameter of 4,2mm with a 2,3mm hole through. The powder sticks are placed in a linen bag to wich a small bag is sewed to the base containing 20 grams of nitrocellulose rifle powder 1,5x1,5x 0,5mm, which acts as a ignition booster.
In the base of the shell case the primer C12 N.a or C12 N.a. St. (N.a. Neuer art = New type) is placed, a percussion primer with a small black powder magazine that ignites the powder charge in the shell case instantaneous.
Vo.: 790 mtrs/sec
Range : Horizontal 14.175 mtrs , vertical 9.700 mtrs @80 degrees elevation.
Cartridge length : 748mm
Cartridge weight : 13,4 kg
Projectile weight : 9,0 kg
Weight shellcase : 2,15 kg
Regards, DJH
