German WW1 15cm cartridge case

[Vasco Da Gama]

Pictured for interest is the base of a German Navy WW1 150x575 cartridge case made in February 1904. I understand that this case was initially for the 15cm Sk L/45 secondary armament on German battleships. Later it was pressed into service as a coast defence gun. This use continued into WW2 which may explain the 1943 dated primer fitted. The pictures are not brilliant as I cannot clean the case further without removing the paint markings.

For clarity case is marked: PATRONENFABRIK KARLSRUHE II 1904 crowned M and 65, with a number of reloading marks.

Primer: C12nAST 43 27 byw

Paint: 8.2kg Katz 255 and a J in a circle.

Comments welcome

 

[Alpini]

the ink stamps and the primer screw are from 2nd World War. ktz = Deutsche Sprengchemie, Klietz plant

 

[arjen]

Hello Vasco Da Gama,

I always thought the 150x575 mm case was for the different 15 cm S.K. L/40 guns of the navy and the 150x815 mm case was for the 15 cm S.K. L/45 naval guns?
Have I been wrong all this time?

 

[Vasco Da Gama]

Thanks Arjen, sorry for the slow reply I wanted to do some research over the weekend. I think that you are correct and that the 575mm case length is for the L40 guns and the 815mm length for the L45 guns. Although I did not find a reference that confirmed the case length I did find a reference that indicated that the L45 guns had a bigger chamber volume than the L40. So I think that you are right!