Germany
8.8 cm/45 (3.46") SK C/35
Updated 16 January 2010
This weapon was used on Type VII U-boats and later on some Type 40 minesweepers and submarine chasers.  Used a vertically sliding breech block.

Many U-boats had these guns removed after 1942 and then replaced with 2 cm and  3.7 cm AA guns.
WNGER_88mm-45_skc35_pic.jpg

8.8 cm/45 SK C/35 mounted on a U-boat
Photograph courtesy of Peter Lienau
WNGER_88mm-45_skc35_U570_pic.jpg

8.8 cm/45 SK C/35 on U570 following her capture by the British in 1941
WNGER_88mm-45_skc35_U47_pic.jpg

8.8 cm/45 SK C/35 Deck Gun on U47
In the background is the light cruiser Emden
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Images at The Vickers Photographic Archive

See photograph numbers 0199, 0201 and 0202

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Gun Characteristics
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Designation 8.8 cm/45 (3.46") SK C/35
Ship Class Used On Type VII U-boats and smaller vessels
Date Of Design 1935
Date In Service 1938
Gun Weight 1,711 lbs. (776 kg)
Gun Length oa 157.0 in. (3.985 m)
Bore length 146.9 in (3.731 m)
Rifling Length 147 in. (3.731 m)
Number Of 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 30
Chamber Volume 152 in3 (2.49 dm3)
Rate Of Fire 15 rounds per minute
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Ammunition
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Type Fixed
Complete Round Weight 33 lbs. (15 kg)
Projectile Types and Weights AP - 22.5 lbs. (10.2 kg)
HE - 19.8 lbs. (9.0 kg)
HE inc - 20.9 lbs. (9.5 kg)
ILLUM - 20.7 lbs. (9.4 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length about 14.0 in (385.5 mm)
Propellant Charge 4.63 lbs. (2.1 kg) RPC/40N (3.6/1.07)
Muzzle Velocity HE - 2,297 fps (700 mps)
Others - N/A
Working Pressure 17.5 tons/in2 (2,750 kg/cm2)
Approximate Barrel Life 12,000 rounds
Ammunition stowage per gun Type VII:  220 rounds
Notes:  Outfits for minesweepers and subchasers included nose-fuzed HE and HE incendiary both with and without tracers, AP and illuminating shell.
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Range
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Elevation With 19.84 lbs. (9.0 kg) Shell
Range @ 30 degrees 13,070 yards (11,950 m)
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Mount / Turret Data
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Designation U-boats (1):  Ubts LC/35
Others:  N/A
Weight  5,346 lbs. (2,425 kg)
Elevation -10 / +30 degrees
Elevation Rate Hand operated, only
Train 360 degrees
Train Rate Hand operated, only
Gun recoil N/A
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Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"German Warships 1815-1945" by Erich Gröner
"The Royal Oak Disaster" by Gerald S. Snyder
"Air Power at Sea:  1939-45" by John Winton
"German Capital Ships of World War Two" by M.J. Whitley
Page History

22 September 2006 - Benchmark
16 January 2010 - Fixed typographical error