German 15 cm/45 (5.9") Tbts KL/45 and Ubts + Tbts KL/45

German
15 cm/45 (5.9") Tbts KL/45
15 cm/45 (5.9") Ubts + Tbts KL/45
Updated 19 July 2007

A lighter weight gun used near the end of World War I on large destroyers and "U-boat Kreuzers." The difference between the models was in the mountings, the guns themselves were identical.

Following the end of World War I, ships armed with these guns were transferred to the Allies as war reparations, including the destroyer S113 which was recommissioned in the French Navy as Amiral Sénès. The easy and reliable operation of the semi-automatic gun breeches aboard this ship impressed French ordnance officers who copied the design for their 138.6 mm/40 (5.46") Model 1927. The French later reused the German guns to arm two merchant cruisers during World War II.

During World War II the Germans used these guns to arm merchant ship raiders, supply ships and as coastal artillery.

All German 15 cm guns had an actual bore diameter of 14.91 cm (5.87 in).

15 cm Ubts + Tbts KL/45 on U117 about 1918

15 cm Ubts + Tbts KL/45 on U124 about 1918
In the background is USS L-2 (S-41)
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 92826

Italian Premuda in 1931 (ex-German V116)
Picture copyrighted by Aldo Fraccaroli

Gun Characteristics .

Designation	15 cm/45 (5.9") Tbts KL/45 15 cm/45 (5.9") Ubts + Tbts KL/45
Ship Class Used On	German - 1918 S113, V116, G119 and B122 Destroyer classes U117 (Project 45), U127 (Project 42), U139 (Project 46) and U213 (Project 42A) U-boat classes French - 1939 Barfleur and Charles Plumier (armed merchant cruisers)
Date Of Design	about 1917
Date In Service	1918
Gun Weight	8,800 lbs. (3,990 kg)
Gun Length oa	262.8 in (6.675 m)
Bore Length	247.7 in (6.291 m)
Rifling Length	N/A
Grooves	N/A
Lands	N/A
Twist	N/A
Chamber Volume	858 in³ (14.06 dm³)
Rate Of Fire	4 - 5 rounds per minute

Ammunition .

Type	Separate
Projectile Types and Weights	HE, base fuze - 99.8 lbs. (45.3 kg) HE, nose fuze - 99.8 lbs. (45.3 kg)
Bursting Charge	N/A
Projectile Length	N/A
Propellant Charge	World War I: N/A World War II: 18.34 lbs. (8.32 kg) RPC/38 (6.5/2.8)
Muzzle Velocity	2,231 fps (680 mps)
Working Pressure	N/A
Approximate Barrel Life	N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun	S113: 90 rounds U-Boat cruisers: 500 rounds

Range .

Elevation	With 99.8 lbs. (45.3 kg) HE Shell
World War I Range @ 30 degrees	15,860 yards (14,500 m)
World War II Range @ 30 degrees	17,390 yards (15,900 m)

Mount / Turret Data .

Designation	Single Pedestal Mounts Destroyers (4): N/A U-Boats (1): N/A
Weight	N/A
Elevation	N/A
Elevation Rate	Manual operation, only
Train	about +150 / -150 degrees
Train Rate	Manual operation, only
Gun recoil	N/A

Data from
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"German Warships 1815-1945" by Erich Gröner
"Die Geschichte der deutschen Schiffsartillerie" by Paul Schmalenbach
"German Warships of World War I" by John C. Taylor
"German Cruisers of World War Two", "Cruisers of World War Two" and "German Capital Ships of World War Two" all by M.J. Whitley
and
Tony DiGiulian's personal data files
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Special Help from Peter Lienau