German
21 cm/40 (8.27") SK L/40
Updated 14 October 2006
Used on many cruisers built in the 1890s and early 1900s.  Most ships had a single or twin turret mounted both fore and aft.  However, the Scharnhorst class also had four single guns mounted amidships in casemates in addition to a twin mounting on both the bow and stern.

These guns were used in coastal artillery units during World War II.

  Actual bore diameter was 20.93 cm (8.24").
WNGER_827-40_skc95_Scharnhorst_pic.jpg

Armored Cruiser Scharnhorst about 1907
21 cm guns in turrets and in upper casemates
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 46837
WNGER_827-40_skc95_Scharnhorst_bow_pic.jpg

Bow Turret on Scharnhorst
Note the built-up nature of the gun barrels
Photograph courtesy of The First World War
.
Gun Characteristics
.
Designation 21 cm/40 (8.27") SK L/40
Ship Class Used On Victoria Louise, Prinz Adalbert, Roon and Scharnhorst (1907) Classes
Date Of Design about 1895
Date In Service 1898
Gun Weight N/A
Gun Length oa about 331 in. (8.400 m)
Bore Length N/A
Rifling Length N/A
Grooves N/A
Lands N/A
Twist N/A
Chamber Volume N/A
Rate Of Fire 4 - 5 rounds per minute
.
Ammunition
.
Type Separate
Projectile Types and Weights World War I
   AP L/2,9 - 238 lbs. (108 kg)

World War II
   AP L/2,9 - 238 lbs. (108 kg)
   HE L/4,3 base and nose fuze - 250 lbs. (113.5 kg)
Bursting Charge N/A
Projectile Length AP L/2,9 - 24 in (61 cm)
HE L/4,3 - 35.5 in (90 cm)
Propellant Charge N/A
Muzzle Velocity 2,559 fps (780 mps)
Working Pressure N/A
Approximate Barrel Life N/A
Ammunition stowage per gun Victoria Louise:  58 rounds
Prinz Adalbert:  85 rounds
Roon:  95 rounds
Scharnhorst:  87.5 rounds
Notes:

1) The World War II HE round was a special coastal artillery projectile with both base and nose fuzes.

2) Actual Projectile designations were as follows.
   AP L/2,9 - Psgr. L2,9
   HE L/4,3 base and nose fuze - Spr.gr. L/4,3 Bdz u. Kz
.
Range
.
Elevation With 238 lbs. (108 kg) AP L2,9 Shell
Range @ 16 degrees
(max. elevation of amidships turrets)		 13,560 yards (12,400 m)
Range @ 30 degrees 17,830 yards (16,300 m)
.
Mount / Turret Data
.
Designation Two-gun Turrets
   Prinz Adalbert (2), Roon (2) and Scharnhorst (2)

Single Turrets
   Victoria Louise (2)

Casemates
   Scharnhorst (4)
Weight  N/A
Elevation Single gun Turrets:   -5 / +30 degrees
Two-gun Turrets:   -5 / +30 degrees
Casemates:   -5 / +16 degrees
Elevation Rate N/A
Train about +150 / -150 degrees
Train Rate N/A
Gun recoil N/A
Loading Angle N/A
.
Data from
"German Warships 1815-1945" by Erich Gröner
"The Great War:  The Standard History of the All Europe Conflict (volume four)" edited by H. W. Wilson and J. A. Hammerton
and
Tony DiGiulian's personal files