History and Technology - Ready Ammunition on SMS Hindenburg

Ship's Command Document

S.M.S. HINDENBURG

Battle Quarters Bill Appendix No. 18

Distribution of ready-use ammunition

A) Main Guns

Turret "A" (Augustowo)
Location	Permanent				Battle-alarm daytime				Battle-alarm nighttime
Location	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge
turret, rack	18⁺				18				18
loading link					1		1	1		1	1	1
stevedore table					1					1
slideway
machinery room							1	1			1	1
elevators					1		1	1	1		1	1
. Turret "B" (Bukarest)
Location	Permanent				Battle-alarm daytime				Battle-alarm nighttime
Location	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge
turret, rack	18⁺				18				18
loading link					1		1	1		1	1	1
stevedore table					1					1
slideway
machinery room							1	1			1	1
depot room	14⁺				14				14
elevators					1		1	1		1	1	1
. Turret "C" (Masuren)
Location	Permanent				Battle-alarm daytime				Battle-alarm nighttime
Location	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge
turret, rack	18⁺				18				18
loading link					1		1	1		1	1	1
stevedore table					1					1
slideway
machinery room							1	1			1	1
depot room	14⁺				14				14
elevators					1		1	1		1	1	1
. Turret "D" (Tannenberg)
Location	Permanent				Battle-alarm daytime				Battle-alarm nighttime
Location	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge	AP shells	HE shells	Main Charge	First Charge
turret, rack	18⁺				18				18
loading link					1		1	1		1	1	1
stevedore table					1					1
machinery room							1	1			1	1
elevators					1		1	1	1		1	1

+ = will be fuzed during preparations for battle

B) Secondary Guns

Location

Permanent

Battle-alarm daytime

Battle-alarm nighttime

HE
(Kz)*

HE
(Bz)*

Charge

Charge
(Box)

HE
(Kz)*

HE
(Bz)*

Charge

Charge
(Box)

HE
(Kz)*

HE
(Bz)*

Charge

Charge
(Box)

casemate, rack

4⁺

4

2

4

upper elevator

2

+ = Will be manned to gun after preparations for battle
* = Kz = head fuzed, Bz = base fuze

In addition, for port and starboard Mount IV at night: 10 starshells and 10 starshell charges in boxes

C) Light Guns

Location	Permanent	Battle-alarm daytime	Battle-alarm nighttime
at each gun	3 boxes of Dz.-shells cartridged	3 boxes Dz.-shells cartridged 60 pcs. 3.7-cm ammunition in boxes to destroy mines	10 boxes starshells cartridged 3 boxes Dz.-shells cartridged

Source

Data from BA/MA RM 92 2709.

Editor Note

Note for the Main Guns that, although AP projectiles were stored on ready racks inside the turret, only a single propellant charge was available even under battle conditions. Since projectiles are inherently less susceptible to flash than are propellant charges, this practice minimized the risk of battle damage due to flash.

Page History

21 October 2021 - New datapage