This was a light-weight, low-power weapon used to arm the Torpedo Boat and Torpedo Boat Destroyers of World War I and later to U-boats. Some guns were still in use during World War II. At least one gun still survives at the Scapa Flow Museum, Lyness, Island of Hoy, UK.
| Designation | 8.8 cm/45 (3.46") Tbts K L/45 |
|---|---|
| Ship Class Used On | Torpedo Boat Destroyers: B 97, V 99 and B 109 classes
Torpedo Boats: V 25 class as commissioned Refitted to many torpedo boats of the S 138 and V 1 classes and to T 168 after 1916 and to surviving T 139 class after 1920 |
| Date Of Design | 1913 |
| Date In Service | 1914 |
| Gun Weight | 1,658 lbs. (752 kg) including BM |
| Gun Length oa | about 157.5 in (4.000 m) |
| Bore length | about 146.90 in (3.731 m) |
| Rifling Length | N/A |
| Grooves | N/A |
| Lands | N/A |
| Twist | N/A |
| Chamber Volume | N/A |
| Rate Of Fire | about 10-15 rounds per minute |
| Type | Fixed | |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Round Weight | N/A | |
| Projectile Types and Weights 1 | World War I
Tbts SAP L/3,8: 22.05 lbs. (10.0 kg) Tbts HE L/3,9: 21.50 lbs. (9.75 kg) World War II
| |
| Bursting Charge 2 | World War I | |
| Tbts SAP L/3,8 | G: 1.40 lbs. (0.634 kg)
S: 1.27 lbs. (0.578 kg) TNT |
|
| Tbts HE L/3,9 | G: 1.23 lbs. (0.558 kg)
S: 1.13 lbs. (0.513 kg) TNT |
World War II |
| Tbts SAP L/3,8 | G: 1.40 lbs. (0.634 kg)
S: 1.27 lbs. (0.578 kg) TNT |
|
| Tbts HE L/3,9 | G: 1.23 lbs. (0.558 kg)
S: 1.13 lbs. (0.513 kg) TNT |
|
| Projectile Length | Tbts HE L/3,9: about 13.5 in (34.3 cm)
Tbts HE L/3,8: about 13.2 in (33.4 cm) Tbts Ilumination L/3,5: about 12.1 in (30.8 cm) |
|
| Propellant Charge | World War I
2.93 lbs. (1.33 kg) RP C/12 (290 x 4,5/2) Illum only: 1.27 lbs. (0.575 kg) RP C/12 (263 x 3,5/2) World War II
|
|
| Muzzle Velocity | World War I
2,130 fps (650 mps) Illum only: 1,480 fps (450 mps) | |
| Working Pressure | N/A | |
| Approximate Barrel Life | N/A | |
| Ammunition stowage per gun | Destroyers: 480 rounds
V 25: 300 rounds Refitted Torpedo Boats: 280 rounds | |
| Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|
| 25 degrees | 10,000 yards (9,150 m) |
| Designation | Torpedo Boat Single Mounting
Destroyers (4): Tbts LC/13 V 25 (3): Tbts LC/13 Refitted Torpedo Boats (2): Tbts LC/13 |
|---|---|
| Weight | N/A |
| Elevation | -10 / +25 degrees |
| Elevation Rate | Manual operation, only |
| Train | N/A |
| Train Rate | Manual operation, only |
| Gun recoil | N/A |
"Naval Weapons of World War Two" by John Campbell
"Naval Weapons of World War One" by Norman Friedman
"German Warships 1815-1945" by Erich Gröner
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"Übersicht über die für die Marinegeschütze und deren Abk K zu verwendende Munition und ihre Einzelteile einschließlich Salut-
und Manöverladungen" M.Dv. Nr. 198 by Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine
19 June 2025 - New datapage