21 cm Kanone 38

• Name — 21 cm Kanone 38 • Type — Heavy siege howitzer • Origin — Nazi Germany • Is Ranged — yes • Is Explosive — yes • Is Artillery — yes • Used By — Nazi Germany • Wars — World War II • Designer — Krupp • Design Date — 1938 – 1940 • Manufacturer — Krupp • Developed From — 21 cm Mrs 18 • Production Date — 1940 – 1943 • Number — 8 • Weight — 25300 kg • Part Length — 11.62 m L/55.5 • Cartridge — separate-loading, cased charge (3 charges) • Caliber — 211 mm • Rate — 1 rpm • Velocity — 905 m/s • Max Range — 33900 m • Breech — horizontal sliding block • Carriage — box trail • Elevation — 0° to +50° • Traverse — 17° on carriage 360° on platform • Filling Weight — 120 kg

It was generally similar in design to Krupp's 21 cm Mrs 18, but had an improved carriage that sped up emplacement and displacement times. It was transported in the customary two loads – barrel and carriage, although the carriage rode on two limbers. Each end of the carriage had inclined under-surfaces that rode on the limbers. When winched apart or together, those inclined surfaces allowed the carriage to easily raise out of or lower into position. It fired from a central platform stabilized by three jacks, which allowed all-around traverse. Only eight were produced before the Heer decided that 21 cm was an unsuitable caliber and canceled the remaining seven guns under contract. One gun was sent to Japan by submarine.

The gun fired a 120 kg 21 cm K Gr 38 HE shell. It used three individual bags of propellant in the cartridge case; they were not combined. The light load (Kleine Ladung) weighed 34 kg and propelled the shell at 680 m/s. The medium load (Mittlere Ladung) weighed 42.2 kg and gave a muzzle velocity of 796 m/s. The big load (Grosse Ladung) weighed 60.2 kg and yielded a muzzle velocity of 905 m/s.