21 cm SK L/45
The 21 cm Schnelladekanone Länge 45, abbreviated as 21 cm SK L/45 was a German naval gun developed in the years before World War I that armed the armored cruiser SMS Blücher of the Imperial German Navy. During World War I spare guns were converted to railway guns and later employed as coastal artillery during World War II.
21 cm SK L/45
- Field
- naval artillery
- Region
- German Empire
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Documentary summary
The 21 cm Schnelladekanone Länge 45, abbreviated as 21 cm SK L/45 was a German naval gun developed in the years before World War I that armed the armored cruiser SMS Blücher of the Imperial German Navy. During World War I spare guns were converted to railway guns and later employed as coastal artillery during World War II.
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wikipedia incomplete · checked 25 September 2026
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wikidata · Q20008133 · wikipedia · 21 cm SK L/45
In this article
History
History
The 21 cm SK L/45 was the primary armament of the armored cruiser SMS Blücher. Krupp produced a total of sixteen guns, twelve of which were installed in six twin DRL C/06 turrets, one pair fore and one pair aft, and two pairs in wing turrets on either side of the superstructure, each weighing 200 t (220 short tons). The guns were supplied with a total of 1,020 shells, or 85 rounds per gun. After the sinking of the SMS Blücher during the Battle of Dogger Bank, the four spare guns were given to the Imperial German Army. The 21 cm SK L/45s, together with earlier 21 cm SK L/40s salvaged from decommissioned cruisers were converted to railway guns, where they were referred to collectively as the 21 cm SK "Peter Adalbert". During the Second World War, these same guns were reemployed by coastal artillery units of the Wehrmacht. During World War II they were supplied with improved shells and larger propellant charges for increased range.
Construction
Construction
The 21 cm SK L/45 was constructed of A tube, two layers of hoops, a jacket and used a horizontal sliding-wedge breech block. Unlike other large naval guns of the time, which used separate loading bagged charges and ammunition, the 21 cm SK L/45 used separate loading ammunition with charges inside of a brass cartridge case to provide obturation.
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German Empire
Country
21 cm SK L/45 is associated with German Empire.
Country
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.DiGiulian, Tony. Germany 21 cm/45 (8.27") SK L/45 - NavWeaps. www.navweaps.com.
- 2.Gröner, Erich. German warships, 1815-1945. Naval Institute Press. 1990. 9780870217906.
- 3.Friedman, Norman. Naval weapons of World War One. Seaforth. 2011-01-01. 9781848321007.
- 4.DiGiulian, Tony. Germany 21 cm/45 (8.27") SK L/45 - NavWeaps. www.navweaps.com.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 3
- Friedman, Norman. Naval Weapons of World War One. Seaforth. 2011. 978-1-84832-100-7.
- Gröner, Erich. German Warships: 1815–1945. Naval Institute Press. 1990. 978-0-87021-790-6.
- http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_827-45_skc05.php
References
Citations
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Militaria
6,095 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- 21 cm Mrs 18Terminology
- 21 cm Nebelwerfer 42Terminology
- 21 cm SK "Peter Adalbert"Terminology
- 21 cm SK L/40Terminology
- 210 mm gun M1939Terminology
- 210 mm L/22 Howitzer Model 35Terminology
- 22.5 cm M 15Terminology
- 23×115mmTerminology
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