Missing Gun from the SMS Königsberg

[Tanzania]

Hi Chris

BZ = BrennZünder = Time fuse.

That means, the shells exploded after a fixed time in the air with a splinter effect,
in contrast to a percussion fuse which used by a artillery battle by the navy on sea.

Cheers Holger

[CPT Bob]

Ruhland was likely referring to crates/cases/boxes of "fuses".......which are always packed and shipped separately from the actual artillery rounds. I would think that most of the fuses carried aboard the K-berg were "impact" or "delay" (which were designed to explode inside a target ship)......"Variable-Time" fuses would not be very useful in a Naval battle......but "VT" fuses would be very desirable was when the target was "Troops in the Open".

This gentleman has a nice collection of WW1 German Artillery Fuses.....and an excellent explanation of the different types of fuses.

http://passioncompassion1418.com/decouv ... n_all.html

[CPT Bob]

Here is a bit of "clarity".....Ha!

The “Maximum Range” and the “Maximum Firing Range” of the 10.5cm SK L/40 gun is listed in several references as approximately 7.5 miles/ 12km.

I assume that these words are referring to the precise terminology used by Artillerymen: “Maximum Effective Range”. This is “mathematically” when you are assured of hitting your target. The projectile will actually fly much further than this, but you chances of hitting a relatively small target (a ship) become less and less as the distance becomes greater and greater.

Artillery can be used to fire “Harassing Fire” at large “Area Targets” (towns, supply depots, troop concentrations, etc.) at an even greater distance……..because you do not care exactly where the projectile lands.

The actual “Maximum Range” of a K-berg gun could easily be 25-30km!

[Tanzania]

Hi Bob,

Please correct me, if I am wrong, but the maximum range was only possible with an elevation of 45deg!?!

[CPT Bob]

I will give a good "political" answer: Yes & No.

Theoretically, if all variables were equal....I would say "Yes", but......all variables are not.....EVER.....the same!

The actual weight of the projectile flying through the air is fighting gravity, air density, wind direction & speed and differences in elevation between the gun & the target...........all the way to the point of impact.

Will 45 degrees of elevation always get you the maximum range? No.

I do not know the ballistic data for this ammo..........but both the Krupp carriage and the DAR carriage could be raised to 45d by simply digging a large hole at the rear of the gun......and using a Gunner's Quadrant.

plus 30.JPG (31.58 KiB) Viewed 7193 times

[CPT Bob]

My work in my garden has been interrupted by the mid-day sun. I am hiding....next to a Fan....doing this. Ha!

I was looking at my "Kahe" photos........and I noticed what I did not see.

I see the undamaged bracket on the left side of the "Yoke", but I have no clear views of the right side.

A great force was required to blast the "turret" off the Kahe gun. It appears to have cleanly cut 10 large bolts in such a way as to not damage a single hole.

Really!!!

I have seen many photos of the Kahe Barrel, but none of the Turret. Why???? I would expect to see a dozen different photos of soldiers standing around the big curved steel plates.....as if it were a dead dinosaur. There is not one!

Was the Turret jettisoned from the railway car in the vicinity of Tanga in order to lighten the load prior to movement to Kahe?

[CPT Bob]

It is peculiar that the Germans would have removed the armor-plates......but did not remove this bracket.

[Chris Dale]

Very good point Bob. And thanks for the BZ info Holger.
Cheers
Chris

[CPT Bob]

My guess......(my "SWAG").......perhaps the elevation bracket required that the turret bracket remain in place.........and overlapped it......for "support".

Maybe!

[Chris Dale]

So how would that work on the Dar gun carriages? I'm not sure I'm understanding you correctly here...
Cheers
Chris

[CPT Bob]

Sorry........exchange the word "Elevation".....with he word "Traverse".

[Chris Dale]

I see what you're saying now and yes, that would seem to make sense.
Cheers
Chris

[CPT Bob]

**SWAG**
The turret bracket was not jettisoned because it supported the Traverse bracket.
*** ***

Perhaps there was not enough time or a workshop capable of producing a "spacer".

Pedestal mounts without Turrets are designed slightly different here. It is likely why a different yoke was used on the DAR carriage for the Stanleyville Gun.

This is only a theory!!!

[CPT Bob]

Nice painting, but where is the Breech Block? Hmmmmmmm........

[Chris Dale]

Clearly based on the Mkuyuni photo after its capture... and how did that Feldwebel get his EK 1 and 2?
Cheers
Chris