15 cm S.K.C/28 (China)

[forttravel]

Thanks Janef!

[YC Chen]

Thank you all for this extremely informative discussion!! As I'm not a coastal artillery expert I really don't have much to add to this...

Here is part of an after-action report on the fighting of coastal batteries in Nanjing 1937 concerning the new 15cm and 8.8cm German gun:
"The two types of new guns in the forts of Nanking and Jiangyin were mounted in hurry, and were not properly equipped (with all their aiming and fire-controlling devices). However, even when they were firing using ad-hoc devices or firing at will, their ballistic performances, the effectiveness of their shells and their easiness of operating were all extremely satisfying. If they were used together with fire director, their effect would be more than we have seen in the battle.
If these guns are to be adopted as standard equipments of the forts, the 15cm guns should be used in coastal defence role, and the 8.8cm guns should be used in river and land defence role. The 8.8cm guns are especially suitable in urban environment, where they can also be used in anti-aircraft defence."

If I remember correctly I have also seen a few document on the purchase of 15cm S.K.C/28 guns by China, but I need time to dig them out.

[YC Chen]

Hello all,

Have just checked my documents and found some very interesting facts on the 15cm S.K.C/28 for China. The story can be summarized as the following:

The initial discussion on buying 15cm long range coastal guns from Germany occurred in March 1936. The Chinese authority initially wanted 7 guns which they would used to equip 2 batteries, along with 3500 rounds (all HE) and relavent aiming and fire-controlling device. In April it was asked if old type (range 17km) or new type (range 20km) was needed(for the new type, it is said that deliver would started from Febrary 1937 with two guns each month), and Chinese Navy decided to order the new type. - This fit exactly with Janef's post on 21 August 2011.

Then in an undated chart of weapons imported from Germany, four (one platoon) of 15cm coastal guns were listed as "already arrived", another four(one platoon) were listed as "on the way to China".

Then, the most amazing thing - in a telegraph from as late as 3rd December 1937, Chinese officials were told by HAPRO that a shipment of armaments would soon set out from Germany which included "four 15cm heavy coastal guns with 400 rounds"... I don't know if this was the remaining 4 of the first batch or the guns of the second batch.

And last, as stated in the after-action report and various memoirs, only 4 guns without any aiming and controlling devices took part in the fight in Jiangyin December 1937...

[jopaerya]

Found a sharper photo of the 15 cm S.K.C/28 at B. Vineta ( Hoek van Holland )
Fits perfectly in the row that JEF showed us 1094

Photo = ECPA

[forttravel]

Found a sharper photo of the 15 cm S.K.C/28 at B. Vineta ( Hoek van Holland )
Fits perfectly in the row that JEF showed us 1094
Photo = ECPA

Excellent! Gun no. 1094 is it that one still exist on parking by Langelandsfort museum.

[TUS]

That's correct. This is the 5th gun just outside Langelandsfortet.
Just saw the original location of the gun at MKB Vineta east of Swinemünde on Monday. They would really like their SK C-28 back again!

Brgds Tønnes