20,3cm anti-aircraft fuzed shell on Admiral Hipper class

[Christian W.]

Hello,

The use of 20,3cm anti-aircraft fuzed shell on Admiral Hipper class is mentioned here http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_8-60_skc34.php, citing a United States Navy NAVTECMISEU Technical Report #191-45 "Standard German Projectile Fuzes". The fuze in question is the Zt. Z S60 (Zeitzünder S60- time fuze, 60 seconds), which was indeed used in Kriegsmarine for shells of various sizes. They appear to have been used from at least 1942 the earliest, with Prinz Eugen reported to having such during Operation Cerberus (the "Channel Dash").

If anyone would have sources more sources referring to their use on Admiral Hipper class, then I'd be most thankful.

[Tony D.]

Prinz Eugen fired AA shells from "B" and "C" turrets on 17 May 1942 while transiting from Norway to Germany. "German Cruisers of World War Two" by M.J. Whitley, page 139.

[Christian W.]

Prinz Eugen fired AA shells from "B" and "C" turrets on 17 May 1942 while transiting from Norway to Germany. "German Cruisers of World War Two" by M.J. Whitley, page 139.

Thank you very much! All info on the matter is appreciated.

If anyone has any more info on the 203mm anti-aircraft fuzed shell on Admiral Hipper class, feel free to post.

[Tony D.]

Prinz Eugen fired AA shells from "B" and "C" turrets on 17 May 1942 while transiting from Norway to Germany. "German Cruisers of World War Two" by M.J. Whitley, page 139.

Thank you very much! All info on the matter is appreciated.

If anyone has any more info on the 203mm anti-aircraft fuzed shell on Admiral Hipper class, feel free to post.

You are quite welcome. I've added this information to my datapage on the 20.3 cm gun as it was of interest.

It's not the 20.3 cm gun, but 38 cm AA shells were used at least once by Tirpitz when she was attacked in her Norwegian Fjord on 12 November 1944. I don't have the dates, but Whitley in "German Destroyers of World War Two" states that 12.7 cm AA shells were used by destroyers on a few occasions.

[Thoddy]

just to note this shells were not dedicated AA shells but standard Spgr Kz with Kz replaced by the time fuze S/60.
Thes shells were fired into the approach vectors of enemy aircraft formations as barrage at long range to dissolve or disturb the formation to reduce efficiency of attack.

[Tony D.]

just to note this shells were not dedicated AA shells but standard Spgr Kz with Kz replaced by the time fuze S/60.
Thes shells were fired into the approach vectors of enemy aircraft formations as barrage at long range to dissolve or disturb the formation to reduce efficiency of attack.

Correct.

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_5 ... rojectiles

Some of this is from the spec. sheets you provided.