6 cm S-Bts K L/21
6 cm S-Bts K L/21 | ||
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Breech Horizontal sliding block | | |
Recoil | None | |
Carriage | Box trail | |
Elevation | Center pivot: -3° to +15° Field carriage: -10° to +20° | |
Traverse | None | |
Rate of fire | 12-14 rpm | |
Muzzle velocity | 448 m/s (1,470 ft/s) | |
Maximum firing range | 3.4 km (2.1 mi)[1] |
The 6 cm Schnelllade-Boots-Kanone L/21 in Landungslafette C/1900 (6 cm fast-firing boat's cannon 21 calibers on landing carriage circa 1900) or 6 cm S-Bts K L/21 was a landing gun used by Germany during World War I.
Background
Warships of the Imperial German Navy often carried a contingent of naval infantry that was responsible for manning garrisons to defend German ships while in foreign ports as well as arming troops for offensive amphibious operations. The problem that Krupp's engineers faced was that Seebataillon troops were often an expeditionary force operating in areas with limited road and rail infrastructure so a lightweight gun was needed to provide fire support to landing parties in rough terrain.[3]
The field artillery of the time was designed to be towed by horse teams and then manhandled into firing position. Field artillery could usually be broken down into separate wagon loads with the barrel on one wagon towed by a horse team while a second horse team towed the carriage. Since traditional field artillery would be too large and heavy to be easily deployed during amphibious operations without specialized landing craft the guns would need to be broken down and stowed while at sea.[4] It was thought it would be an advantage if the gun could be mounted on a center pivot mount aboard a launch to provide fire support for a landing party. Once ashore the landing party could remove the gun barrel from its shipboard mount and place it on its field carriage.[5]
Design
The 6 cm S-Bts K L/21 was a
World War I
In addition to being used by Seebataillon units the 6 cm S-Bts K L/21 was used by the Schutztruppe in Germany's colonial empire. They may have been used before World War I during the Boxer Rebellion, the Herero Wars or the Maji Maji Rebellion. In the African theater of World War I, the SMS Königsberg sent its guns ashore to serve with the Schutztruppe in German East Africa in August 1914. Another two guns arrived in East Africa on board the blockade runner, SS Rubens in 1916.[6] Beginning in 1915, several naval infantry units armed with 6 cm S-Bts K L/21 guns were based in the Flanders region of Belgium. They are believed to have been used as infantry support guns due to their ability to be easily transported over soft ground.[3]
Gallery
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A 6 cm boat-gun L/21 on a Vavasseur mount.
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A 6 cm L/21 without shield attached to its limber.
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A 6 cm L/21 in firing position with ammunition boxes dismounted.
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A 6 cm L/21 with ammunition boxes mounted.
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Seebataillon troops with a 6 cm S-Bts K L/21.
References
- ^ OCLC 220997162.
- ^ "48-57 MM CALIBRE CARTRIDGES". www.quarryhs.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ )
- OCLC 50842313.
- ^ Malchair, Luc. "6cm Schnellade Boots Kanone L/21 in Ladungslafette c/1900". www.passioncompassion1418.com. Archived from the original on 2021-11-27. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
- ^ "German Colonial Uniforms". s400910952.websitehome.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-16.