| 20.3 cm SK C/34 | |
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| General Historical Information | |
| Place of origin: | Germany |
| Category: | Naval/Coastal Defence Gun |
| Used by: |
Germany |
| Passengers: | 1 |
| Calibre: | 203mm |
| Ammunition: | ↑ AP ↓ HE |
| Used by vehicles / ships: | Prinz Eugen |
| Position 1: | Gunner |
| Historical Picture | |
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This was the only 20.3 cm (8") weapon ever designed by Germany and was quite powerful with a long range. These were installed on Admiral Hipper, Blücher, and Prinz Eugen, each of these ships mounted eight of these guns. The two turrets intended for uncompeted cruiser Seydlitz were installed as coastal artillery on Ile de Croix. It had been intended to mount the other two at Ile de Ré, but this apparently never took place. Also 8 of 20.3 cm SK C/34 barrels were mounted on railway carriages.
These guns are probably best known for having started the Boat Deck fire on HMS Hood shortly before her loss.
Constructed of loose barrel, an inner and outer jacket, a breech end-piece screwed hot on to the outer jacket and a breech block supporting piece pushed into the breech end-piece and held by a threaded ring. The breech block was a horizontal sliding type and was hydraulically operated.
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