German Projectiles - 150mm Projectiles Part 3

German Projectiles

S.A.P. Projectile for Gun 39, 150mm

German Designation: 15cm Hpzgr. (Halbpanzergranate)

Employment: 15cm K. 39

Dimensions

Overall length (projectile): 23.53 inches

Diameter of bourrelet: 5.866 inches
Diameter of base: 6.102 inches

Total weight (projectile): 99 pounds

No tracer

Overall length (cartridge case): 20.66 inches

Diameter at case base: 7.28 inches

Fuze: Base detonating type

Markings: Black Tip

Remarks: Information is from captured documents.

A.P. Projectile for Gun 39, 150mm

German Designation: 15cm Pzgr. (Panzergranate)

Employment: 15cm K. 39

Dimensions

Overall length (projectile): 23.542 inches

Diameter of base: 5.866 inches

Total weight (projectile): 99 pounds

No tracer

Overall length (cartridge case): 20.67 inches

Diameter at case base: 7.283 inches

Fuze: Base detonating type

Remarks: Information is from captured documents.

L/4.6 with Nose Fuze, 150mm

German Designation: 15cm Sprge. L/4.6 (Kopfzunder)

Employment: 15cm K. 39

Dimensions

Overall length (projectile): 26.88 inches

Diameter of bourrelet: 5.86 inches

Total weight (projectile): 99 pounds

No tracer

Overall length (cartridge case): 20.67 inches

Diameter at case base: 7.28 inches
Type of propellant: Tubular Diglycol

Fuze: Nose percussion fuze E. Kz. m. V.; or
Time and percussion fuze Dopp. Z. s/60

Remarks: Information is from captured documents.

Smoke Projectile, Type 38, 150mm

German Designation: 15cm Gr. 38 Nb (Granate 38 Nebel)

Employment: 15cm s.F.H. 18

Dimensions
Overall length (complete round): 31.751 inches

Overall length (projectile): 24.723 inches
Width of rotating bands: 0.472 inches

Diameter of bourrelet: 5.825 inches

Diameter of base: 5.196 inches

Type of Bursting Charge: TNT
Type of Smoke Mixture: Oleum impregnated in pumice

No tracer

Overall length (cartridge case): 10.255 inches

Diameter at case mouth: 6.338 inches

Diameter at case base: 7.007 inches

Fuze: Nose percussion fuze Kl AZ 40 Nb

Markings: Painted green, stencilled in white.
"38 Nb" stencilled on body.


Packaging: One projectile in a wicker basket

Anti-Concrete Projectile, Type 19, 150mm

German Designation: 15cm Gr. 19 Be (Granate 19 Beton)

Employment: 15cm s.F.H. 18
                      15cm s.F.H. 13
                 15cm s.H.T.

Dimensions
Overall length (complete round): 30.215 inches

Overall length (projectile): 23.267 inches

Distance from base to band: 3.228 inches

Width of bimetallic rotating band: 0.472 inches
Diameter of bourrelet: 5.825 inches

Diameter of base: 5.196 inches

Total weight (projectile): 95.7 pounds
Weight of bursting charge: 7.1 pounds

Type of bursting charge: TNT

No tracer

Overall length (cartridge case): 10.255 inches

Diameter at case mouth: 6.338 inches

Diameter at case base: 7.007 inches

Fuze: Base detonating fuze Bd. Z. f. 15cm Gr. 19 Be

Markings: Painted green.


Packaging: One projectile in wicker basket - 100 pounds

H.E. Projectile with Disintegrating Rotating Bands (Sabot Type), 150mm

German Designation: Not Known

Employment: Not Known

Dimensions

Overall length (projectile): 25.6 inches

Diameter of bourrelet: 5.84 inches
Diameter of base: 6.01 inches

Total weight (projectile): 63.14 pounds
Weight of bursting charge: 7.48 pounds

No tracer

Fuze: Nose percussion fuzes AZ 23v

Markings: "R9" stencilled in body

 Remarks: At the shoulder of the projectile is a detachable guide band.  This band is trisected by cuts almost completely through the band and the complete band, which is a push fit on the shoulder, it is held in position by three ball bearings.  These are seated in cavities spaced equally round the periphery of the shoulder of the shell and project into cylindrical drillings through each segment of the guide band.  The drillings are threaded towards the outer circumference and the ball bearings after insertion are finally located by screws which seat the outer surface of the bearings.  After insertion of the balls and the positioning of the three screws, therefore, the guide band is firmly attached to the shell body, but should trisection of the guide band be completed, each segment, together with its retaining ball, would therefore be free to fall away from the shell body.

The rotating band holder is located at the base of the shell, which is keyed to receive it.  The holder itself is in three detached segments held in position only by the soft iron driving band.  Movement is prevented by three cylindrical pieces fitting into cavities located in the shell body and the driving band holder.  There are also three cylindrical pins between the segments.

It is believed that after leaving the gun the guide band and the rotating band holder are each split into three separate segments which, together with the ball bearings, pins and cylindrical pieces retaining them, are flung off.  The remaining projectile is then of much better aero-dynamic shape than is possible with a conventional projectile.

A.P.C. Projectile for Unknown Weapon, 150mm

German Designation: Not Known

Employment: Not Known but believe to be for naval use.

Dimensions

Overall length (projectile): 24.8 inches (approx.)

Total weight (projectile): 98.47 pounds

Fuze: Not Known

Markings: Painted yellow with black tip, black arrow pointed down towards base, black stencilling.

 Remarks: Information is from captured documents.

Rocket Assisted Projectile, 150mm

German Designation: 15cm R. Granate 19

Employment: s.F.H. 18

Dimensions

Total weight (projectile): 99.5 pounds

No tracer

Overall length (cartridge case): 10.23 inches

Diameter at case mouth: 6.338 inches

Diameter at case base: 7.007 inches
Weight of propellant: 13.64 pounds
Type of propellant: Tubular Diglycol

Fuze: Electric Nose percussion fuze, graze operated instantaneous: El. A.Z. or El. A.Z. m. R.
Base fuze R (transition fuze)

Markings: "R" stencilled in red on charge bag.


Remarks: This is an experimental projectile.  No specimens have been recovered as yet.  Two types were designed.  On the first the base plate is held in position with magnesia luting.  Is it thrown clear when the gun fires.  In the new pattern the jets are closed by small individual plugs which fall out when the gun fires.

Next Time: 152mm to 210mm Projectiles