15 cm SK L/35

The 15 cm Schnelladekanone Länge 35, abbreviated as 15 cm SK L/35, was a German naval gun developed in the years before World War I that armed a variety of warships from different nations. The navies of Austria-Hungary, China, Denmark, Japan, The Netherlands, The Ottoman Empire, Romania and Spain all used this gun.

History
In 1880 Krupp designed the 15 cm SK L/35 and started production in 1883 to arm protected cruisers, turret ships and coastal defense ships then under construction. It was also used to rearmed a number of earlier iron clad warships. Originally designed to use one piece ammunition 1.33 m long and weighing 68 kg the gun was redesigned to use two part quick loading cased charges and projectiles due to complaints about the size and weight of the ammunition. By breaking the ammunition down into two pieces the rate of fire was improved and crew workload was eased.

Naval Use
German Empire
 * Irene-class - This class of two protected cruisers had two 15 cm SK L/35 guns per side, amidships as their primary armament after 1899-1905 refits.
 * SMS Kaiserin Augusta - This protected cruiser had six 15 cm SK L/35 guns per side, amidships as its primary armament after an 1896 refit.

Austria-Hungary
 * Kaiser Franz Joseph I-class - This class of two protected cruisers had three 15 cm SK L/35 guns per side, amidships as their secondary armament.
 * SMS Kaiserin Und Konigin Maria Theresia - This armored cruiser had four 15 cm SK L/35 guns per side, amidships as its secondary armament.
 * SMS Kronprinzessin Erzherzogin Stephanie - This ironclad had three 15 cm SK L/35 guns per side, amidships as its secondary armament.

China Denmark
 * Chih Yuen - This protected cruiser had one shielded 15 cm SK L/35 gun per side, amidships as its secondary armament.
 * Dingyuan-class - This class of two ironclads had a secondary armament of one 15 cm SK L/35 at the bow and stern.
 * Kuang Yuan-class - This class of four gunboats had one 15 cm SK L/35 as their primary armament.
 * Lai Yuen - This protected cruiser had one shielded 15 cm SK L/35 gun per side, amidships as its secondary armament.
 * Pao Min - This cruiser had a primary armament of one forward 15 cm SK L/35 and a second gun on the quarterdeck.
 * Ping Yuen - This gunboat had one shielded 15 cm SK L/35 gun per side, amidships as its secondary armament.
 * Tsi Yeun - This protected cruiser had one shielded 15 cm SK L/35 gun, aft as its secondary armament.
 * Wei Yuen-class - This class of six sloops were each refitted with two 15 cm SK L/35 guns.
 * Zhenyuan - This turret ship had one shielded 15 cm SK L/35 gun, fore and aft as its secondary armament.
 * HDMS Fyen - This unprotected cruiser mounted two 15 cm SK L/35 guns as its primary armament.
 * HDMS Gorm - This monitor had two 15 cm SK L/35 guns mounted in a central turret amidships as its primary armament after a 1903 refit.
 * HDMS Hekla - This protected cruiser had one 15 cm SK L/35 gun, fore and aft as its primary armament.
 * HDMS Valkyrien - This protected cruiser had three 15 cm SK L/35 guns per side, amidships as its secondary armament.

Japan The Netherlands
 * Naniwa-class - The two ships of this class of protected cruisers had three 15 cm SK L/35 guns per side, amidships as their secondary armament.
 * Evertsen-class - This class of three coastal defense ships had one 15 cm SK L/35 gun per side, amidships as their secondary armament.
 * HNLMS Sumatra - This protected cruiser had one shielded 21 cm L/35 gun fore and one shielded 15 cm SK L/35 gun aft as its primary armament.

The Ottoman Empire Romania Spain
 * Hamidiye - This central battery ironclad had five 15 cm SK L/35 guns per side as secondary armament.
 * Iclaliye - This central battery ironclad was refitted with two 15 cm SK L/35 guns.
 * NMS Elisabeta - This protected cruisers primary armament consisted of two 15 cm SK L/35 guns per side, in sponsons amidships.
 * Aragon-class - In 1885 two ships of the Aragon-class of unprotected cruisers the Navarra and Castilla were refitted with two 15 cm SK L/35 guns per side, amidships as their primary armament.

Ammunition
Ammunition was of separate quick loading type with a cartridge case, bagged charge and projectile. The charge for AP and Common shells weighed 8 kg. The charges for Shrapnel were 3.7-5.2 kg.


 * The gun was able to fire:
 * Armor Piercing - 41 kg
 * Common shell - 43.7 kg
 * Shrapnel - 29 kg