21 cm L/35


The 21 cm L/35 were a family of German naval artillery developed in the years before World War I and used in limited numbers. This gun armed warships of the Argentine Navy, Imperial Chinese Navy, Royal Danish Navy, Imperial Japanese Navy and Royal Netherlands Navy before and after World War I. It was used in the First Sino-Japanese War, Boxer Rebellion and a ship captured by Japan in the Sino-Japanese War was later used in the Russo-Japanese War.

History

In 1886, Krupp designed the 21 cm L/35 and started production for export customers in 1890. The 21 cm L/35 was produced in two models the No. 1 and No. 2. The main difference between the two guns was their weight, rifling, propellant charges and muzzle velocities. Otherwise their overall length and ammunition were the same.
The 21 cm came in different variants:
  • Model 1880: L25, L30, L35
  • Model 1887: L35, L40
  • Model 1889: L40, L50

Naval use

Argentina

  • – one shielded 21 cm L/35 gun fore and one shielded, 21 cm L/35 gun aft

China

  • – two 21 cm L/35 guns mounted in a forward barbette
  • – two 21 cm L/35 guns mounted in a forward barbette
  • – two 21 cm L/35 guns mounted in a forward barbette

Denmark

  • – one shielded 21 cm L/35 gun fore and one shielded 21 cm L/35 gun aft

Netherlands

The Dutch navy used:
  • 21 cm A No. 1 = Model 1880/L35
  • 21 cm A No. 2 = Model 1887/L35
The 21 cm A No. 1 was used on:
  • – two mounted 21 cm L/35 turret guns fore and one aft
  • – one forward shielded 21 cm L/35 gun after 1890s refits
The 21 cm A No. 2 was used on:
  • – secondary armament of one shielded 21 cm L/35 gun aft
  • – one 21 cm L/35 gun in a forward turret
  • – one 21 cm L/35 gun in a forward turret