Obuchov 254mm coast gun M. 1895

 

 

 

 

Russian designation :

10-дм береговая пушка в 45 калибров

German designation :

russ. 25 cm Kst.K.

Calibre :

254 mm L/45

Weight of the barrel :

22735 kg

Weight of the breech :

401.1 kg

Weight in action :

49140 kg

Barrel length :

11.430 m

Barrel grooves

number :

68

depth :

2.54 mm

width :

7.67 mm

Battering charge :

65.8 kg

            Russian shells

 

Shell

weight :

225.5 kg - charge 18.8 kg

muzzle velocity :

693 m/s

max. range :

16836 m

elevation :

35°

Shell

weight :

225.5 kg - charge 18.8 kg

muzzle velocity :

777 m/s

max. range :

20486 m

elevation :

30°

            German shells

 

25cm Gr.

weight :

235 kg

muzzle velocity :

740 m/s

max. range :

18300 m

25cm Gr. (H)

weight :

240 kg

muzzle velocity :

735 m/s

max. range :

23575 m

Efffective range in 1916 :

12000 m

Transport :

by rail

Remarks :

Coast gun ordered to the Russian factory Obuchov in 1891, and received by the Russian Navy in 1895. They were placed on concrete or wooden platform, the time of the installation of the gun on its platform being 4-7 days. The guns were mounted on the Durlyachov carriage, that allowed an elevation of only 15°, but later it was increased up to 35°. At the beginning of the World War 18 of these guns were taken from Vladivostok and placed in various Western fortresses : Novogeorgievsk, Kovno and Grodno received 2 guns each with 200 shells, while Sveaborg in Finland got the remaining 12. When the fortress of Kovno surrended to the German Army on 17 August 1915, they were captured and assigned to German Fußartillerie-Batterie 680. In February 1916, the battery was sent to Heeresgruppe Mackensen to defend the Varna harbour and then delivered to the Bulgarian Coast Artillery. At that time they their barrels were 90% worn out, and they performances were greatly reduced.