Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an enormous and outstanding German WWII 203mm flare projectile for the 20.3 cm SK C/34 naval gun, but were also used in railway guns during the war as well. This example was taken by the U.S. following the war and turned into a cutaway for EOD training, showing the internal workings including the candle flare unit and parachute. The round measures 36” tall with an 8” diameter. Like all deactivated ordnance, this round is Not Available for Export.

These built-up guns consisted of a rifled tube encased within an inner and outer jacket with a horizontal sliding breech block. The breech was sealed with an 18 kg (40 lb) brass case containing 30 kg (66 lb) of smokeless powder with a 160 gram (5.6 oz) gunpowder igniter. A cloth bag containing an additional 21 kg (40 lb) of smokeless powder and 380 grams (13 oz) of gunpowder was loaded between the projectile and the brass case. Each gun could fire approximately five rounds per minute. Useful life expectancy was 510 effective full charges (EFC) per barrel.

The round is cutaway to show the internal workings, including the candle flare unit which has been painted with a flare star, and the parachute which connects to the unit via the suspension ring. The time fuze and detonator are also still intact. The paint appears to have been touched up in recent years. The round comes with a printed copy of a period cutaway of the round to compare with the actual thing. 

This is an outstanding display piece for any German or ordnance collection. Comes ready for further research and display!

The four turrets intended for the incomplete cruiser Seydlitz were installed as coastal artillery in France. The turrets A (Anton) and D (Dora) at Battery Karola on the Ile de Re (4./Marine Artillerie Abteilung 282). And the turrets B (Bruno) and C (Cäsar) at Battery Seydlitz on the Ile de Croix (5./Marine Artillerie Abteilung 264). Eight barrels from the incomplete cruiser were given to the army and followed rebuild to 20.3 cm K (E) railway guns.

This was the only 20.3 cm (8") weapon ever designed by Germany and was quite powerful with a long range. Two of the turrets intended for the uncompleted Seydlitz were mounted 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.

These guns are probably best known for when Prinz Eugen started the Boat Deck fire on HMS Hood shortly before her loss. During the entire Denmark Strait battle, Prinz Eugen fired a total of 183 shells, hitting HMS Hood at least once and HMS Prince of Wales three times.

Four of these guns came into Soviet service when the Germans sold the uncompleted heavy cruiser Lützow to the USSR in 1940. Renamed Petropavlovsk, only two turrets were operational during her early career and she fired 676 rounds in defense of Leningrad. Badly damaged and sunk in shallow water on 17 September 1941, she was later repaired during 1942 with three working 20.3 cm guns. She fired over 1,000 rounds during the Leningrad breakout in January 1944. Renamed Tallin on 1 September 1944. The Soviets were also interested in purchasing the uncompleted heavy cruiser Seydlitz but this was vetoed by der führer in 1939.

Totally inert, cannot be converted to an explosive device, not available for export. This item is completely legal within the USA. International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and Local laws. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America.

All deactivated ordnance sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF).