The Jutland Gun
German 105mm SK L/45 Naval Gun SMS B.98
SMS B.98 was the lead ship of Commander Heinrich Schuur's 2nd Torpedo Boat Flotilla, part of Vice Admiral Franz von Hipper's Scouting Frces at the Battle of Jutland in 1916, where she was hit by a shell — two men were killed and 11 wounded. Later in the War, her bow was blown off by a Russian mine.
After the War, B.98 carried mail to the interned German Fleet at Scapa Flow in Orkney, until she ran aground and was scrapped. The gun was salvaged and placed on public display in Orkney.
Lent by Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum
Restoring the Jutland Gun
German 105mm SK L/45 Naval Gun SMS B.98
Before being rescued by Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum, the B.98 gun was on open display in poor condition for nearly 100 years, and was a challenge for the volunteers from Explosion — the Museum of Naval Firepower who restored it. Analysis of the paint layers revealed traces of the black scheme worn by German torpedo craft at Jutland. Rust inhibitor sealed the fragile steel and holes were filled with epoxy putty to prevent water ingress, before the paint layers were built back up. Lent by Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum
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