Special Coastal Artillery Projectiles:
Siegfried HE L/4,5 - 495 kg (1.091 lbs.)
HE L/4,4 base and nose fuze - 510 kg (1.124 lbs.)

Actual Projectile designations were as follows:
APC L/4,4 - Psgr. L/4,4 (mhb)
HE L/4,5 base fuze - Spr.gr. L/4,5 Bdz (mhb)
HE L/4,6 nose fuze - Spr.gr. L/4,6 Kz (mhb)
Siegfried HE L/4,5 - Si.gr. L/4,5 Bdz u. Kz (mhb)
CA SAP L/4,4 - Spr.gr. L/4,4 Bdz u. Kz (mhb)

The guns used a "fore charge" which was propellant in a silk bag, and a "main charge" which was propellant in a brass case. The brass case helped to seal the breech of the gun.
Fore and Main charges were rammed together.

2) The turrets were supported by ball bearings.

3) Local rangefinders was originally mounted on turret "A" of the Bismarck. Due to malfunctions caused by sea water it was removed while the Bismarck was at Blohm & Voss shipyard in December 1940 - January 1941. The local rangefinders on turret "A" was installed on Tirpitz too, but was removed during the ships fitting-out period.

The Bismarck carried 1,004 shells divided into the following three types:

14.96” (38 cm) Panzersprenggranate L/4.4 mit Haube (Pzgr. L/4.4 m. HB)
An armour-piercing (AP) shell, its base fused with windshield (Haube). Used against heavily armoured targets such as battleships. Bismarck fired 93 of these shells during the Denmark Strait battle against HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales on 24 May 1941. Weight: 1763.7 lbs (800 kg). Explosive charge: 41.4 lbs (18.80 kg). Cap weight without windshield: 248 lbs (112.50 kg). Length: 65.8” (1.67 m). Fuse: Bdz 38. Delay: 0.035 seconds.

14.96” (38 cm) Sprenggranate L/4.5 Bodenzünder mit Haube (Spgr. L/4.5 Bdz m. HB)
A high explosive (HE) shell, its base fused (Bodenzünder) with windshield (Haube). Its penetrating capabilities were inferior to armour-piercing shells. Therefore, it was used against less armoured targets such as cruisers. Effects of the detonation were greater than an AP shell as the HE shell contained a larger explosive charge. Weight: 1763.7 lbs (800 kg). Explosive charge: 71.9 lbs (32.60 kg). Cap weight without windshield: 152.9 lbs (69.35 kg). Length: 67.3” (1.71 m). Fuse: Bdz 38. Delay: 0.035 seconds.

14.96” (38 cm) Sprenggranate L/4.6 Kopfzünder mit Haube (Spgr. L/4,6 Kz m.Hb)
A high explosive (HE) shell, its nose fused (Kopfzünder) with windshield (Haube). The combination of a high explosive shell and nose detonating fuse created splinters due to the large explosive charge. It was used against lightly armoured targets such as destroyers or unarmoured targets such as merchant shipping. Weight: 1763.7 lbs (800 kg). Explosive charge: 141.6 lbs (64.25 kg). Length: 68.8” (1.75 m). Fuse: Kz 27. Delay: None.

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