Artillery of World War II 1840134429, 9781840134421

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In World War I the main role of artillery consisted of preparing the battlefield for the infantry to occupy by shelling the enemy and firing protective barrages. The development of the aircraft and the tank led to the manufacture of new types of artillery weapons: the antitank and the antiaircraft gun, both of which would play a major role in World War II. From 1943 it became common to mount high-velocity antitank guns on tracked and armoured carriages, termed assault artillery. Standard artillery pieces were also mounted on tracked carriages and thus became self-propelled artillery. Their mobility allowed them to keep pace with mechanized infantry and tank units. Artillery of World War II contains the most important field and self-propelled artillery pieces used by both Axis and Allied armies in the European and Pacific theatres between 1939 and 1945. In addition to the more well-known field guns, such as the British 25-pounder, German Pak 38, the famous German " 8 8 " , the Soviet 76.2mm Model 1941 and the US 155mm Howitzer M l , Artillery of World War II includes lesserknown Italian, French and Japanese artillery pieces, such as the Semovente, Field Gun Type 90 and 40mm Bofors gun. Also, the book features the self-propelled artillery pieces that fought in the conflict, such as the Wespe and Nashorn. In addition to the text and photographs, Artillery of World War II includes a full specifications table for each piece of hardware, including the following categories (all weights and measures in metric and imperial): type, calibre, length, width, weight, traverse, range, crew, muzzle velocity, rate of fire, and projectile weight.

Chris Chant is an expert on weapons technology, military science and aviation history. He has written numerous books on these subjects, including Warfare of the 20th Century, The Role of the Fighter and Bomber,

Modern Reconnaissance

Aircraft,

World War II Maritime Attack

Aircraft,

The History of the World's

Warships and Civil Aircraft. He currently lives in central England.

Front cover: A British 25-pounder (Robert Hunt Library). Back cover: British Ordnance QF 3.7in (Robert Hunt Library)

Printed in Hong Kong

Chris Chant

This edition published in 2 0 0 1 by Grange Books Grange Books pic The Grange 1 - 6 Kingsnorth Estate Hoo Near Rochester Kent ME3 9ND www.grangebooks.co.uk © 2001 Brown Partworks Limited All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the Publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent publisher. ISBN 1-84013-442-9 Editorial and design: Brown Partworks Limited 8 Chapel Place Rivington Street London EC2A 3DQ UK

Editor: Anne Cree Picture research: Antony Shaw Design: Jeni Child Production: Matt Weyland

Printed in Hong Kong

Picture Credits All photographs following: Ian Hogg: 7, 9, 38, 39, 41, 44, 61, 62, 63, 64, TRH Pictures: 6, 28, 30, 31, 32, 60, 65, 68, 69, 91, 92, 93, 94

The Robert Hunt Library except the 10, 12, 15, 21, 22, 27, 29, 37, 50, 51, 52, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 66, 82, 83, 89, 95 8, 16, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 45, 46, 55, 72, 74, 75, 81, 86, 87, 88, 90,

CONTENTS FRANCE

6

GERMANY

13

GREAT BRITAIN

42

ITALY

55

JAPAN

60

SWEDEN

67

UNITED STATES

68

USSR

81

INDEX

96

>

CANON DE 47

SPECIFICATIONS

CANON DE 47 Type: light towed AT gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 47mm (1.85in)

Road range: n/a

Vehtcle n/a

Range: unknown

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 2.49m (98in)

Projectile weight: 1.725kg (3.81b)

Weight n/a

Armour: n/a

travelling:

Weight in action: 1070kg (23601b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -13° to +16.5°

Muzzle velocity: 855mps (2805fps)

Traverse 68°

Speed: n/a

arc:

T

he two smallest-calibre towed anti-tank guns o p e r a t e d by the F r e n c h at the b e g i n n i n g of World War II were the 2 5 m m C a n o n leger de 25 antichar SA-L modeles 1934 and 1937, these being L / 7 2 a n d L / 7 7 weapons respectively. Both weapons were too lightly built and possessed only indifferent armour-penetration capability, but the same c a n n o t be said of the two weapons next up the calibre ladder. These were the 47mm SA modele 1937 APX and the later but virtually identical SA modele 1939 APX, which were both sturdy and capable weapons. Low to the g r o u n d a n d comparatively easy to handle, both weapons could have played a major part in the campaign of 1940 had they been given the opportunity. Germany seized large n u m b e r s of these guns, a n d pressed t h e m into service by its occupation forces l ight into the time of the Allied invasion of 1944. In G e r m a n service the modeles 1937 a n d 1939 b e c a m e the 4.7cm PaK 181(f) a n d PaK 183(f) respectively, and moderately large n u m b e r s of the weapons were also used in self-propelled anti-tank m o u n t i n g s including the 4.7cm PaK 181(f) o d e r 183(f) auf Pzjag Lorraine Schlepper(f), the 4.7cm PaK(f) auf Panzerspahwagen P204(f), the 4.7cm PaK(f) auf Infanterie PzKpfw Mk 11(e), a n d the 4.7cm Pak 181(f) o d e r 183(f) auf PzKpfw 35R(f).

F R A N C E

CANON DE 75 1897

T

he C a n o n de 75 m o d e l e 1897 can lay claim to being the p r o g e n i t o r of m o d e r n quick-firing artillery a n d was also the most extensively fielded light g u n ever placed in service. P r o d u c e d by Schneider f r o m 1897, the "75" was the first m o d e r n field piece as it employed the first successful hydraulic recoil system, while the N o r d e n f e l d breech block allowed a high rate of fire. Before 1914 the gun was o n e of the most closely guarded French secrets, but by 1918 was used by many countries. As late as 1939 the "75" was still in widespread service. T h e USA fielded the gun in M1897A2 and A4 variants up to 1941. Poland used the type as the armata polowawt 1897 or wt 9 7 / 1 7 , a n d in 1939 and 1940 the British Army received small n u m b e r s with the designation O r d n a n c e , QF, 75mm Mk I. T h e gun still served with the Romanian a n d Greek armies, a n d some delivered to Lithuania passed into service with the Red Army. By 1939 many of the French guns, of which several thousands were still in service, had been modernized with pneumatic tyres, but large n u m b e r s with the original pattern of wooden spoked wheels remained in service. After France's June 1940 defeat many equipments fell into German hands to receive the designation FK 231 (f) but m o r e c o m m o n designation FK 97(f). In 1942 they converted some 600 barrels for use as PaK 9 7 / 3 8 a n d 9 7 / 4 0 anti-tank guns.

SPECIFICATIONS CANON DE 75 1897 Type: light towed field gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 75mm (2.95in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 11,100m (12,140 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 2.587m (101.85in)

Projectile weight: 6.195kg (13.661b)

Weight travelling: 1970kg (43441b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 1140kg (25141b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -11° to +18°

Muzzle velocity: 575mps (1886fps)

Traverse 6°

Speed: n/a

arc:

CANON DE 75 1933

SPECIFICATIONS

CANON DE 75 1933 Type: medium AA gun

Effective ceiling: 7200m (23,620ft)

Calibre: 75mm (2.95in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: n/a

length:

Length of barrel: 4m (157in)

Projectile weight: 9kg (19.851b)

Weight n/a

Armour: n/a

travelling:

Weight in action: 4200kg (92591b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: 0° to +70°

Muzzle velocity: 715mps (2346fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

L

ike many French artillery pieces in service on the outbreak of World War II, the C a n o n de 75 contre aeronefs sur r e m o r q u e Schneider had its origins in World War I, specifically the C a n o n de 75 anti-aerien m o d e l e 1917 sur plate-forme Schneider using the barrel of the m o d e l e 1897 field gun. In an effort to u p d a t e the weapon, the original barrel was replaced in 1934 by a m o r e m o d e r n barrel and the heavy carriage was retained in an u p d a t e d f o r m a n d fitted with a complex firecontrol system. In 1940 many of these C a n o n de 75 contre aeronefs m o d e l e 1917/34 sur r e m o r q u e Schneider were seized by the G e r m a n s a n d kept in service with the revised designation 7.5cm FlaK M . l 7 / 3 4 ( f ) . T h e C a n o n de 75 contre aeronefs m o d e l e 1930 was basically similar b u t lacked the on-carriage firecontrol system, as a central predictor was employed. T h e G e r m a n s used this g u n as the 7.5cm FlaK M.30(f). T h e C a n o n de 75 contre aeronefs m o d e l e 1933 r e p r e s e n t e d an effort to m o d e r n i z e the 7 5 m m family of AA guns by installing the modified Schneider barrel on a m o r e m o d e r n mounting: a folding cruciform with a conventional pedestal a n d folding platform for the d e t a c h m e n t of o n e c o m m a n d e r a n d 10 m e n . Only limited n u m b e r s were p r o d u c e d , the G e r m a n s taking these for service as the 7.5cm FlaK M.33(f) weapons.

F R A N C E

CANON DE 105 C

E

arly in the 1930s the French Army realized that it n e e d e d heavier field artillery than the 75mm modele 1897 rapid-fire gun, which was now an obsolescent piece of artillery that should be replaced by a type or types of m o r e m o d e r n design a n d offering the ability to deliver heavier fire to a longer range. T h e first result of this process was an order placed with the Schneider armaments company for a field howitzer in 105mm rather than 75mm calibre. T h e resulting Canon de 105 C modele 1934 Schneider (specification at right) was of conventional design without any genuinely distinctive features, and had split trails, a large and angular gun, a n d large-diameter spoked wheels with solid r u b b e r tyres providing the capability for motor traction at a comparatively high speed. Trials of the weapon were completed without u n d u e p r o b l e m , t h o u g h this was d u e to its a d e q u a t e design a n d lack of any radical features, a n d p r o d u c t i o n was then started without delay; this helped to e n s u r e that the French Army had moderately large n u m b e r s of these pieces in service in 1939 to m e e t the expected G e r m a n Army invasion. Following the defeat of France in J u n e 1940 many were c a p t u r e d by the G e r m a n Army for service a n d given the designation 10.5cm leichte Feldhaubitze 324(f).

SPECIFICATIONS

CANON DE 105 C Type: medium towed howitze:r

Effective n/a

Calibre: 105mm (4.13in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 10,300m (11,265 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 1.95m (76.7in)

Projectile weight: 15.6kg (34.41b)

Weight travelling: unknown

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 1722kg (37971b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -8° to +50°

Muzzle velocity: 440mps (1444fps)

Traverse 58°

Speed: n/a

arc:

CANON DE 155C

SPECIFICATIONS

CANON DE 155C Type: heavy gun/howitzer

Effective n/a

Calibre: 155mm (6.1in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 11,300m (12,360 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 2.176mm (85.67in)

Projectile weight: 43.61kg (96.161b)

Weight travelling: 3720kg (82031b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 3300kg (72771b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: 0° to +42° 20'

Muzzle velocity: 450mps (1476fps)

Traverse

Speed: n/a

6°

arc:

T

he n a t u r e and intensity of the warfare f o u g h t on the Western Front d u r i n g World War I d e m a n d e d weapons tailored to the particular d e m a n d s of essentially static fighting, a n d o n e French result was the C a n o n de 155 C m o d e l e 1917, generally known as the C 17 S. T his weapon entered service in 1917 and soon gained an excellent reputation, being a d o p t e d for US servic e as the 155mm Howitzer M1917 a n d M1917A1, a n d after World War I was also e x p o r t e d to many nations including Brazil, Finland, Romania a n d Yugoslavia. As a result the weapon was still in widespread service d u r i n g 1939, in which France could still muster m o r e than 2000 such e q u i p m e n t s in frontline roles. T h e Soviet guns had b e e n sleeved in the Soviet 152mm calibre, and all the weapons captured by the G e r m a n s f r o m the- Soviets after the invasion of J u n e 1941 and o t h e r c o n q u e r e d countries were pressed into service in tasks as diverse as standard field use a n d coastal defence. T h e ex-Belgian Obusier de 155 became the 15.5cm schwere Feldhaubitze 413(b), the French C 17 S b e c a m e the 15.5cm sFH 4 1 4 ( 0 , the Italian Obice da 1 5 5 / 1 4 PB became the 15.5cm sFH 414(i), the Polish 155mm haubica wz 1917 became the 15.5cm sFH 17(p) a n d the Soviet 152-17S became the 15.2cm sFH 449(r). It was certainly a reliable a n d robust weapon.

F R A N C E

CANON DE 155 GRAND PUISSANCE

T

he C a n o n de 155 G r a n d Puissance Fillonx (GPF) e n t e r e d service in 1917 and, proving itself o n e of the best pieces of French artillery in World War I, was chosen for use by the US Army forces in France d u r i n g 1918. T h e type r e m a i n e d in American service into World War II as the 155mm G u n M1918M1. T h e r e were still some 450 GPF equipments in French service d u r i n g 1939, and after June 1940 the Germans used seized weapons with the designation 15.5cm Kanone 418(f) in the field and coastal defence roles. T h e Canon de 155 Grand Puissance Filloux - CA was a development of the GPF firing a diff erent type of a m m u n i t i o n from a revised chamber. Only a few such equipments were still in service during 1939, and captured examples were not taken into German service for field use as their capabilities were inferior to those of the GPF. Statically emplaced GPF-CA weapons were retained with the designation 15.5cm K 417(1) until all ammunition had been used (these weapons were of little use, but looked good f o r newsreels to boost civilian morale). T h e c a n o n de 155 G r a n d Puissance Filloux - Touzzard was a m o d e r n i z e d GPF with a new carriage carried on six pneumatically tyred wheels of which two were removed as the gun was b r o u g h t into action. T h e GPF-T was o p e r a t e d by the G e r m a n s as the 15.5cm K 419(f).

SPECIFICATIONS

CANON DE 155 G.R Type: heavy towed gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 155mm (6.1in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 19,500m (21,325 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 5.725m (225.4in)

Projectile weight: 4 3 k g (94.81b)

Weight travelling: 11,700kg (25,7941b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 10,750kg (23,7001b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: 0° to +35°

Muzzle velocity: 735mps (2411fps)

Traverse 60°

Speed: n/a

arc:

CANON DE 155 1932

SPECIFICATIONS

CANON DE 155 1932 Type: heavy howitzer

Effective n/a

Calibre: 155mm (6.1in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 27,500m (30,075 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 8.525m (335.6in)

Projectile weight: 50kg (1101b)

Weight n/a

Armour: n/a

travelling:

Weight in action: 16,400kg (36,1551b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -8° to +45°

Muzzle velocity: 900mps (2953fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

A

characteristic of the guns a n d howitzers developed for service with the French Army in the period b e f o r e a n d d u r i n g World War I h a d b e e n their comparatively short range. This was not perceived as being a tactical limitation d u r i n g the first half of the 1920s, but by the second half of the decade the armies of the larger E u r o p e a n countries were b e g i n n i n g to develop concepts of fast-moving mobile warfare based on motorization if not mechanization of their forces. This type of warfare clearly required that infantry a n d a r m o u r e d forces should be provided with artillery s u p p o r t firing at longer ranges, a n d the F r e n c h Army t h e r e f o r e called for a new generation of weapons capable of motorized towing at h i g h e r speed a n d of firing a heavier projectile to a longer range. An immediate result of this d e m a n d was the C a n o n 155 L m o d e l e 32 Schneider. This was an o r t h o d o x but thoroughly m o d e r n piece of artillery by the standards of the day, a n d its two most obvious tactical capabilities were accuracy to a long range a n d an advanced m o u n t i n g a n d carriage offering the capacity for highspeed towing and, after the g u n h a d b e e n emplaced, 360° traverse. T h e gun proved useful in the campaign of May-June 1940, a n d after the def eat of France the surviving e q u i p m e n t s were seized by the Germans.

G E R M A N Y

FLAK 38

T

he capability of the FlaK 30 was h a m p e r e d by the gun's low rate of fire, so Mauser was allocated the task of boosting the firing rate and, at the same time, significantly r e d u c i n g the gun's tendency to jam. T h e result was the 2cm Flak 38 that a p p e a r e d in 1940 with a revised breech mechanism improving the cyclic a n d practical rates of fire to 420-480 and 180-220rpm respectively. T h e feed system and carriage/trailer were essentially unaltered, b u t sighting was now effected by m e a n s of the Flakvisier 38, a complex a n d somewhat fragile a n d expensive unit replaced f r o m 1941 by the Linealvisier 38 o p e n ring sight, itself succeeded f r o m a time late in 1944 by the Schwebekreisvisier 38. T h e FlaK 38 s u p p l e m e n t e d but did not supplant the FlaK 30, a n d d u r i n g August 1944 the G e r m a n air force alone had in service just u n d e r 17,600 Flak 30 a n d FlaK 38 guns. T h e FlaK 38 used the same a m m u n i t i o n as the Flak 30 a n d had the same d e t a c h m e n t , a n d was also carried on a n u m b e r of self-propelled m o u n t i n g s including the leichte Selbstfahrlafette (2cm FlaK 38) (SdKfz 1 0 / 5 ) , the 2cm Flak 38 auf Mannschaftkraftwagen, the 2cm FlaK 38 a u f l e gl Lkw Kfz 70, the mittlerer Schutzenpanzerwagen (2cm FlaK 38) (SdKfz 251), the SdKfz 251/17, and the leichte Flakpanzer 18(t) (SdKfz 140).

SPECIFICATIONS

FLAK 38 Type: light towed AA gun

Effective ceiling: 2200m (6630ft)

Calibre: 20mm (0.8in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: n/a

length:

Length of barrel: 2.2525m (88.68in)

Projectile weight: 0.119kg (0.26251b)

Weight travelling: 750kg (1,6541b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 420kg (9261b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -20° to +90°

Muzzle velocity: 900mps (2953fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

FLAKVIERLING 38

SPECIFICATIONS

FLAKVIERLING 38 Type: light towed AA gun

Effective ceiling: 2200m (7220ft)

Calibre: 20mm (0.8in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: n/a

length:

Length of barrel: 2.252m (88.7in)

Projectile weight: 0.119kg (0.26251b)

Weight travelling: 2212kg (48771b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 1514kg (33381b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -10° to +100°

Muzzle velocity: 900mps (2953fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

he 2cm Flakvierling 38 q u a d r u p l e 2 0 m m m o u n t i n g was highly respected by Allied airmen operating at low level. Designed bv Mauser for G e r m a n naval use, the Flakvierling 38 e n t e r e d p r o d u c t i o n for the army a n d air force d u r i n g 1940. T h e Flakvierling 38 c o m b i n e d four FlaK 38 barrels on an adapted version of the FlaK 38's carriage, and while the standard sight was the Flakvisier 40 or improved Flakvisier 40A, provision was being m a d e for radar direction by the e n d of World War II. T h e n e e d to keep f o u r barrels supplied with a m m u n i t i o n m e a n t that the d e t a c h m e n t was increased to a c o m m a n d e r a n d seven men (reduced to six f r o m August 1944) rather than the FlaK 38's total of six men: this provided for four loading a n d a m m u n i t i o n n u m b e r s in place of the FlaK 38's two, but the Flakvierling 38 could be o p e r a t e d by just f o u r m e n . T h e Flakvierling 38 was carried on trains a n d installed on FlaK towers to s u p p l e m e n t heavier weapons, a n d was also used on a n u m b e r of self-propelled m o u n t i n g s including the 2cm Flakvierling 38 auf m Lkw, the mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8t mit 2cm Flakvierling 38 (SdKfz 7 / 1 ) , the Flakpanzer IV (2cm Flakvierling 38) auf Fgst PzKpfw IV Mobelwagen, a n d the Flakpanzer IV (2cm) auf Fgst PzKpfw I V / 3 Wirbelwind. It was an excellent a n d reliable weapon.

T

G E R M A N Y

FLAKPANZERIV

T

h e r e were two Flakpanzer IV types, namely the Flakpanzer IV (2cm Flakvierling 38) auf Fgst PzKpfw IV Mobelwagen (furniture van) a n d the Flakpanzer IV (2cm) mit PzFgst Panzer I V / 3 Wirbelwind (whirlwind). T h e f o r m e r was developed as the Flakpanzer 38(t), with o n e 2 0 m m FlaK 38 c a n n o n on a Czechoslovak light tank chassis, a n d h a d not proved satisfactory, a n d the new type e n t e r e d p r o d u c t i o n in 1943. T h e Mobelwagen comprised a Flakvierling 38 fourgun m o u n t i n g (provided with 3000 rounds) on a PzKpfw IV m e d i u m tank chassis. A large rectangular fighting c o m p a r t m e n t of a r m o u r plate was provided above the superstructure f o r protection, a n d in action this c o m p a r t m e n t ' s walls were lowered to the horizontal position to enlarge the fighting platform. T h e gun m o u n t i n g could be traversed t h r o u g h 360° and elevated in an arc f r o m +10° to +90°. T h e Flakpanzer IV (2cm) mit PzFgst Panzer I V / 3 was i n t r o d u c e d at the e n d of 1943 after being designed to provide better protection to the gun crew t h r o u g h the installation of the Flakvierling 38 (with 3200 rounds) in an o p e n - t o p p e d octagonal rotating a r m o u r e d turret that could be rotated t h r o u g h 360° a n d provided the gun m o u n t i n g with an elevation arc between +10° a n d +90°. T h e specification applies to the Wirbelwind.

SPECIFICATIONS FLAKPANZER IV Type: self-propelled AA gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 210km (130 miles)

Vehicle length: 5.89m (19ft 4in)

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

ceiling:

weight:

Armour: 16-85mm (.6-3.35in)

Weight in action: 22,176kg (48,8891b)

Engine: Maybach HL 120 TR 112

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 40km/h (24.8mph)

FLAKPANZER WIRBELWIND

SPECIFICATIONS FLAKPANZER WIRBELWIND Type: self-propelled AA gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 210km (130 miles)

Vehicle length: 5.89m (19ft 4in)

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

ceiling:

weight:

Armour: 16-85mm (,63-3.35in)

Weight in action: 22,175kg (48,8871b)

Engine: Maybach HL 120 TR 112

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

Speed: n/a

velocity:

A

tactically i m p o r t a n t weapon that e n t e r e d service in December 1943 to provide G e r m a n a r m o u r e d forces with a high level of air d e f e n c e against low-flying attack aircraft, the five-man Flakpanzer IV (2cm) mit PzFgst Panzer I V / 3 Wirbelwind (whirlwind) was based on the chassis of the PzKpfw IV A u s f J m e d i u m tank. This e n s u r e d that the vehicle had mobility equal to the battle tanks then in service, while the design of the a r m a m e n t installation e n s u r e d that the g u n crew had better protection than had b e e n offered in earlier selfpropelled anti-aircraft gun mountings. This protection was created by the installation of the 2cm Flakvierling 38 unit, with its f o u r 20mm c a n n o n , inside an eight-sided turret, with outward-angled lower sides a n d inwardangled u p p e r sides of exactly the same dimensions to facilitate the task of welding together the turret's 16mm (0.63in) plates. T h e turret had power traverse t h r o u g h 360°, a n d the g u n s could be elevated t h r o u g h an arc between +10° a n d +90°. A m m u n i t i o n for the guns was carried in 20-round clips, stowage being provided for 16 such clips in the turret for r e p l e n i s h m e n t f r o m some 2280 m o r e r o u n d s carried in 15 boxes inside the hull. T h e Flakpanzer IV (3.7cm) Ostwind (east wind) was basically similar except for its a r m a m e n t of o n e 3.7cm Flak 43 g u n in a turret.

G E R M A N Y

FLAK 36/37

P

roduction of Germany's first m o d e r n light antiaircraft g u n , the FlaK 18, e n d e d in 1936 to allow m a n u f a c t u r e of an improved model, the 3.7cm FlaK 36, that was the FlaK 18 g u n on a new m o u n t i n g carried on a two-wheeled carriage and served by an eight-man d e t a c h m e n t . T h e ballistics of the FlaK 36 were the same as those of the FlaK 18 b u t when, in 1940, there a p p e a r e d a new range of a m m u n i t i o n characterized by o n e rather than the original two driving bands, the FlaK 36's c h a m b e r was s h o r t e n e d accordingly. T h e FlaK 36 was originally sighted with the aid of the Flakvisier 35 or 36 until Zeiss developed its clockwork-powered Uhrwerksvisier that was accepted for service as the Flakvisier 37. E q u i p m e n t s fitted with this sight were FlaK 37, a n d were in all o t h e r respects identical to the FlaK 36. T h e FlaK 36 a n d 37 became the G e r m a n forces' standard d e f e n c e against low-flying warplanes, a n d were used in 9or 12-gun batteries by the land-based forces. T h e weapons were also fitted on trains, surface warships, Uboats, FlaK towers a n d a n u m b e r of self-propelled mountings to create the 3.7cm FlaK auf Lkw MercedesBenz 4500 A, the 3.7cm FlaK auf Maultier, the 3.7cm FlaK (Sf) auf Zugki aftwagen 5t SdKfz 6 / 2 , and the mZgkw 8t mit 3.7cm Flak 36 SdKfz 7 / 2 .

SPECIFICATIONS FLAK 36/37 Type: light towed AA gun

Effective ceiling: 4800m (15,750ft)

Calibre: 37mm (1.457in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: n/a

length:

Length of barrel: 3.626m (142.75in)

Projectile weight: 0.64kg (1.41b)

Weight travelling: 2400kg (52911b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 1550kg (34171b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -8° to +85°

Muzzle velocity: 820mps (2690fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

PAK 35/36

SPECIFICATIONS PAK 35/36 Type: towed light AT gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 37mm (1.46in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 375m (410 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 1.665m (65.5in)

Projectile weight: 0.354kg (12.5oz)

Weight travelling: 432kg (9521b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 328kg (7231b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -8° to +25°

Muzzle velocity: 1030mps (3379fps)

Traverse 60°

Speed: n/a

arc:

T

he 3.7cm PaK 3 5 / 3 6 e n t e r e d service in 1936. More than 15.000 such weapons had b e e n completed in Germany by 1941. a n d the type was also built u n d e r licence by other countries. Experience proved that by the standards of the day the PaK 3 5 / 3 6 was excellent, and the weapon strongly influenced the design of other guns: the American 37mm M3, for example, was a close copy. Bv the e n d of 1940 it was clear that the PaK 3 5 / 3 6 was obsolescent in the face of thicker tank armour, and the weapon was gradually replaced by larger-calibre guns. In the shorter term the effectiveness of the PaK 3 5 / 3 6 was boosted by tungsten-cored AP40 a m m u n i t i o n , a n d in secondary battlefield roles the PaK 3 5 / 3 6 r e m a i n e d in service to the e n d of World War II. It was also used by o t h e r countries that later fell to Germany in the war. T h u s the Soviet 3 7 m m Anti-Tank Gun Model 1930 became the PaK 158(r), the Italian C a n n o n e contracarro da 3 7 / 4 5 became the PaK 162(i), a n d the Dutch 3 7 m m Rheinmetall became the PaK 153(h). Self-propelled m o u n t i n g s of the PaK 3 5 / 3 6 included the 3.7cm PaK auf I ge Lkw(o), 3.7cm PaK auf Fahrgestell B r e n ( e ) , the 3.7cm PaK (ST) auf Infanterie Schlepper UE(f), the 3.7cm PaK auf gep Artillerieschlepper(r), the 3.7cm l'ak auf le Zgkw and the 3.7cm PaK (SI) auf Zgkw It.

G E R M A N Y

PAK 38

T

he need for an anti-tank g u n with a calibre greater than that of the 3.7cm PaK 3 5 / 3 6 had b e e n anticipated even as the PaK 3 5 / 3 6 was e n t e r i n g service, a n d the design of a new 5cm weapon began d u r i n g 1938. T h e design authority was again Rheinmetall-Borsig, a n d the new weapon e n t e r e d service late in 1940 as the 5cm P a n z e r a b w e h r k a n o n e 38. This was a capable g u n that r e m a i n e d in service right to the e n d of World War II: firing tungsten-cored AP40 a m m u n i t i o n , the PaK 38 could successfully tackle all but the most heavily protected Allied tanks, a n d between 1941 a n d 1942 was the only G e r m a n anti-tank gun able to p e n e t r a t e the a r m o u r of the Soviet T-34 tank. T h e e m p l o y m e n t of light alloys in the carriage lighted the e q u i p m e n t a n d m a d e it easier to handle. T h e wheels h a d torsion-bar suspension that was locked when the trails were split, creating a stable firing platform. Later in the war the PaK 38 was adapted for aircraft m o u n t i n g as the B o r d k a n o n e 5 with an automatic feed system, a n d this was t h e n used as the basis for the 5cm FlaK 214 anti-aircraft gun. As an anti-tank g u n the PaK 38 was installed on a n u m b e r of self-propelled mountings including the 5cm PaK 38 (Sf) auf leichter Selbstfahrlafette, the SdKfz 250 a n d the 5cm Pak 38 auf PzKpfw II nA.

SPECIFICATIONS PAK 38 Type: medium towed AT gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 50mm (1.97in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 450m (490 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 3.173m (124.9in)

Projectile weight: 2.25kg (41b 15.25oz)

Weight travelling: 986kg (21741b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: unknown

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -8° to +27°

Muzzle velocity: 1198mps (3930fps)

Traverse 65°

Speed: n/a

arc:

LE IG 18

SPECIFICATIONS

LE IG 18 Type: infantry support gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 75mm (2.95in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 3550m (3885 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 0.884m (34.8in)

Projectile weight: 6 - 5 . 4 5 k g (13.2-12lb)

Weight travelling: unknown

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 400kg (8821b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -10° to +73°

Muzzle velocity: 210mps (689fps)

Traverse 12°

Speed: n/a

arc:

O

ne of the pieces of light field artillery used in the largest n u m b e r s by the G e r m a n Army in World War II was the 7.5cm leichte Infanteriegeschutz 18. T h e need for such a weapon was perceived in the first half of the 1920s, a n d the task of designing a n d developing such a gun was entrusted to Rheinmetall d u r i n g 1927. Field trials of the new e q u i p m e n t proved very successful, and a m a j o r m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o g r a m m e was initiated so that the le IG 18 could be a d o p t e d as the standard artillery weapon of the s u p p o r t companies of infantry regiments and also of some m o u n t a i n units. T h e le IG 18 featured an unusual loading system in which the barrel was wholly enclosed in a square slipper which pivoted upwards as the b r e e c h block r e m a i n e d fixed. Early examples of the le IG 18 had old-fashioned spoked wheels better suited to horse traction, but later e q u i p m e n t s ran on pneumatically tyred wheels of the type required for higher-speed towing b e h i n d m o t o r vehicles. A special variant, p r o d u c e d in 1939 to the extent of just six equipments, was the 7.5cm le IG 18F (Fallschirmjager, or a i r b o r n e forces), which was i n t e n d e d for p a r a d r o p p i n g for the support of a i r b o r n e forces: this m o d e l had small wheels, lacked any shield a n d could be broken down into four 140kg (3091b) loads carried in containers. A n o t h e r limited-production variant was the 7.5cm le GebIG 18.

G E R M A N Y

GEBIRGSGESCHUTZ 36

I

t was in 1935 thai Rheinmetall-Borsig, working on the basis of a r e q u i r e m e n t issued by the G e r m a n Army, e m b a r k e d on the process of developing a new piece of thoroughly m o d e r n light artillery for service with Germany's m o u n t a i n infantry formations. T h e new g u n / h o w i t z e r was to b e c o m e the standard gun of the artillery batteries supporting such infantry a n d was, of course, to be of the pack type so that the entire weapon could be b r o k e n down into loads which could each be carried by a draft animal, most typically a mule. T h e resulting weapon e n t e r e d service in 1938 as the 7.5cm Gebirgsgeschi'itz 36, whose unusual features included variable recoil facility a n d a large muzzle brake of the p e p p e r p o t type. T h e Gebirgsgeschi'itz 36 could be b r o k e n down into eight loads, but service use soon revealed that the weapon was decidedly heavy for its role Even so, the weapon proved p o p u l a r with the m e n of batteries operating it as it was generally easy to h a n d l e a n d offered considerable stability when fired. T h e r e p l a c e m e n t for the Gebirgsgeschutz 36 was to have been the Gebirgsgeschutz 43 of the same calibre, for which Rheinmetall a n d Bohler offered designs. T h e Bohler design was p r e f e r r e d , but as only f o u r were completed the Gebirgsgeschutz 36 r e m a i n e d in service to the e n d of World War II.

SPECIFICATIONS GEBIRGSGESCHUTZ 36 Type: light mountain gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 75mm (2.95in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 9150m (10,390 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 1.4475m (57in)

Projectile weight: 5.83kg (12.851b)

Weight travelling: unknown

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 750kg (16531b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -10° to +70°

Muzzle velocity: 475mps (1558fps)

Traverse 40°

Speed: n/a

arc:

FELDKANONE 38

SPECIFICATIONS FELDKANONE 38 Type: light towed gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 75mm (2.95in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 11,500m (12,575 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 2.335m (91.9in)

Projectile weight: 5.83kg (12.851b)

Weight travelling: 1860kg (41011b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 1365 kg (3,0091b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -5° to +45°

Muzzle velocity: 605mps (1985fps)

Traverse 50°

Speed: n/a

arc:

A

piece of light field artillery used by the G e r m a n Army only to a limited degree, the 7.5cm Feldkanone 38 was based on a design created a n d m a n u f a c t u r e d by the arms m a n u f a c t u r e r Krupp in response to an o r d e r f r o m the Brazilian Army, which received 64 such e q u i p m e n t s with six-baffle muzzle brakes and large-diameter spoked w o o d e n wheels inside steel tyres (as shown). During 1942 the Germany Army f o u n d itself in need of substantially larger quantities of m o r e m o d e r n field artillery, largely to satisfy its needs on the Eastern Front against the masses of Soviet m a n p o w e r a n d hardware, a n d as a result Krupp adapted its Brazilian design to create the 7.5cm F e l d k a n o n e 38 that was built to provide a partial replacement for the obsolete 7.5cm leichte Feldkanone, a K r u p p weapon that e n t e r e d service in 1931 a n d reflected World War 1 artillery thinking rather than the r e q u i r e m e n t s of m o d e r n mobile warfare as was being practised over the vast distances on the Eastern Front. Features of the FK 38 were trail legs that were heavier a n d larger than those of the Brazilian weapon as well as a two-baffle muzzle brake a n d typically solid G e r m a n wheels or steel construction with sold r u b b e r types. Like most pieces of G e r m a n field artillery, the FK 38 fired fixed (one-piece) a m m u n i t i o n .

G E R M A N Y

PAK 41

B

uilt in competition with the Rheinmetall-Borsig 7.5cm PaK 40 as a means of providing the German Army with the best possible weapon to succeed the 5cm PaK 3 5 / 3 6 , the 7.5cm P a n z e r a b w e h r k a n o n e 41 was designed by Krupp, the o t h e r main creator of largercalibre weapons for the G e r m a n Army. T h e weapon was characterized by the incorporation of several advanced features. T h e e q u i p m e n t was thus the largest of the Gerlich taper-bore guns with a calibre of 7.5cm at the breech r e d u c i n g to 5.5cm at the muzzle. It possessed trail legs attached directly lo the one-piece shield in a fashion that effected considerable economies in m a n u f a c t u r i n g time a n d also in weight, a n d incorporated an automatic hydraulic braking system o p e r a t e d by the towing vehicle. In addition, the PaK 41 h a d a c o m m e n d a b l y low overall silhouette, a n d its comparatively light weight was a decided advantage in h a n d l i n g I lie weapon. But for its particular a m m u n i t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t , which was based on a tungsten-cored shot with collapsing light alloy skirts, a n d a barrel that lasted for only 400 r o u n d s because of the d e m a n d s placed on it, the PaK 41 might well have b e c o m e a standard weapon. T h u s only 150 PaK 41 guns were p r o d u c e d , a n d when tungsten for their special a m m u n i t i o n was exhausted, the weapons were scrapped.

SPECIFICATIONS

PAK 41 Type: medium towed AT gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 75/55mm (2.95/2.1in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: n/a

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 4.32m (170in)

Projectile weight: 2.59kg (51b 11.2502)

Weight travelling: 1356kg (29891b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: unknown

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: 0° to +16°

Muzzle velocity: 1124mps (3690fps)

Traverse 60°

Speed: n/a

arc:

JAGDPANZER 38(T)

SPECIFICATIONS JAGDPANZER 38(T) Type: four-mari tank hunter

Effective n/a

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 160km (99 miles)

Vehicle length: 6.27m (20ft 7in)

Range: n/a

Length n/a

Projectile n/a

of barrel:

ceiling:

weight:

Weight travelling: unknown

Armour: 8-60mm (.3-2.36in)

Weight in action: 15,925kg (35,1081b)

Engine: one EPA TZJ

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

arc:

Traverse arc: arc: n/a

velocity:

Speed: Speed: 25.75km/h (16mph)

M

a n u f a c t u r e d f r o m 1943 to provide the G e r m a n forces with a dedicated Panzerjager (tank h u n t e r ) capable of defeating the Allied powers' latest a r m o u r e d fighting vehicles, the Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer" (baiter) was based on the redesigned hull of the PzKpfw 38(t) light tank of Czechoslovak origins. T h e f r o n t , sides a n d rear of the superstructure were e x t e n d e d upward to a small horizontal roof by the acute inward-angling of the front, sides a n d rear to provide superior ballistic protection yet still providing a fighting c o m p a r t m e n t for the four-man crew. T h e lower part of the hull's f r o n t was 6 0 m m (2.36in) thick, angled at 40°. a n d was interlocked with the sides a n d u p p e r nose plate, the latter also 60mm thick but angled at 60° up to the top of the superstructure. T h e primary a r m a m e n t was o n e 7.5cm PaK 39 ( L / 4 8 ) g u n located some 0.38m (15in) to the right of the hull centreline, a n d litted with an improved tvpe of recoil mechanism permitting the muzzle brake to be omitted. T h e PaK 39's elevation arc was -6° to +10° a n d its traverse arc was 11° right a n d 5° lef t of the centreline, a n d 41 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n were carried. O n e 7.92mm m a c h i n e g u n was s u p p o r t e d on a m o u n t i n g built into the roof a n d fitted with a periscopic sight a n d e x t e n d e d trigger mechanism. Production totalled 1577 vehicles.

G E R M A N Y

JAGDPANZERIV

I

n t r o d u c e d late in 1943, the J a g d p a n z e r IV was based on the PzKpfw IV m e d i u m tank with the turret removed a n d the u p p e r hull revised into a fixed superstructure, including 6 0 m m (2.47in) u p p e r a n d lower frontal plates sloped at 45° a n d 57° respectively, above the all-welded original hull. T h e sloping sides of the superstructure e x t e n d e d beyond the vertical hull sides over the tracks to provide additional volume for a m m u n i t i o n stowage (a m a x i m u m of 79 r o u n d s ) . A r m o u r skirts of 5 m m (0.2in) thickness were bolted to brackets welded to the vehicle's sides. T h e 7.5cm Pak 39 L / 4 8 main g u n was installed in the sloped f r o n t plate, the m o u n t i n g being of the gimbal type protected by a heavy external casting. T h e g u n could be elevated between -8° a n d +10°, a n d traversed between 12° left a n d 10° right. T h e PaK 39 provided a muzzle velocity of 700m (2297ft) per second with APCBC a m m u n i t i o n a n d 550m (1805ft) per second HE a m m u n i t i o n , a n d there were also AP40 a n d smoke projectiles. On later models of the e q u i p m e n t the muzzle brake was omitted, together with the machinegun port on the left side of the f r o n t plate. Potent on paper, this vehicle was unreliable a n d p r o d u c e d in too few n u m b e r s to make a real impact on the battlefield at a time when G e r m a n y desperately n e e d e d good kit.

SPECIFICATIONS JAGDPANZER IV Type: four-man tank hunter

Effective n/a

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 220km (130 miles)

Vehicle length: 7.29m (23ft l l i n )

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

ceiling:

weight:

Armour: 10-60mm (,3-2.36in)

Weight in action: 23,788kg (52,4431b)

Engine: Maybach HL 120 T R M

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 45km/h (28mph)

MARDER III

SPECIFICATIONS MARDER

III

Type: four-man tank destroyer

Effective n/a

ceiling:

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 185km (115 miles)

Vehicle length: 5.76m (18ft l l i n )

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

weight:

Armour: 14-25mm (.5-lin)

Weight in action: 10,685kg (23,5561b)

Engine: one Praga EPA AC

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 40km/h (25mph)

D

esigned as a tank destroyer on the basis of obsolete PzKpfw II Ausf A, C a n d F light tanks, the 7.5cm PaK 4 0 / 2 auf Sfl II (Marder II, or pine marten II) was delivered f r o m 1942. T h e original tank superstructure a n d turret were replaced by a boxy o p e n - t o p p e d lighting c o m p a r t m e n t that sloped down to the rear. T h e PaK 40 gun, complete with its original shield, was m o u n t e d on a platform on the f r o n t of the vehicle, the gun shield f o r m i n g a part of the f r o n t protective superstructure, a n d the e n g i n e was relocated to the rear. T h e proximity of the g u n shield to the f r o n t superstructure limited traverse to 65° a n d the elevation arc was -5° to +22°, a n d 37 r o u n d s were carried in total. With a four-man crew, the Marder II t u r n e d the scales at 10,886 kg (23,999 lb). T h e 7.5cm Pak 4 0 / 3 auf Sfl 38 (t) Ausf H (Marder III) was p r o d u c e d d u r i n g 1942 as a stop-gap tank destroyer, a n d comprised PaK 40 (with up to 40 r o u n d s ) on the chassis of the PzKpfw 38(t) light tank of Czechoslovak origin. T h e PaK 40's turntable was bolted to the angle section that originally carried the superstructure top plate a n d the g u n shield, up to 15mm (0.59in) thick, was o p e n at the top a n d rear. T h e g u n could be elevated between -5° a n d +22°, a n d traversed 65° left a n d right. T h e specifications table at left applies to the Marder III.

G E R M A N Y

STUG III 7.5CM

r.

O

therwise known as ihe 7.5cm Sturmgeschiitz III. the 7.5cm Sturmgeschiitz 40 was p r o d u c e d in t h r e e SdKfz 142/1 versions as the definitive models of the assault g u n series based on the chassis of the PzKpfw III m e d i u m tank. T h e first variants of this four-man vehicle were a r m e d with the 7.5cm KwK L / 2 4 short-barrel gun, a n d were the StuG III Ausf A that was p r o d u c e d in 1940, the StuG III Ausf B / I ) with chassis variations, a n d the StuG III Ausf E of 1942 with an additional a r m o u r e d p a n n i e r on the right-hand side f o r radio e q u i p m e n t when used as a unit c o m m a n d e r ' s vehicle. T h e StuG 40 Ausf F that a p p e a r e d early in 1942 was a development with a cooling fan in the fighting c o m p a r t m e n t a n d the m o r e p o t e n t 7.5cm S t u r m k a n o n e 40 L / 4 3 assault g u n d e v e l o p m e n t of the KwK 50 tank g u n with 54 rounds, while the StuG 40 Ausf F / 8 h a d the longer L / 4 8 version of the same gun. Late in 1942 there a p p e a r e d the StuG 40 Ausf G, based on the chassis of the PzKpfw III Ausf J tank with the 1. 48 gun and, in place of the original c o m m a n d e r ' s hatch, a cupola with seven episcopes a n d an a r m o u r e d shield for the local-defence m a c h i n e g u n and, on later vehicles, a r m o u r e d skirts. T h e final model was the StuG 40 Ausf G (nicknamed the sow's head) with thicker a r m o u r a n d a cast g u n mantlet. T h e data applies to the StuG 40 Ausf E

SPECIFICATIONS STUG III 7.5CM Type: four-man assault gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 155km (96 miles)

Vehicle length: 5.49m (18ft)

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

ceiling:

weight:

Armour: 30-80mm (1.2-3.15in)

Weight in action: 21,950kg (24,3911b)

Engine: Maybach HL 120 T R M

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 40km/h (25mph)

FLAK 36/37

SPECIFICATIONS FLAK 36/37 Type: towed AA gun

Effective ceiling: 8000m (26,245ft)

Calibre: 88mm (3.465in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: n/a

length:

Length of barrel: 4.93m (1994.1in)

Projectile weight: 9.24kg (20.341b)

Weight travelling: 6861kg (15,1261b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 5150kg (11.5341b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -3° to +85°

Muzzle velocity: 820mps (2690fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

S

uccessor to the p i o n e e r i n g FlaK 18 anti-aircraft g u n , which itself r e m a i n e d in first-line service to 1945, the 8.8cm Fliegerabwehrkanone 36 e n t e r e d service in 1936 as a d e v e l o p m e n t of the FlaK 18 with a barrel of different construction a n d a new carriage. T h e Rheinmetall-designed barrel h a d t h r e e removable liners, which could be c h a n g e d when worn a n d thus removed the n e e d for the r e p l a c e m e n t of the complete barrel, a n d the new S o n d e r A n h a n g e r 202 carriage h a d d o u b l e wheels a n d was towed with the g u n aligned to the rear. In 1939 there a p p e a r e d FlaK 37 d e v e l o p m e n t with a revised data-transmission system optimized for the anti-aircraft role so, unlike the dual-role FlaK 18 a n d 36 anti-tank a n d anti-aircraft guns, the FlaK 37 was a single-role gun. T h e three guns shared a n u m b e r of c o m p o n e n t s , so it was n o t u n c o m m o n to find the FlaK 18 barrel on the FlaK 37's carriage. T h e i m p o r t a n c e of the series is attested by the fact that in August 1944 there were 10,930 examples of the three weapons in service. Examples of the type were also o p e r a t e d by the Italians as the C a n n o n e da 8 8 / 5 6 CA, a n d self-propelled m o u n t i n g s were the 8.8cm FlaK 37 (SI) auf Zugkraftwagen 18t a n d the 8.8cm FlaK 37 auf Sonderfahrgestell. They were excellent weapons.

G E R M A N Y

PAK 43

T

he 8.8c:m P a n z e r a b w e h r k a n o n e 43 was a Krupp d e v e l o p m e n t of the p r o p o s e d PaK 42. Entering service late in 1943, this e q u i p m e n t proved itself to be the best anti-tank gun of World War II. T h e weapon possessed a low silhouette a n d was also protected by a well-sloped shield, a n d its potency was revealed by the fact that the PaK 43 was the only G e r m a n weapon able to p e n e t r a t e the thick a n d well-sloped a r m o u r of the Soviet IS heavy tanks, a n d t h e n at ranges well in excess of those offered by smaller-calibre guns. T h e PaK 43 was o d d for a G e r m a n weapon in using a semi-automatic breech block of the vertically falling type a n d having electrical firing, a n d was installed on a cruciform carriage based on that of the 8.8cm FlaK guns: thus the e q u i p m e n t was moved on f o u r wheels with the outrigger arms folded. T h e PaK 43 could be fired f r o m this wheeled carriage, but the general practice was for the g u n to be d u g in. Self-propelled m o u n t i n g s for this exceptional weapon were the 8.8cm PaK 4 3 / 3 auf Panzerjager 38(t), the 8.8cm Panzerjager 43 auf Sfl 38(d), the 8.8cm Pak 4 3 / 3 auf K r u p p Steyr Sfl 38(d), the Panzerjager II I / I V Nashorn friiher Hornisse, the Jagdpanzer Tiger (P) Elefant mit 8.8cm PaK 4 3 / 2 , the 8.8cm PaK 4 3 / 3 auf Panzerjager Panther, the J a g d p a n t h e r (SdKfz 173), and the Jagdtiger f u r 8.8cm PaK 43 (SdKfz 186).

SPECIFICATIONS

PAK 43 Type: heavy towed AT gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 88mm (3.46in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 450m (490 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 6.61m (260.25in)

Projectile weight: 7.3kg (161b 1.5oz)

Weight travelling: 5000kg (11,0231b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in n/a

Engine: n/a

action:

Elevation arc: -8° to +40°

Muzzle velocity: 1130mps (3707fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

NASHORN

SPECIFICATIONS NASHORN Type: heavy tank destroyer

Effective n/a

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 185km (115 miles)

Vehicle length: 5.89m (19ft 4in)

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

Armour: 10-30mm (,3-1.18in)

ceiling:

weight:

Weight in action: 24,192kg (53,3331b)

Engine: Maybach HK 120 T R M

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 40km/h (25mph)

T

he five-man vehicle originally called (he Hornisse (hornet) but later the Nashorn (rhinoceros) was developed as a tank destroyer a r m e d with the 8.8cm PaK 43 gun, and reached operational service d u r i n g November 1942. At this time the G e r m a n Army was h e a d i n g for defeat at Stalingrad, and the W e h r m a c h t desperately n e e d e d self-propelled anti-tank vehicles to c o m b a t the increasing quantities of Red Army tanks on the Eastern Front. T h e vehicle comprised the Pak 4 3 / 1 g u n on the chassis of the PzKpfw IV m e d i u m tank with its e n g i n e (with the transmission a n d drive of the PzKpfw III) moved forward to the centre of the hull to provide a clear area for a fighting c o m p a r t m e n t at the rear. T h e gun was located over the e n g i n e inside a comparatively tall o p e n - t o p p e d superstructure of a r m o u r 3 0 m m (1,18in) thick at the f r o n t a n d 20mm (0.79in) thick at the sides. Supplied with a m a x i m u m of 48 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n , whose shot could p e n e t r a t e 169mm (6.65in) of a r m o u r at 900m (985 yards), the g u n could be elevated between -5° a n d +20°, a n d traversed 15° left a n d 15° right of the centreline. When the vehicle was travelling, the gun's long barrel was s u p p o r t e d by a lock whose two arms were h i n g e d to the f r o n t of the vehicle a n d looked like an inverted V when clamped the barrel.

G E R M A N Y

JAGDPANTHER

G

ermany's first efforts to create a decisive tank destroyer by installing the magnificent PaK 43 g u n on existing tracked chassis had produced useful but not exceptional vehicles: the Pzjag Tiger (P) "Elefant f r u h e r Ferdinand" was too heavy and lacked a machine gun for all-round defence (which proved disastrous at the Battle of Kursk in July 1943, when large n u m b e r s were knocked out by Soviet infantry), while the "Hornisse f r u h e r Nashorn" was too small and lacked adequate performance. T h e obvious solution was use of the PzKpfw V P a n t h e r ' s chassis without a turret but with the a r m o u r plate of the f r o n t a n d u p p e r sides e x t e n d e d upwards a n d roofed over to create well-sloped a n d enclosed fighting c o m p a r t m e n t . T h e 8.8cm Pak 4 3 / 3 L / 7 1 gun was located in an a p e r t u r e in the f r o n t plate with protection provided by a heavy cast-steel mantlet inside a cast-steel ring welded to the f r o n t plate. Provided with a m a x i m u m of 50 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n , the gun could be elevated between -8° a n d +14°, a n d traversed 13° left a n d 13° right of the centreline. Manufacture of the five-man "Jagdpanther" ( h u n t i n g p a n t h e r ) started d u r i n g the early part of 1944 on the basis of the P a n t h e r Ausf G chassis, a n d while the first such e q u i p m e n t s had a one-piece barrel, the definitive variant had a two-piece barrel.

SPECIFICATIONS JAGDPANTHER Type: heavy tank destroyer

Effective n/a

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 200km (124 miles)

Vehicle length: 9.85m (32ft 4in)

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

Armour: 15-80mm (.5-3.15in)

ceiling:

weight:

Weight in action: 45,158kg (99,5551b)

Engine: Maybach HL 230 P 30

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 29km/h (18mph)

FLAK 38/39

SPECIFICATIONS FLAK 38/39 Type: heavy towed AA gun

Effective ceiling: 12,800m (41,995ft)

Calibre: 105mm (4.1in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: n/a

length:

Length of barrel: 6.648m (261.7in)

Projectile weight: 15.1kg (33.31b)

Weight travelling: 14,600kg (32,1871b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 10,240kg (22,5751b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -3° to 85°

Muzzle velocity: 880mps (2887fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

A

lthough the G e r m a n air force's 8.8cm anti-aircraft guns were to prove highly capable weapons, b o t h against aircraft a n d against a r m o u r e d vehicles, it became clear in the early 1930s that larger-calibre weapons with a h i g h e r muzzle velocity would be n e e d e d for the e n g a g e m e n t of the high-flying aircraft that were b e c o m i n g feasible. In 1933 K r u p p a n d Rheinmetall were each tasked with the construction of a pair of prototypes for competitive evaluation in 1935. RheinmetaH's Gerat 38 was selected in 1936 a n d o r d e r e d as the 10.5cm Fliegerabwehrkanone 38. In basic c o n c e p t this was an enlarged 8.8cm FlaK 18 with significant changes including the electrical control system a n d the loading mechanism subsequently a d o p t e d for the 8.8cm Flak 41, and the original FlaK 1 8 / 3 6 data-transmission system was replaced with that of the FlaK 37 d u r i n g 1939, when a sectioned barrel was i n t r o d u c e d to create the FlaK 39. T h e FlaK 38 a n d 39 were m a n u f a c t u r e d in quantity, even t h o u g h they were excelled in p e r f o r m a n c e by the smaller 8.8cm FlaK 41. T h e gun was generally o p e r a t e d by a c o m m a n d e r a n d n i n e m e n , which increased to 11 when m a n u a l loading was required. T h e "88" was an altogether s u p e r b weapon which was not rivalled by anything the Allies p r o d u c e d .

G E R M A N Y

LE FH 18

T

he 10.5cm le FH 18 was designed a n d developed by Rheinmetall f r o m 1928 a n d e n t e r e d service in 1935 as what became the standard m e d i u m field howitzer of the G e r m a n Army up to 1945. T h e le FH 18 was a completely o r t h o d o x but capable a n d reliable weapon given a somewhat obsolescent look as a result of its large wheels. T h e type was latter adapted as the le FH 18.M with a muzzle brake to r e d u c e the recoil forces, a n d could fire a wide variety of shells including high explosive, smoke, tracer, hollow-charge a n d incendiary. In the period b e f o r e 1938 the type was e x p o r t e d to H u n g a r y a n d Spain, a n d d u r i n g World War II was installed in a large n u m b e r of self-propelled mountings. T h e o n e m a j o r p r o b l e m with the le FH 18 was its considerable weight, and in March 1942 t h e r e a p p e a r e d a r e q u i r e m e n t for a lighter howitzer offering the same capabilities. This led to the le FH 18/40, a weapon that combined the barrel of the le FH 18.M and a modified 7.5cm PaK 40 carriage on which the original wheels were later replaced by larger wheels carrying tyres of greater width. T h e le FH 1 8 / 4 0 (specification at right) s u p p l e m e n t e d rather than supplanted the le FH 18. T h e latter, t h o u g h , served on all fronts in World War II a n d gave sterling service to the G e r m a n Army, proving very reliable in adverse weather conditions.

SPECIFICATIONS

LE FH 18/40 Type: medium field howitzer

Effective n/a

Calibre: 105mm (4.13in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 12,325m (13,480 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 2.71m (106.7in)

Projectile weight: 14.81kg (32.651b)

Weight travelling: 1955kg (43101b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in n/a

Engine: n/a

action:

Elevation arc: -6° to +40°

Muzzle velocity: 540mps (1772fps)

Traverse 56°

Speed: n/a

arc:

WESPE

SPECIFICATIONS WESPE Type: self-propelled howitzer

Effective n/a

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 145km (90 miles)

Vehicle length: 4.79m (15ft 8.5in)

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

Armour: 5-20mm (.2-.79in)

ceiling:

weight:

Weight in action: 11,685kg (25,7601b)

Engine: one Maybach HL 62 TR

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 39km/h (24.5mph)

O

therwise known as the 10.5cm leichte Feldhaubitze auf Fgst PzKpfw II (Sd) "Wespe" (wasp), the SdKfz 124 was o n e of Germany's first g e n e r a t i o n of m e d i u m a n d heavy self-propelled artillery. Such e q u i p m e n t was i n t r o d u c e d to service in the middle of 1942 to improve the fighting capability of panzer a n d motorized infantry divisions, a n d were hybrid weapons c o m b i n i n g existing artillery barrels with the chassis of captured or obsolescent G e r m a n tanks. As a stopgap measure they worked perfectly well, a n d were a m e a n s of utilizing obsolete tank chassis. T h e five-man Wespe was created for the artillery regiments of the p a n z e r divisions, a n d was in essence the chassis of the PzKpfw II Ausf F light tank with its turret replaced by a fighting c o m p a r t m e n t , o p e n at the top a n d the rear, built up f r o m the existing superstructure with a r m o u r plate. In the f r o n t of this fighting c o m p a r t m e n t was an a p e r t u r e for the barrel of the 10.5cm le FH 18/2 howitzer, for which 32 r o u n d s were carried. T h e le FH 1 8 / 2 could be elevated between -5° a n d +42°, a n d traversed 17° left a n d right of the centreline. O n e the right-hand c o r n e r of the superstructure's f r o n t t h e r e was also a m o u n t i n g for o n e 7.92rhm MG 34 m a c h i n e gun (with 600 rounds) for the local d e f e n c e of the Wespe (weapon on the right in the p h o t o g r a p h ) .

G E R M A N Y

STUG III 10.5CM

n t r o d u c e d to service in August 1942 a n d otherwise the five-man 10.5cm Feldhaubitze 42 was basically identical to the Sturmgeschiitz 40 Ausf F (SdKfz 142/1) in all m a j o r essentials except its a r m a m e n t , which was the powerful 10.5cm Sturmhaubitze 42, an L / 1 8 weapon based on the 10.5cm leichte Feldhaubitze 18. This was installed in an a r m o u r e d m o u n t i n g in the f r o n t of the raised superstructure of welded steel a r m o u r that replaced the turret (as above). This main a r m a m e n t was provided with 36 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n , t h o u g h n o n e of this was of the armourpiercing type as the StuH 42 was i n t e n d e d solely for the assault role in s u p p o r t of infantry, but there was no m a c h i n e g u n to provide a local d e f e n c e capability. T h e StuH 42 howitzer could be elevated in an arc between -6° a n d +17°, a n d the weapon could be traversed 20° left and right of the centreline. T h e first vehicles h a d a version of the StuH 42 with a muzzle brake, but later machines were e q u i p p e d with a howitzer n o t fitted with a muzzle brake a n d incapable of firing supercharge a m m u n i t i o n . Smoke dischargers were fitted at the f r o n t of the superstructure's sides, a n d the c o m m a n d e r was provided with a cupola with episcopes for all-round vision on the battlefield.

I known as the Sturmhaubitze 42 Ausf F,

SPECIFICATIONS STUG III 10.5CM Type: SP assault howitzer

Effective n/a

ceiling:

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 155km (96 miles)

Vehicle length: 5.50m (18ft 0.5in)

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

Armour: 80mm (3.15in)

weight:

Weight in action: 23,370kg (51,5201b)

Engine: one Maybach HL 120

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 40km/h (25mph)

JAGDTIGER

SPECIFICATIONS JAGDTIGER Type: heavy tank destroyer

Effective n/a

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 160km (99 miles)

Vehicle length: 10.65m (34ft 11.5in)

Range: n/a

Length n/a

Projectile n/a

of barrel:

ceiling:

weight:

Weight travelling: 70,560kg (155,5561b)

Armour: 30-250mm ( l . l - 9 . 9 5 i n )

Weight in n/a

Engine: Maybach HL 230 P30

Elevation n/a Traverse n/a

action:

arc:

arc:

Muzzle n/a

velocity:

Speed: 38km/h

(23.5mph)

I

n t r o d u c e d to service d u r i n g February 1944 a n d otherwise known as the Panzerjager Tiger Ausf B f u r 12.8cm PaK 44, the six-man Jagdtiger ( h u n t i n g tiger) was the last word in the G e r m a n Army's search for a tank h u n t e r / d e s t r o y e r capable of destroying with a single hit any tank fielded or likely to be fielded by the Allied powers. T h e Jagdtiger was based on the chassis of the standard Tiger Ausf B (Royal Tiger) with a l e n g t h e n e d suspension a n d the turret replaced by a massive welded superstructure constituting a virtually i m p e n e t r a b l e barbette or fighting c o m p a r t m e n t . T h e f r o n t of the superstructure was a single piece of cast-steel a r m o u r 250mm (9.84in) in thickness a n d sloped back only 15° f r o m the vertical, a n d in the centre of this f r o n t plate was the 12.8cm PaK 44 g u n with a massive cast mantlet to protect the a p e r t u r e in the f r o n t plate. T h e side plates were Interlocked with the f r o n t a n d rear plates, a n d entry to the barbette was effected by m e a n s of a hatch with d o u b l e doors. Provided with 38 anti-tank r o u n d s of the separate-loading type, the g u n was electrically fired a n d h a d a b r e e c h block of the vertical sliding type. This gun h a d an elevation arc between -7.5° to +15°, a n d could be traversed 10° left a n d right of the centreline. However, t h e r e were never e n o u g h to make a difference on the battlefield.

G E R M A N Y

KANONE 44

W

hen the\ invaded the USSR in J u n e 1941, the Germans m a d e rapid a n d very extensive gains against Soviet forces that were poorly trained, badly led a n d often e q u i p p e d with obsolescent if not obsolete weapons. O n e exception, though, was Soviet m e d i u m artillery which, as the G e r m a n s rapidly f o u n d , was technically excellent in many respects. In an effort to provide the G e r m a n Army with improved weapons in the 128mm calibre, Krupp created the 12.8cm Kanone 43 as a structurally light gun with a screw breech r a t h e r than the usual sliding block, but this f o u n d no favour, for better 12.8cm k 44 (sometimes 12.8cm PaK 44) weapons were offered by Rheinmetall-Borsig as well as Krupp as field guns with a p o t e n t anti-tank capability on a carriage offering 360° traverse. T h e two guns were generally similar in p e r f o r m a n c e , but the Krupp weapon was p r e f e r r e d as its four-wheel carriage offered production advantages over the m o r e complicated six-wheel carriage of the Rheinmetall weapon. Production of the K 44 never rose above a trickle as a result of production problems, however, a n d at the e n d of World War II the G e r m a n Army h a d received only a few of these impressive weapons. A v e r s i o n of the K 44 for installation in a r m o u r e d vehicles was the 12.8cm KwK 82, which was installed in the Jagdtiger tank destroyer.

SPECIFICATIONS KANONE 44 Type: heavy towed field gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 128mm (5.04in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 24,400m (26,685 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 6.625m (260.8in)

Projectile weight: 28.3kg (62.41b)

Weight travelling: unknown

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 10,160kg (22,391b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -7° to +45° 27'

Muzzle velocity: 920mps (3018fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

SIG 33

SPECIFICATIONS SIG 33 Type: infantry support gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 149.1mm (5.87in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 4700m (5140 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 1.650m (64.9in)

Projectile weight: 38kg (83.81b)

Weight travelling: unknown

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 1750kg (38581b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: 0° to +73°

Muzzle velocity: 240mps (787fps)

Traverse arc: 11° 30'

Speed: n/a

O

f all the G e r m a n infantry support guns p r o d u c e d for service in World War II, the most capable a n d powerful was the 15cm schwere Infanteriegeschutz .'53. P r o d u c e d bv the Rheinmetall-Borsig company f r o m 1927, the s IG 33 was a large item of e q u i p m e n t that gave the impression, largely as a result of its steel wheels with a diameter of 1.10m (43.3in), of being somewhat old fashioned. In this instance a p p e a r a n c e was deceptive, for the s IC. 33 was capable a n d very reliable, and as a result the weapon r e m a i n e d in large-scale service right up to the e n d of World War II in 1945. T h e s It; 33 had good m i n i m u m and m a x i m u m range capabilities for a weapon of its type, and could fire virtually the full range of a m m u n i t i o n types (including the 89.5kg/197.31b muzzlel a u n c h e d stick b o m b to "take out" strongpoints and b a r b e d wire e n t a n g l e m e n t s out to a range of 1 0 2 5 m / 1 1 2 0 yards) for a weapon of its type. T h e s IG 33"s main drawback was its high weight, a n d b e f o r e the outbreak of war in 1939 the G e r m a n s developed a carriage of light alloy rather than steel m a n u f a c t u r e , which was then not put into p r o d u c t i o n . So it was only after self-propelled m o u n t i n g s had been developed that the s IG 33 (later developed into the Sturmhaubitze 43 L / 1 2 weapon) really came into its own. These m o u n t i n g s included the 15cm s IG 33 auf GW I Ausf B.

G E R M A N Y

KANONE 39

I

n the 1930s Krupp r e s p o n d e d to a r e q u i r e m e n t of the Turkish Army with the d e v e l o p m e n t of a powerful g u n in 150mm calibre. Production got u n d e r way in the later stages of the decade, b u t delivery of the first c o m p l e t e d weapons was prevented by the outbreak of World War II in S e p t e m b e r 1939 (notwithstanding its spectacular victories, the G e r m a n Army e n t e r e d the war with a shortage of e q u i p m e n t ) . In 1940, therefore, the G e r m a n Army decided to adopt the weapons for dual-role service in the heavy field a n d coastal-defence roles. In the f o r m e r the weapon was fired on its split-trail carriage, while long-range accuracy in the latter role was e n h a n c e d when the weapon was fired f r o m a mobile turntable carried by a special transport: when the gun was o p e r a t e d in this task, after the turntable h a d b e e n d u g in, the trails were c o n n e c t e d as a single unit and the whole e q u i p m e n t could be traversed t h r o u g h 360° by operation of a m e c h a n i s m powered by the rotation of a handle. For road m o v e m e n t the K 39 was moved in t h r e e loads (barrel a n d transporter, carriage, a n d platform a n d t r a n s p o r t e r ) . T h e K 39 was a capable piece of artillery a n d r e m a i n e d in p r o d u c t i o n until the e n d of the war in 1945. T h e main p r o b l e m with large-calibre artillery pieces was the general lack of p r i m e movers to move them to and from the battlefield.

SPECIFICATIONS KANONE 39 Type: heavy towed field gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 149.1mm (5.87in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 24,700m (27,010 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 7.868mm (309.7in)

Projectile weight: 43kg (94.81b)

Weight n/a

Armour: n/a

travelling:

Weight in action: 12,200kg (26,8961b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -3 to +46°

Muzzle velocity: 865mps (2838fps)

Traverse arc: 60-360°

Speed: n/a

HUMMEL

SPECIFICATIONS HUMMEL Type: SP heavy howitzer

Effective n/a

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 200km (124 miles)

Vehicle length: 6.67m (21ft l l i n )

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

ceiling:

weight:

Armour: 10-30mm (.3-1.18in)

Weight in action: 23,500kg (51,8081b)

Engine: Maybach HL 120 T R M

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 42km/h (26mph)

O

therwise known as the 15cm schwere Panzerhaubitze 18/1 (SI) auf Fgst PzKpfW I I I / I V or as the Geschiitzwagen III/IV, the five-man " H u m m e l " (bumble bee) was p r o d u c e d f r o m 1942 f o r service f r o m the a u t u m n of 1943 as an item of self-propelled heavy field artillery. Such artillery e n t e r e d G e r m a n Army service only in 1942, a n d was i n t e n d e d to provide artillery support f o r panzer a n d motorized infantry divisions. Various obsolescent G e r m a n tank chassis were employed, together with those of c a p t u r e d French tanks, a n d the H u m m e l was based on a hybrid chassis based on that of the suspension a n d track work of the PzKpfw IV with the engine, transmission a n d final drive of the PzKpfw III. T h e e n g i n e was relocated to the c e n t r e of the tank, allowing the construction over the rear of the vehicle of a comparatively high a n d o p e n - t o p p e d fighting c o m p a r t m e n t of well-sloped but light armour. T h e 15cm schwere Feldhaubitze 18/1 was installed with its barrel projecting t h r o u g h an a p e r t u r e in the f r o n t of the fighting c o m p a r t m e n t , a n d was provided with only 18 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n . T h e g u n could be elevated t h r o u g h an arc between -3 a n d +40°, and traversed a mere 3° left a n d right of the centreline. A 7.92mm MG 34 or MG 42 m a c h i n e g u n was provided for local defence.

G E R M A N Y

BRUMMBAR

O

therwise known as the S t u r m p a n z e r 43 or 15 cm Sturmhaubitze 43 L / 1 2 auf Fgst PzKpfw IV (Sd), the five-man S t u r m p a n z e r IV B r u m m b a r (grizzly bear) was created to meet the needs of the G e r m a n Army on the Eastern Front for a heavy assault g u n carrying a 149.1mm howitzer, the Sturmhaubitze 42 weapon that had only an L / 1 2 barrel a n d was developed f r o m the schwere Infanteriegeschutz 33. This was fitted in a ball m o u n t i n g that e x t e n d e d f r o m the 100mm (3.94in) thick f r o n t of the fixed superstructure via a large mantlet a n d sleeve of cast armour. T h e superstructure was of thick plate a n d built up over the hull of a PzKpfw IV Ausf F, G, H or J m e d i u m tank. This m o u n t i n g gave the howitzer an elevation arc between -8 a n d +30°, a n d a traverse arc of 20° left a n d right of the centreline. T h e howitzer was provided with 38 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n that could fire a 38kg (83.81b) projectile to a range of 4275m (4675yards) with a muzzle velocity of 240m (787ft) p e r second. Production of the B r u m m b a r totalled only 313 vehicles. Like many innovative G e r m a n designs that e n t e r e d production towards the e n d of the war, t h e r e were never e n o u g h to tip the scales in Germany's favour. T h o u g h they could achieve local victories, they were a case of too little, far too late.

SPECIFICATIONS BRUMMBAR Type: SP assault howitzer

Effective n/a

ceiling:

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 200km (124 miles)

Vehicle length: 5.91m (19ft 5in)

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

Armour: 20-100mm (.8-3.94in)

weight:

Weight in action: 28,650kg (63,1611b)

Engine: Maybach HL 120 T R M

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 40km/h (25mph)

QF 2-PDR

SPECIFICATIONS QF 2-PDR Type: light towed AT gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 40mm (1.575in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 655m (600 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 2.08m (81.95in)

Projectile weight: 1.07kg (21b 6oz)

Weight travelling: 832kg (18481b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in n/a

Engine: n/a

action:

Elevation arc: -13° to +15°

Muzzle velocity: 792mps (2616fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

W

ork on the design a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of the 2-pdr anti-tank g u n began in 1934, a n d the weapon e n t e r e d service in 1938 as a solidly constructed but decidedly heavy e q u i p m e n t that was m o r e than twice the weight of its G e r m a n c o u n t e r p a r t , the 3.7cm l'ak 3 5 / 3 6 . This resulted f r o m the fact that the g u n was p l a n n e d as a defensive weapon firing f r o m concealment, a n d was t h e r e f o r e installed on a carriage offering 360° traverse a n d m o u n t e d on a tripod platform. In fact, many British artillery pieces were heavier than their G e r m a n equivalents, which inhibited mobility on the battlefield. In 1940 the g u n proved successful in the French campaign, t h o u g h considering that the majority of G e r m a n tanks were light PzKpfw I and II models, this is hardly surprising. Large n u m b e r s were a b a n d o n e d in the Dunkirk evacuation a n d seized by the G e r m a n s for service as 4cm PaK 192(e) coastal-defence weapons. T h e g u n was already obsolete but maintained in production for lack of any replacement, a n d f r o m mid-1942 was withdrawn f r o m service with Royal Artillery anti-tank batteries for infantry use. T h e g u n was used in the Far East, against the m o r e lightly protected Japanese tanks, to 1945. T h e 2-pdr g u n was m a n u f a c t u r e d by VickersArmstrongs in several marks that differed in detail, a n d the usual carriage was the Carriage 2-pdr Mark III.

GREAT

B R I T A I N

QF 6-PDR

T

he n e e d f o r a towed anti-tank g u n of larger calibre b e c a m e evident even as t h e 2-pdr was e n t e r i n g service in 1938, a n d t h e 6-pdr first g u n s were delivered in S e p t e m b e r 1941. T h e Mk I first g u n was n o t r e t a i n e d in service a n d was r e p l a c e d by t h e short-barrel Mk II that was t h e n r e p l a c e d by t h e longer-barrel Mk IV ( t h e Mks III a n d V were tank g u n s ) . W i t h i n a year t h e 6 - p d r n e e d e d a successor as it c o u l d n o t tackle t h e f r o n t a l a r m o u r of t h e PzKpfw VI Tiger heavy tank, a n d f r o m 1943 it was s u c c e e d e d in t h e Royal Artillery's anti-tank batteries by t h e 17-pdr a n d r e l e g a t e d to i n f a n t r y use, in which it lasted to t h e e n d of World War II. S o m e were passed over to t h e Soviets a n d t h e A m e r i c a n s built a copy as t h e 5 7 m m Anti-tank G u n M I . T h e r e were few carriage m o d i f i c a t i o n s as t h e Carriages 6p d r 7 cwt Mks I, IA, a n d II d i f f e r e d only in detail, a n d the Mk III i n t e n d e d f o r use by a i r b o r n e divisions was thus lighter. Self-propelled m o u n t i n g s were t h e Carrier, AEC, 6-pdr G u n , Mk I ( D e a c o n ) , t h e Morris Mk II (Firefly) a n d t h e SP 6-pdr G u n Alecto Mk II. T h e 6 - p d r was c a p a b l e of p e n e t r a t i n g 6 9 m m (2.7in) of a r m o u r at a r a n g e of 9 1 5 m (1000 yards). This p e r f o r m a n c e was satisfactory against light a n d m e d i u m e n e m y tanks, b u t was woefully i n a d e q u a t e against s u c h vehicles as t h e Tiger, w h i c h h a d a r m o u r at least 1 0 0 m m (4in) thick.

SPECIFICATIONS QF 6-PDR Type: medium towed AT gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 57mm (2.244in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: unknown

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 2.44m ( l O l i n )

Projectile weight: 2.84kg (6.21b)

Weight travelling: 1112kg (24711b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in n/a

Engine: n/a

action:

Elevation arc: -5° to +15°

Muzzle velocity: 823mps (2700fps)

Traverse 90°

Speed: n/a

arc:

QF 31N AA

SPECIFICATIONS QF 3IN AA Type: medium towed AA gun

Effective ceiling: 7165m (23,500ft)

Calibre: 76.2mm (3in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: n/a

length:

Length of barrel: 3.42m (134.8in)

Projectile weight: 7.26kg (161b)

Weight travelling: 977kg (17,5851b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: unknown

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -10° to +90°

Muzzle velocity: 610mps (2000fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

T

he 3in 20 cvvt anti-aircraft gun was a long-lived type that e n t e r e d service in 1914 a n d disappeared f r o m service only in 1946. In this 33-year period the type was steadily improved, with the result that on the outbreak of World War II in 1939 the g u n was still moderately effective, especially against Luftwaffe m e d i u m bombers. T h e pace of the i m p r o v e m e n t p r o g r a m m e m e a n t that in S e p t e m b e r 1939 t h e r e were eight marks of gun in service, some of t h e m with a sliding breech block a r r a n g e m e n t a n d others with an interrupted-screw breech block a r r a n g e m e n t , but by the same date most of the g u n s had barrels with loose liners. T h e m o u n t i n g s on which the g u n s were installed were also very varied: some were located statically on concrete or steel beds, while others were installed on two- or fourwheeled (three marks) carriages, a n d others still were e m b a r k e d on lorries. Many anti-aircraft g u n n e r s p r e f e r r e d the 3in gun to its p l a n n e d successor, the 3.7in g u n , as the older weapon was easier to move a n d handle. Many examples of the f o r m e r were also employed for training, and guns seized by the G e r m a n s in 1940 were used with the revised designation 7.5cm Flak Vickers(e). T h e g u n saw service in most theatres of the war, proving a reliable weapon in varying climatic conditions.

G R E A T

B R I T A I N

ARCHER

T

he four-man Archer self-propelled anti-tank g u n was based on the chassis of the Valentine infantry tank a n d was highly unusual in the fact that the 17-pdr antitank gun, a Sin weapon provided with 39 rounds, faced to the rear. T h e idea b e h i n d this novel feature was that the vehicle could position itself in o r d e r to ambush e n e m y tanks, t h e n escape with speed o n c e the trap h a d b e e n sprung. T h e g u n was originally a towed e q u i p m e n t (large shield, split trail a r r a n g e m e n t and two wheels) designed to succeed the 6-pdr, e n t e r e d service in August 1942, a n d fired a 7.65kg (171b) shot at 884m (2900ft) per second to p e n e t r a t e 130mm (5.12in )• of a r m o u r at 915m (1000 yards) at 30°. This m a d e the 17-pdr o n e of the linest anti-tank g u n s of World War II. Possessing an elevation arc between -7° a n d +15° a n d a traverse arc of 45°, the Archer's gun was installed in an a r m o u r e d superstructure at the extreme front of the vehicle. This superstructure was usually open-topped, but later production vehicles had a light steel roof. An order for 800 such vehicles was placed with Vickers-Ai mstrongs (Elswick), a n d the vehicles entered service early in 1944, and production was terminated at the e n d of hostilities in 1945 after the completion of 665 vehicles that served with anti-tank regiments in northwestern E u r o p e a n d Italy.

SPECIFICATIONS

ARCHER Type: self-propelled AT gun

Effective n/a

ceiling:

Calibre: n/a

Road range: 145km (90 miles)

Vehicle length: 6.68m (21ft l l i n )

Range: n/a

Length n/a

of barrel:

Projectile n/a

Weight n/a

travelling:

Armour: 8-60mm (,3-2.36in)

weight:

Weight in action: 16,257kg (35,8401b)

Engine: one G M C diesel

Elevation n/a

Muzzle n/a

Traverse n/a

arc:

arc:

velocity:

Speed: 24km/h (15mph)

QF 25-PDR

SPECIFICATIONS QF 25-PDR Type: medium gun/howitzer

Effective n/a

Calibre: 87.6mm (3.45in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 12,255m (13,400 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 2.35m (92.5in)

Projectile weight: 11.34kg (251b)

Weight travelling: 1801kg (39681b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in n/a

Engine: n/a

action:

Elevation arc: -5° to +40°

Muzzle velocity: 532mps (1745fps)

Traverse arc: 8°- 360°

Speed: n/a

D

uring 1936 the Royal Artillery issued a r e q u i r e m e n t for an improved g u n / h o w i t z e r providing a range of 12,345m (13,500 yards) or m o r e . This was beyond the capability of the c u r r e n t 18/25-pdr Mk I conversion f r o m 18-pdr standard, so the 25-pdr Mk II was designed, o n e of the most f a m o u s artillery pieces of World War II. This was at first to have possessed a split-trail carriage, but finally a p p e a r e d with a h u m p e d box trail c o m b i n e d with a 360° firing platform. T h e new e q u i p m e n t e n t e r e d service in mid-1940, a n d by 1945 m o r e t h a n 12,000 h a d been c o m p l e t e d . Strong, reliable a n d handy, the 25-pdr served in every British a n d C o m m o n w e a l t h theatre, a n d in North Africa d o u b l e d as an anti-tank g u n (until the advent of the 17pdr) with a telescopic sight a n d double-baffle muzzle brake. T h e 25-pdr g u n r e m a i n e d essentially u n a l t e r e d t h r o u g h o u t its p r o d u c t i o n life, but a narrower Mk II carriage was developed for jungle and a i r b o r n e service, while the Mk III carriage h a d a hinged trail for increased elevation capability in m o u n t a i n o u s regions. T h e G e r m a n s e q u i p p e d several artillery regiments with c a p t u r e d 25-pdr guns, which they designated as the 8.76cm F e l d k a n o n e 280(e). British self-propelled m o u n t i n g s included the Carrier, Valentine, 25-pdr Gun, Mk I, Bishop a n d the 25-pdr, SP, Tracked, Sexton.

GREAT

B R I T A I N

QF 3.7IN AA

I

n 1933, a f t e r a delay d a t i n g f r o m 1920, t h e British finally issued a r e q u i r e m e n t f o r a 3.7in anti-aircraft g u n , a n d Vickers-Armstrongs c o m p l e t e d a p r o t o t y p e d u r i n g 1936. T h e new g u n e n t e r e d service in 1938, b u t deliveries were slow b e c a u s e t h e m a n u f a c t u r e of t h e c o m p l e x carriage was considerably slower t h a n that of t h e s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d g u n . T h e g u n was p r o d u c e d i n t h r e e m a r k s a n d was of m o d e r n design with a loose liner, a n d t h o u g h t h e four-wheel m o u n t i n g was i n t e n d e d t o m a k e t h e w e a p o n fully m o b i l e , its weight m e a n t that t h e e q u i p m e n t c o u l d be classified only as semi-mobile.

With g u n m a n u f a c t u r e o u t s t r i p p i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n o f t h e Mks I, IA, III a n d IIIA m o b i l e m o u n t i n g s , o t h e r c o m p a n i e s were called i n t o t h e p r o g r a m m e t o p r o d u c e the less c o m p l i c a t e d Mks II a n d I I A / C fixed m o u n t i n g s f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n of high-priority targets. T h e design was later simplified to ease m a n u f a c t u r e , p o w e r r a m m e r s a n d a u t o m a t i c fuse setters were a d d e d , a n d p r e d i c t o r s a n d data-transmission systems were u p g r a d e d to m a k e t h e 3.7in g u n m o r e reliable a n d m o r e capable. T h e G e r m a n s used c a p t u r e d e x a m p l e s with t h e d e s i g n a t i o n 9.4cm FlaK Vickers M . 3 9 ( e ) , f o r which they m a n u f a c t u r e d 100,000 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n early in 1943. T h e d a t a in t h e specifications b o x refers to t h e Mk III g u n on Mk III m o u n t i n g .

SPECIFICATIONS QF 3.7IN AA Type: heavy towed AA gun

Effective ceiling: 9755m (32,000ft)

Calibre: 94mm (3.7in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: n/a

length:

Length of barrel: 4.7m (185in)

Projectile weight: 12.96kg (28.561b)

Weight travelling: 9317kg (20,5401b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: unknown

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -5° to +80°

Muzzle velocity: 793mps (2600fps)

Traverse 360°

Speed: n/a

arc:

4.5IN GUN MK II

SPECIFICATIONS

4.5IN GUN MK II Type: heavy towed gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 114.3mm (4.5in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 18,745m (20,500 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 4.764m (187.55in)

Projectile weight: 24.97kg (551b)

Weight travelling: 15,251kg (33,6001b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 5842kg (12,8801b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -5° to 45°

Muzzle velocity: 686mps (2250fps)

Traverse 60°

Speed: n/a

arc:

I

n the later part of the 1930s, when it was appreciated that the c u r r e n t p r o g r a m m e of adapting existing 60p d r gun carriages to take a new 4.5in g u n barrel would not satisfy the full r e q u i r e m e n t of the Royal Artillery's m e d i u m regiments, the British Army decided to create a new e q u i p m e n t that c o m b i n e d a new 4.5in g u n on the carriage being p l a n n e d f o r the new 5.5in howitzer. T h e design a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of the new g u n was complete by 1940, but the p r o g r a m m e was then checked by problems with the new carriage. In fact, the design was developed a n d built by 1940, but difficulties with the new carriage m e a n t that it was 1941 b e f o r e the e q u i p m e n t e n t e r e d service. T h e task of the 4.5in gun was long-range interdiction a n d counter-battery fire, but experience soon revealed that capability in these tasks was h a m p e r e d by the modest 1.76kg (3.8751b) high explosive load of the shell. Production priority was t h e n switched to the 5.5in howitzer, a n d the last 4.5in guns were pulled out of service after the e n d of World War II in 1945. T h e g u n was conventional in c o n c e p t a n d average in p e r f o r m a n c e but notable for its strength, while the two carriage variants, which differed only in modest detail, were of the split-trail type a n d f e a t u r e d very p r o m i n e n t equilibrators. It served the British Army well in its various campaigns.

GREAT

B R I T A I N

5.5IN GUN MK III

I

t was in t h e m i d d l e of the 1930s that the British Army d e c i d e d t h a t t h e Royal Artillery r e q u i r e d a t h o r o u g h l y m o d e r n l o n g - r a n g e g u n f o r the counter-battery a n d i n t e r d i c t i o n roles. T h e result was to e x c e e d all expectations, a n d would c r e a t e a g u n that was to have a c a r e e r of s o m e 40 years. A r e q u i r e m e n t was accordingly issued f o r a 5in ( 127mm) g u n to (ire a 45.4kg (1001b) shell over a r a n g e of 14,630 m (16,000 yards). T h e r e q u i r e m e n t was altered in 1939 to cover a g u n of 140mm (5.5in) calibre, a n d p r o t o t y p e g u n s were successfully evaluated in 1940. D e s i g n e d f o r the originally s c h e m e d 5in w e a p o n , the carriage was too light f o r t h e larger-calibre w e a p o n , so a new carriage h a d t o b e c r e a t e d a n d the new e q u i p m e n t t h u s e n t e r e d service only in 1941. F r o m this time o n w a r d , however, the 5.5in g u n s proved to be a m a j o r success, a n d t h e type r e m a i n e d in service with s o m e armies i n t o t h e early 1980s. Firing a heavier shell (with a p r o p o r t i o n a l l y g r e a t e r high explosive load f o r g r e a t e r destructive effect) to a slightly s h o r t e r r a n g e , t h e 5.Sin g u n was generally s u p e r i o r to t h e 4.5in g u n , a n d was used as m u c h as a howitzer as a g u n . T h e n o r m a l projectile weight was 45.4kg (1001b), t h o u g h the g u n also fired a lighter r o u n d that w e i g h e d 36.32kg (801b).

SPECIFICATIONS

5.5IN GUN MK III Type: heavy towed gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 139.7mm (5.5in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 14,815m (16,200 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 4.176m (164.4in)

Projectile weight: 36.32kg (801b)

Weight n/a

Armour: n/a

travelling:

Weight in action: 5792kg (12,7701b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: -5° to +45°

Muzzle velocity: 762mps (2500fps)

Traverse 60°

Speed: n/a

arc:

61N GUN MK VII

SPECIFICATIONS 6IN GUN MK VII Type: heavy towed gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 152.4mm (6in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 16,595m (18,150 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 5.58m (219.7in)

Projectile weight: 45.4kg (1001b)

Weight travelling: unknown

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: 10,999kg (24,2501b)

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: 0° to +38°

Muzzle velocity: 770mps (2525fps)

Traverse 8°

Speed: n/a

arc:

T

he Gin G u n Mk VIII saw only the most limited a n d specialized service in the course of World War II. T h e e q u i p m e n t had been created in World War I as the combination of a 6in g u n surplus to naval a n d coastal d e f e n c e requirements, on the carriage of the 8in Howitzer Mks VII a n d VIII. T h e weapon saw only limited service with the British, but there were sufficient e q u i p m e n t s on h a n d when the USA e n t e r e d World War I in April 1917 for that country, which had an acute lack of heavy artillery suitable for service on the Western Front, to buy substantial n u m b e r s for service with the revised designation Bin G u n M1917. T h e surviving e q u i p m e n t s were shipped to the P a n a m a Canal Zone after the e n d of the war a n d t h e r e became coast-defence weapons on special concrete "Panama M o u n t " firing platforms (similar to those in the above p h o t o g r a p h ) . These weapons were never used in anger against an enemy. By 1939 the weapons had b e e n fitted with large p n e u m a t i c tyres for improved mobility but were nonetheless completely obsolete a n d on the verge of being scrapped when Brazil b o u g h t just u n d e r 100 to improve h e r coastal defences. As the G e r m a n s never l a u n c h e d an a m p h i b i o u s invasion of the British Isles, the guns were never called u p o n to fulfil their duty.

GREAT

B R I T A I N

6IN GUN MK XIX

T

he first p a t t e r n of 6in g u n s f o r service with tlie British Army were c r e a t e d f o r t h e long-range b o m b a r d m e n t role in World War I, a n d of t h e very m a n y m a r k s only the 6in G u n Mk XIX survived in first-line service at the b e g i n n i n g of World War II in 1939. World War I h a d seen a h u g e rise in heavy artillery s t r e n g t h s d u e to t h e d e m a n d s of t r e n c h warfare. Ironically, as the m a j o r powers t h o u g h t that t h e n e x t war would be similar, large n u m b e r s of heavy artillery pieces h a d b e e n h e l d in reserve. G r e a t Britain was no d i f f e r e n t , a n d stockpiled pieces up to 18in in calibre. T h e 6in G u n h a d originally b e e n installed o n the carriage of t h e 8in Howitzer with large-diameter traction e n g i n e wheels a n d a substantial b o x trail. But m o d e s t i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e 1930s h a d i n c l u d e d m o r e m o d e r n wheels with p n e u m a t i c tyres f o r high-speed traction. W h e n G e r m a n y attacked F r a n c e in May 1940, t h e British E x p e d i t i o n a r y Force h a d only 13 e x a m p l e s of this obsolescent w e a p o n in its inventory. T h e G e r m a n s seized all of these w e a p o n s as they were t o o heavy f o r evacuation f r o m D u n k i r k ( o n e of t h e disadvantages of heavy artillery pieces), a n d t h e n s c r a p p e d t h e w e a p o n s for t h e i r steel. T h e few such e q u i p m e n t s still in G r e a t Britain were installed at carefully surveyed sites as coastdefence weapons.

SPECIFICATIONS 6IN G U N M K XIX Type: heavy towed gun

Effective n/a

Calibre: 152.4mm (6in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 17,145m (18,750 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 5.33mm (210in)

Projectile weight: about 45.4kg (1001b)

Weight travelling: 10338kg (22,7901b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: unknown

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: 0° to +38°

Muzzle velocity: 733mps (2405fps)

Traverse 8°

Speed: n/a

arc:

61N HOWITZER MK I

SPECIFICATIONS 6IN HOWITZER MK I Type: heavy towed howitzer

Effective n/a

Calibre: 152.4mm (6in)

Road range: n/a

Vehicle n/a

Range: 10,425m (11,400 yards)

length:

ceiling:

Length of barrel: 2.027m (79.8in)

Projectile weight: 45.48kg (100.191b)

Weight travelling: 4468kg (98501b)

Armour: n/a

Weight in action: unknown

Engine: n/a

Elevation arc: 0° to +45°

Muzzle velocity: 430mps (1410fps)

Traverse 8°

Speed: n/a

arc:

W

ork on the design of the weapon that became the Bin 26 cwt Howitzer started in 1915. T h e weapon e n t e r e d service later in the same year, a n d large-scale m a n u f a c t u r e m e a n t that by the war's e n d in 1918 m o r e than 4000 such weapons were in use. Few changes were ever effected in the weapon, a n d the carriage was u p d a t e d only in the late 1930s with the a d o p t i o n of the Mks IP a n d IR carriages characterized by p n e u m a t i c tyres. In 1939 the 6in howitzer was the most n u m e r o u s item of artillery in the Royal Artillery regiments of the British Expeditionary Force despatched to France after the start of World War II. Most of these 220 or so weapons were c a p t u r e d by the G e r m a n s a n d later placed in service as 15.2cm schwere Feldhaubitze 412(e) pieces. T h e weapons left in British h a n d s were used mainly for training, although some saw service d u r i n g 1941 in North Africa a n d Eritrea. In the early 1920s weapons of this type had b e e n e x p o r t e d to f o u r o t h e r countries, but the Soviet e q u i p m e n t s h a d b e e n phased o u t of service by 1941