Tag: artillery

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German

12.8 cm K. 44: Medium Field Gun

12.8 cm K. 44: Medium Field Gun

There are two versions of the 12.8 cm dual purpose, antitank/field gun, one manufactured by Rheinmetall and the other by Krupp. The Rheinmetall model has a slightly longer breech ring; the carriage has one rear axle and two front axles, whereas the Krupp model has one rear and one front axle. Reports indicatethat there may be a third version designated 12.8 cm K. 81.

The tube, of monobloc construction, is equipped with a cylindrical muzzle brake having perforations on both sides. The muzzle brake of the Krupp model is shorter and has the greater number of perforations. The manually operated breechblock is of the horizontal sliding type.

A variable hydropneumatic recoil mechanism is provided, the recoil and recuperator cylinder being carried within the cradle. Two hydropneumatic equilibrators, one on either side of the tube, compensate for muzzle preponderance.

The piece is mounted on a cruciform platform. The carriage, which incorporates torsion bar suspension, is jacked off the wheels in firing and, with the outriggers extended, a 360° traverse may be obtained. Elevating and traversing handwheels are fitted to both sides of the carriage, and a seat for the gunner is provided on the left.

A single shield is used with the Krupp gun, while the Rheinmetall version is equipped with a spaced shield. Both types, however, are angular in appearance and the sides are swept back towards the rear.

SPECIFICATIONS

          Rheinmetall         Krupp
Length of gun (including muzzle brake and breech ring)312 1/2 ins.299 ins.
Length of gun (including breech ring)277 1/2 ins.277 1/8 ins.
Length of chamber (from rifling)41 3/4 ins.41 3/4 ins.
Length of rifling219 1/2 ins.219 1/2 ins.
Overall length (traveling position)not determined433 ins.
Overall width (traveling position)108 1/4 ins.98 ins.
Overall height (traveling position)81 ins.90 ins.

German: p. 106.2 (August 1, 1945)

Categories
German

15 cm K. 39: Medium Field Gun

German 15 cm K. 39: Medium Field Gun

The K. 39 was gradually replacing the K. 18 as Germany’s standard medium mobile artillery weapon. It is basically the same design as the earlier model, and has an identical range, muzzle velocity, and chamber pressure. Modifications to the piece, while extensive, were confined largely to the carriage, which resembles the 15 cm s.F.H. 18, page 105.

The tube is approximately two inches longer than that of the K. 18, and the rifling was changed from a 6° constant twist to a variable one, increasing from 4° 17′ to 5° 59′. The breech mechanism is of the horizontal sliding block type. The hydraulic recoil cylinder is apparently the same as that on the K. 18, but the hydropneumatic counterrecoil cylinder is shorter and larger in diameter than that of the earlier model. Length of recoil varies from 1250 mm to 1500 mm (49.2 inches to 59.2 inches). The equilibrators of both the K. 18 and the K. 39 are of the push type, but those on the K. 39 are spring activated. Elevation and traverse are accomplished in much the same manner, changes being principally in the location of the handwheels. A rigid gunners’ platform constructed of a non-skid open steel lattice work is bolted to the upper carriage. Although awkward in appearance, it performs the function for which it was intended without hampering the movements of the crew about the gun.

Traverse has been increased from 12° to 60° by the use of a split trail with detachable spades instead of the box-type trail used on the K. 18.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber        149 mm
Weight (traveling position)
Weight (firing position) 27,300 lbs.
Length (traveling position)
Length (firing position)
Height (traveling position)
Height (firing position)
Width (overall)
Width of trail spread
Twist of rifling—increasing 4° 17′ to 5°
Length of barrel 325 ins.
Length of rifling 256.6 ins.
Volume of chamber 1,829 cu. ins.
M uzzle velocity 2,840 f/s
Max. range (horizontal) 24.7 km
Rate of fire
Traverse 60°
Elevation 45°
Depression 4°
Length of recoil (max.) 1,500 mm
Ammunition types H.E.; anticoncrete, APHE
Weight of max. charge 41.2 lbs.
Weight of projectile (HE) 94.6 lbs.
German: p. 104.4 (June 1, 1945)

Categories
German

15 cm K. 18: Medium Field Gun

15 cm K. 18: Medium Field Gun - German Artillery

This weapon was being replaced by the 15 cm K. 39 during the closing months of the European war. For transport, the K. 18 may be broken down into two loads and drawn by either horse or truck.

The built-up tube consists of a main tube, breech jacket, and breech ring. Rifling is a 6° constant twist. Hydraulic recoil and hydropneumatic counterrecoil cylinders are of standard German design. The buffer is located below, and the recuperator above the piece.

A rectangular breech ring has a crank-operated horizontal sliding type breechblock opening to the right. Two pneumatic, push-type equilibrators are incorporated in the design.

Elevation and depression are accomplished by means of an off-center elevating arc which is operated by a handwheel on the left side of the piece. The traversing handwheel is also located on the left.

The carriage is mounted on two rubber-tired wheels and has a hollow, box-type trail allowing a total traverse of 12 degrees.

The ammunition is semi-fixed; there are three charges.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber      149 mm
Weight (firing position)28,400 lbs.
Maximum chamber pressure41,200 lbs./sq. in.
Length of barrel323 ins.
Twist of rifling, constant6°
Length of rifling253 ins.
Volume of chamber1,770 cu. ins.
Muzzle velocity2,840 f/s
Max. range (horiontal)27,000 yds.
Traverse12°
Elevation43°
Depression2°
Length of recoil1,450 mm
Ammunition typesHE; anticoncrete
   Weight of max. charge42.5 lbs.
   Weight of projectile (HE)94.6 lbs.

German: p. 104.3 (June 1, 1945)

Categories
German

15 cm K. 16: Heavy Field Gun

German 15 cm K. 16: Heavy Field Gun

The 15 cm K. 16 differs from other German 15 cm guns by reason of its appreciably heavier projectile. The ammunition employed in the K. 16 is not interchangeable with other guns of the caliber.

This weapon is generally regarded as obsolete, although it may be employed as a coast defense weapon or in some other static role. The piece may be used on the 21 cm Howitzer carriage and then may be known as 15 cm K in Mrs. Laf.

Features of the 15 cm K. 16 are: the location of the buffer and recuperator below the piece; a large three-ribbed collar which surrounds the piece just forward of the breech ring; a cylindrical breech ring; and a box-type trail terminating in a spade of massive dimensions.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber          150 mm (5.9 ins.)
Weight in action 24,000 lbs.
Length of piece 248 ins.
Elevation 42°
Depression -3°
Traverse 8°
Maximum range 21,370 yds.*
Maximum muzzle velocity 2,480 f/s*
Ammunition H.E. Capped
Weight of projectile 113 lb.
Propellant
       16 lb. Ngl R.P. plus 3 oz. igniter powder
       26 lb. Ngl R.P. plus 3 oz. igniter powder
       29 lb. Ngl R.P. plus 3 oz. igniter powder

*Not verified.

German: p. 104.1

Categories
German

21 cm K. 39: Heavy Field Gun

Skoda 21 cm K. 39: Heavy Field Gun

The 21 cm heavy field gun (K. 39), an original Skoda design, was taken over by the German Army shortly after the invasion of Czechoslovakia. For transport, the equipment may be broken down into three loads, each of which is mounted on two 2-wheeled, pneumatic-tired bogies.

The piece consists of an autofrettaged monobloc barrel and loose liner, and a breech ring. The breechblock is of the interrupted screw threaded type, incorporating an obturator pad, obturator spindle and percussion firing lock. On recoil, the piece slides in a cylindrical sleeve in the cradle.

The upper carriage is fitted to a turntable which revolves on a ball race mounted in the platform. The platform consists of a rectangular sheet steel box which is dug into the ground. Four removable arms located at the corners of the platform support it by bearing on the ground by means of special feet. During transport, the arms are lowered and serve to support the platform on its bogies.

The traversing and elevating mechanisms, each with two-speed gearing, are operated from handwheels on the left of the carriage.

Four types of ammunition are used in the gun: the original Czech high explosive shell; a German version of the same shell with the base fuze omitted; an anti-concrete shell with ballistic cap and base fuze; and an armor-piercing shell with base fuze. It is loaded at 8° elevation with the help of a special 2-wheeled shell trolley.

There are two other versions of the weapon, the K. 39/40 and the 39/41. Although the two later models are modifications of the original Skoda design, they do not differ in main performance details

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber      210 mm (8.27 ins.)
Weight (traveling position) Three loads approx. 16 1/2 tons each
Weight (firing position) 37.2 tons
Length of barrel including breech ring 31.3 ft.
Muzzle velocity (max.) 2,625 f/s
Max. range (horizontal) 32,800 yds.
Traverse 360°
Wt. of max. charge 82.8 lbs.
Elevation 45°
Depression -4°
Ammunition H.E.; Anti-concrete; A.P.
Wt. of projectile All 298 lbs.

German: p. 100.3 (May 1, 1945)

Categories
German

28 cm K5 (E): Railway Gun

28 cm K5 (E): Railway Gun

The German 28 cm K5 (E) has an unconfirmed range of 31 miles and fires a pre-engraved projectile weighing approximately 550 pounds. It is fired from a turntable affording a 360° traverse.

The gun has a 70-foot 8-inch barrel held in a sleeve-type cradle. The barrel recoil mechanism, fitted between two arms projecting downward from the cradle, consists of two hydropneumatic cylinders and a single hydraulic buffer cylinder. The cradle is supported by trunnions which rest in bearings on top of a box-like frame, of girder construction, which in turn is supported on two pintles resting in bearings in the center of two 12-wheel trucks. The front pintle bearing rides in a rail on the front truck and can be positioned six inches either side of center, thereby allowing a car traverse of approximately 1°.

The equipment in effect has a double recoil action. Besides the barrel recoil which is approximately 32 inches, the gun car recoils. It is coupled to the front of the turntable platform by a hydraulic buffer and a hydropneumatic counterrecoil mechanism which returns the car to battery position.

A turntable platform is transported as part of the equipment and in transport forms a flat car with a 103-foot bed resting on two 8-wheel trucks.

A central jack helps support the tremendous weight of the gun and carriage which amounts to around 230 tons and also serves as a central pivot for the turntable.

The powder chamber is approximately 10 feet 5 inches long. Obturation is obtained by means of a short brass cartridge case and the breech is closed with a horizontal sliding type of breechblock. Firing is of the percussion type.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber      280 mm (11 ins.)
Length of barrel 70 ft., 8 ins.
Length of tube 67 ft., 5 ins.
Length of rifling 57 ft.
Rifling Right Hand uniform twist
Weight of barrel (Leopold)* 187,880 lb.
Length of car 95 ft., 7 ins.
Length of carriage 69 ft., 8 ins.
Width of carriage (overall) 8 ft., 8 1/2 ins.
Number of grooves 12
Width of grooves 5/8 in.
Depth of grooves 17/64 in.
Max. range 54,680 yds.**
Traverse on turntable 360°
Carriage traverse (approx.) 1/2° R; 1/2°
Elevation (estimated) 50°
Ammunition Separate loading—steel splined projectile
Weight of projectile (approx.) 550 lb.

*Two of these guns were found in Italy; one was called “Leopold,” and the other “Robert.” The weight of the barrel on the latter model is 187,165 pounds.
**Not verified.

German: p. 100.2

Categories
Japanese

300 mm Short Howitzer, Type 7

Japanese 300 mm Short Howitzer, Type 7

This howitzer was captured on Luzon. The emplacement, circular in shape and measuring 33 feet in diameter and 8 feet in depth, was camouflaged by a house on rails which was rolled back when the guns were to be fired. A small garden of banana trees was planted around the emplacement to add to the effect.

The howitzer tube is believed to be a built-up type. The liner is rifled with a uniform right hand twist, calculated to be one turn in 9.4 calibers. Two air flasks are mounted on the carriage for blowing out the tube after firing. Two equilibrators are mounted below the tube. The breech mechanism is an interrupted screw type having 8 segments of 20 threads. A percussion hammer firing mechanism is operated by a lanyard. A short cartridge case is used for obturation.

The upper carriage is a rectangular steel frame approximately 18 feet, 9 inches long, and 4 feet, 8 inches wide, fixed to a baseplate. The lower carriage is a truncated steel cone embedded in concrete approximately 6 to 8 feet under the ground. The upper carriage baseplate rests on a rail above a worm wheel, fixed to the lower carriage which engages a spur rack fitted to the base of the upper carriage.

The traversing handwheel is mounted in a horizontal position engaging a vertical shaft which terminates in the worm gear. The elevating handwheels, one on either side of the tube, are mounted on the carriage in a vertical position. A direct shaft from the elevating handwheel terminates in a spur gear which engages the elevating arc.

A panoramic sight is mounted on the right side of the gun.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber     305 mm (12 ins. approx.)
Weight (firing position)
Length of tube and breech16 ft., 6 ins.
Length of carriage base18 ft., 9 ins.
Width of carriage base4 ft., 8 ins.
Length (firing position)
Height (firing position)
Width (overall)
Length of bore
No. of lands72
Width of grooves
Depth of grooves
Width of lands
Muzzle velocity (shell)
Max. range (horizontal)—Trans. document13,000 yds.
Max. range (vertical)
Rate of fire
Traverse360°
Elevation, scale reading70°
Depression, scale reading3°
Length of recoil, scale reading420 mm
Ammunition
Wt. of projectile—Trans. document970 lbs.

Japanese: p. 116.3 (August 1, 1945)

Categories
German

10.5 cm “Sabot” Type H. E. Shell

10.5 cm Sabot Type H. E. Shell

This new type projectile consists of an 8.8 cm streamlined shell body fitted with centering and rotating band rings which permit it to be fired from a 10.5 cm weapon. Both the centering ring and rotating band ring are so designed that they become detached from the shell body under the influence of centrifugal force on leaving the muzzle of the gun. The advantage of such a design, provided it functions properly, is that a lighter weight projectile of smaller diameter is fired from a 10.5 cm weapon instead of the normal 10.5 cm projectile. The effect is to give a higher muzzle velocity and longer range for the 8.8 cm streamlined shell body than would be obtained with the standard 10.5 cm high explosive projectile. However, the effectiveness is reduced due to lower weight of projectile.

One disadvantage of this type of shell lies in the possibility of injury to friendly troops when the centering rings and rotating band are cast from the projectile. The centrifugal force would make these pieces into dangerous missiles.

The complete weight of the projectile is 23 pounds. Projectiles examined have been filled with a high explosive charge, and fitted with a percussion type nose fuze (AZ 23v.). The 15 cm shell of similar design employs the same fuze. The explosive trains of these projectiles are similar to those for the usual type of German high explosive shell.

German: p. 311

Categories
German

10.5 cm Geb. H. 40: Mountain Howitzer

10.5 cm Geb. H. 40: Mountain Howitzer

The 10.5 cm Geb. H. 40, introduced into the German Army in 1942, is the companion piece to the 7.5 cm Geb. G. 36 described on page 118. Its design is basically the same as that of the 10.5 cm le. F. H. 18 (M). The weapon can be split into nine loads for transport.

The barrel, of monobloc construction, is fitted with a double baffle muzzle brake with wide side flanges; the breech mechanism is of the horizontal sliding block type. A hydraulic buffer is built into the cradle on which the barrel slides in recoil, and a hydro-pneumatic recuperator is mounted above the barrel.

The split trail carriage has trails of riveted box construction which are fitted with large detachable spades. It is mounted on wheels of cast light alloy with detachable rims and solid rubber tires. The wheels are mounted on stub axles fitted to the trail legs and remain parallel to the legs when they are opened. Internal expanding brakes, adjusted by a handwheel from the front, are fitted to both wheels. The traversing and elevating handwheels are located on the left and right sides of the carriage respectively.

There are two range drum scales: one in mils ranging from 0 to 1,250; the other in meters ranging from 0 to 1,500 for hollow charge ammunition and from 1,500 to 9,675 for high explosive shells, both with charge 6 in the lower register.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber         105 mm (4.14 ins.)
Weight (traveling position)
Weight (firing position) 3,660 lb.
Length of piece 10 ft., 4 ins.
Length (firing position) 18 ft., 6 ins.
Height (traveling position)
Height (firing position) 4 ft., 11 ins.
Width (overall) 4 ft., 6 ins.
Width of trail spread
Length of bore 9 ft., 5 ins.
No. of grooves 32
Width of grooves
Depth of grooves
Width of lands
Muzzle velocity 1,870 f/s
Max. range (horizontal) 13,807 yds. (Chg. 7)
Max. range (vertical)
Rate of fire
Traverse 25°, 20′ left and right
Elevation 70°
Depression -4°, 47′
Length of recoil (variable) 19.7 ins. to 49.2 ins.
Ammunition 10.5 cm F.H. Gr. Al. (32 lb.)*
10.5 cm F.H. Gr. 38 Al.
10.5 cm F.H. Gr. Buntrauch (32 lb.)
10.5 cm 39 rot HL/A and HL/B (25.8 lb.)–Chg. 6 only.
10.5 cm 39 rot AL/C

*A star shell is also reported to be fired with Charge 6.

German: p. 108.2

Categories
Japanese

105 mm Field Gun Type 14

Japanese 105 mm Field Gun Type 14

The Japanese 105 mm gun, Type 14, is a medium field weapon mounted on a two-wheeled carriage and drawn by a prime mover. The tube, of built-up construction, is retracted above the trails when in traveling position to provide proper balance. A breechblock of the interrupted screw type is used.

The weapon has split trails which may be adjusted to equalize cant. The wheels are equipped with rubber or steel tires.

The recoil system is the variable, hydropneumatic floating piston type. The fluid passage to the other side of the two air cylinders is suitably interrupted when the elevation is increased.

The traversing mechanism consists of a worm and arc gear. The elevating mechanism is of the arc gear type. A spring equilibrator is attached to the gun, since the trunnion is retracted in relation to the tube. The sighting equipment consists of a panoramic sight and a drum type range scale.

SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber         105 mm (4.13 ins.)
Weight (traveling position)
Weight (firing position)
Length (traveling position)
Length (firing position)
Height (traveling position)
Height (firing position)
Width (overall)
Width of trail spread
Length of bore
No. of grooves
Width of grooves
Depth of grooves
Width of lands
Muzzle velocity 2,040 f/s
Max. range (horizontal) 16,500 yds.
Max. range (vertical)
Rate of fire 6-8 r.p.m.
Traverse 30°
Elevation 43°
Depression 5°
Length of recoil
Ammunition H.E. (long pointed), H.E., Shrapnel, Chemical, A.P.
Wt. of projectile (H.E.) 33 lbs.

German: p. 114.3 (August 1, 1945)