Tag: self-propelled artillery

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German

Gw. Lr. S. für 15 cm s.F.H. 13: S.P. Heavy Field Howitzer (on French Lorraine Chassis)

Gw. Lr. S. für 15 cm s.F.H. 13: S.P. Heavy Field Howitzer (on French Lorraine Chassis)

This mobile artillery equipment consists of a French Lorraine chassis, “Tracteur Blinde 38 L,” on which is mounted the 15 cm. s.F.H. 13, a medium howitzer designed for the last war. The chassis type was produced shortly prior to this war as an armored ammunition and personnel carrier.

The chassis is divided into the driving compartment at the front, the engine compartment in the center and an open welled tray at the rear. The piece is mounted on the superstructure at the front of the tray and extends forward over the engine and driving compartments. The gun crew is stationed in the tray and is protected by a 9 mm armored body which is open at the top. At the extreme rear of the hull is a hinged spade which may be lowered when the gun is fired. The original carrier is armored by plates, bolted together of the following thicknesses : Nose of hull, 12 mm; glacis plate, 8 mm; front sloping plate, 9.5 mm; sides, 9 mm; back, 9 mm; top, 6 mm; floor, 5 mm. Except for a band about 12 inches high around the rear half of the sides and the rear of the vehicle there is no overlap in the two armors.

The chassis is suspended from three semi-elliptical leaf springs on each side. The load is transmitted from the central point of each spring through supporting members to each of three pairs of bogies on each side.

The Delahaye 6-cylinder, in line, water-cooled, gasoline engine generates 80 horsepower. The ignition system is Bosch. The transmission provides 5 forward speeds and one reverse.

The piece has a muzzle velocity of 1250 f.s., bore length of 17 calibers, and a maximum range of 9300 yards. Its traverse as mounted is approximately 4 degrees and its elevation -5 to +45 degrees. It utilizes the following ammunition: H.E. shell, 92.4 lb.—Anti-concrete shell, 95.7 lb.—Smoke shell, 85.8 lb.—H.E. shell (stream­lined), 84.7 lb.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight in action         9 tons
Length 17 ft., 5 ins.
Width 6 ft., 2 ins.
Height 6 ft., 10 ins.
Ground clearance 12 ins.
Tread centers 4 ft., 4 5/8 ins.

Ground contact 9 ft.
Width of track 8.5 ins.
Pitch of track 3 3/16 ins.
Track links 109
Fording depth
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads
     Cross-country
Speed
     Roads 21 m.p.h.
     Cross-country
Armor
     Front plate 12 mm
     Sides 9 mm
Armament 15 cm s.F.H. 13
Ammunition (rds.)
Engine Delahaye 6-cyl., 80 h.p.
Transmission 5 forward speeds, 1 reverse
Steering Clutch brake, controlled differential
Crew 5

German: p. 16

Categories
German

Gw. II für 15 cm s.I.G. 33: S.P. Heavy Infantry Howitzer

Gw. II für 15 cm s.I.G. 33: S.P. Heavy Infantry Howitzer

This vehicle consists of the 15 cm. heavy infantry howitzer mounted in the hull of a modified, turretless Pz. Kpfw. II chassis. The chassis is approximately three feet longer than that of the standard Pz Kw II tank and has six bogie wheels instead of the usual five. The sprockets, rear idlers, bogie wheels, return rollers, steering assembly, gear box and hull nose are those of the Pz. Kpfw. II; the instrument panel is that of a Pz. Kpfw. III. The front shield is in one piece extending straight across the full width of the superstructure. The driver’s visor is of the double shutter type. The road performance of this equipment approximates that of the Pz. Kpfw. II tank.

The gun, a standard infantry support weapon, is mounted low in the hull, projecting through a vertical slot in the shield. The gun shield is 15 mm thick and is of shallow construction. It extends about a third of the distance of the superstructure to the rear. Unlike the “Wasp” there are no protecting side plates along the entire length of the superstructure.

The gun is 64.57 inches in length, has a muzzle velocity of 790 f.s. and a maximum effective range of 5140 yards. The casting containing the recuperator and buffer, housed underneath the barrel, extends almost to the end of the barrel. The breech mechanism is similar to the 10.5 cm. I.F.H. 18. The elevating qear is operated from the right and the traversing gear from the left. In field mounting its traverse is 11°, its elevation 0° to +73°.

Two types of ammunition are fired, the 15 cm. I. Gr. 33 and the 15 cm. I. Gr. 38. The H.E. capacity is high, 21.8%. The only other shell that the weapon is known to fire is a smoke shell, the 15 cm. I. Gr. 38 Nb. The same percussion fuze, s. I. Gr. Z. 23, which weighs 75 lbs., is used in each case.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         (approx.) 12 tons
Length (approx.) 18 ft.
Width 7 ft., 4 ins.
Height (approx.) 5 ft., 6 ins.
Ground clearance 13 ins.
Tread centers 6 ft., 2 ins.
Ground contact
Width of track 11 1/8 ins.
Pitch of track 3 5/8 ins.
Track links
Fording depth 3 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 118 miles
     Cross-country 78 miles
Speed
     Roads 25 m.p.h.
     Cross-country 15 m.p.h.
Armor
     Front plate 15 + 20 mm
     Sides 15 mm
Gun shield 15 mm
Armament 15 cm. s.I.G. 33
Ammunition (rds.)
Engine 140 B.H.P. Maybach, HL 62 TRM
Transmission 6 forward speeds, 1 reverse
Steering Epicyclic clutch brake
Crew Probably 4

German: p. 13

Categories
German

Gw. für 15 cm s.I.G. 33/1 (Sd. Kfz. 138/1): S.P. Heavy Infantry Howitzer (on Czech Chassis)

Grille: Gw. für 15 cm s.I.G. 33/1 (Sd. Kfz. 138/1): S.P. Heavy Infantry Howitzer (on Czech Chassis)

The vehicle is the result of a combination of the 15 cm heavy infantry howitzer and the Pz. Kpfw. 38 (t) tank chassis. Its road performance will approximate that of the Pz. Kpfw. 38 (t) tank.

The howitzer, from which the trail has been removed, is mounted well forward on the chassis within a box-like, open top shield, the front plates of which overlap the original gun shield. The box shield has a thickness of 25 mm in front, 15 mm at the sides, and 15 mm at the rear. A further plate, fitted over the barrel and recuperator, is elevated and depressed with the howitzer, which also retains its original traversing and elevating mechanisms. Sighting is done through the aperture in the howitzer shield, by dial sight. Six metal sheets in the shape of a 3/4 circle are fitted to the sides of the fighting compartment, four vertically at the rear on the right, and two horizontally forward on the left. These may house a shell each, thus making a total of twelve rounds, corresponding to the 12 lockers for cartridge cases and charges. AW/T set is carried. This is mounted on the left wall of the fighting compartment. A folding type rod aerial is mounted on the left. The general appearance suggests that the equipment is overloaded. The silhouette is high.

The piece, a standard German infantry support weapon, has a length of 64.57 inches, a muzzle velocity of 790 f.s., and a maximum effective range of 5140 yards. Its field mounting traverse is reported as 11°, its elevation 0° to plus 73°. Its recoil mechanism, which consists of both buffer and recuperator, is housed in a casing underneath the barrel and extends almost the entire length of the latter. The gun fires an 83.6 lb. H.E. shell, and an 84.7 lb. smoke shell.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         (approx.) 12 tons
Length 15 ft., 3 ins.
Width 7 ft.
Height
Ground clearance 15 ins.
Tread centers 5 ft., 9 1/2 ins.
Ground contact 8 ft., 6 3/4 ins.
Width of track 11 ins.
Pitch of track 4 1/2 ins.
Track links 89
Fording depth 3 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 140 miles
     Cross-country 100 miles
Speed
     Roads 25 m.p.h.
     Cross-country 15 m.p.h.
Armor
     Front plate 25 + 25 mm
     Sides 30 mm
Armament 15 cm. s.I.G. 33
Ammunition (rds.) 12
Engine Praga 6-cyl., 125 h.p., gasoline
Transmission 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Epicyclic clutch brake
Crew 3

German: p. 20

Categories
German

Gw. II (Wespe) für 10.5 cm le. F. H. 18/2 (Sd. Kfz. 124): S.P. Light Howitzer (Wasp)

Gw. II (Wespe) für 10.5 cm le. F. H. 18/2 (Sd. Kfz. 124): S.P. Light Howitzer (Wasp)

This equipment, known as the “Wasp,” consists of the 10.5 cm. light field howitzer mounted on a chassis which, with the exception that there are only three return rollers, is that of a normal Pz. Kpfw. II tank, Models A-C, with five bogie wheels. Its road performance approximates that of the Pz. Kpfw. II tank.

The gun is the 10.5 cm. 1.F.H. 18 M with muzzle brake. It is mounted at the rear of the chassis within an open top box type shield which is 10 mm thick, its muzzle brake being almost flush with the front of the chassis. Its recuperator and buffer mechanisms, mounted on the bottom and top of the barrel, respectively, are clearly visible beyond the shield. Overlapping the gun shield and sloping back to the rear of the superstructure are side plates, also 10 mm thick. The fighting compartment is open at the top and rear. Its silhouette is high.

The piece has a normal-charge muzzle velocity of 1542 f.s. and a maximum range of 11,650 yards. Firing the long range charge (Fern-ladung) the gun has a muzzle velocity of 1772 f.s. and a maximum range of 13,500 yards. All charges, except the long range, can be fired without the muzzle brake. It has a traverse of 32° and an elevation of -5° to +42°. It is reported to fire four types of ammunition, the 32.6 lb. HE (F. H. Gr.—Feldhaubitze Granate—field howitzer shell), the cast steel HE (F. H. Gr. Stg.—Stahlring—steelring), the 25.9 lb. hollow charge (10 cm. Gr. 39 rot Rohl Ladung—red hollow charge), and a 32.5 lb. smoke shell.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight         12 tons
Length 15 ft., 9 ins.
Width 7 ft., 4 ins.
Height 7 ft., 10 1/2 ins.
Ground clearance 13 ins.
Tread centers 6 ft., 2 ins.
Ground contact 7 ft., 10 ins.
Width of track 11 1/8 ins.
Pitch of track 3 5/8 ins.
Track links
Fording depth 3 ft.
Theoretical radius of action
     Roads 125 miles
     Cross-country 70 miles
Speed
     Roads 24 m.p.h.
     Cross-country
Armor
     Front plate
     Sides
Armament 10.5 cm. l.F.H. 18 (M)
Ammunition (rds.)
Engine Maybach HL 62 TR, 140 h.p.
Transmission 6 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Steering Epicyclic clutch brake
Crew

German: p. 14