Creatures
Versailles is a name that in the 1920s. was associated primarily not with the luxurious palace complex in the vicinity of Paris, but with the peace treaty of 1918. One of the results of the First World War was the elimination of the military power of Germany. The winners took care of this. Particular attention was paid to artillery. Germany was prohibited from having heavy artillery, and only two types of artillery systems were left in the field park - the 77-mm F.K. 16 and 105 mm light howitzers le.F.H. 16. At the same time, the number of the latter was limited to 84 units (at the rate of 12 units for each of the seven Reichswehr divisions), and the ammunition for them should not exceed 800 shells per barrel.
Howitzer le.F.H. 18, manufactured in 1941
Such a decision was contrary to the experience accumulated by the German army during the Great War. By the beginning of hostilities, the field artillery of the German divisions (as well as the French and Russian) consisted mainly of light guns, ideal for maneuver warfare. But the transition of hostilities to the positional phase revealed all the shortcomings of these artillery systems, first of all, the flat trajectory of fire and low power projectile, which together did not make it possible to effectively hit field fortifications. The German command quickly learned its lessons, quickly equipping the troops with field howitzers. If the ratio of the number of guns to howitzers in 1914 was 3:1, then in 1918 it was only 1.5:1. The Treaty of Versailles meant a rollback not only in the absolute number of howitzers, but also in specific gravity these guns in the Reichswehr artillery park. Naturally, such a situation in no way suited the German military leadership. Already in the mid-1920s. the need for, if not quantitative, then qualitative improvement in artillery was clearly recognized, especially since the le.F.H.16 howitzer was gradually becoming obsolete.
The Treaty of Versailles allowed Germany the ongoing production of a certain number of artillery systems to make up for losses due to wear and tear. Regarding 105-mm howitzers, this quantity was determined at 14 guns per year. But it was not the quantitative indicators that were important, but the fundamental possibility of preserving the artillery industry. There were design bureaus at the Krupp and Rheinmetall companies, but their activities were constrained by the presence of inspectors of the Inter-Allied Military Control Commission. This commission officially completed its work on February 28, 1927. Thus, the way to create new artillery systems was opened, and on June 1 of the same year, the Army Armaments Department (Heerswaffenamt) decided to begin developing an improved version of the le.F.H. 16.
Work on the howitzer was carried out by the Rheinmetall concern. Almost immediately it became clear that the weapon would be truly new, and not just a modification of the previous model. The main improvements were dictated by the military's requirements to increase the firing range and the horizontal aiming angle. To solve the first problem, a barrel was used longer length(initially 25 calibers, and in the final version - 28 calibers). The second problem was solved by using a carriage of a new design, based on a similar unit of the 75-mm long-range WFK gun that did not go into production.
By 1930, the development of a new howitzer was completed and testing began. Both design and testing were carried out in strict secrecy. In order to disguise the fact of the creation of a new artillery system, it was given the official name 10.5 cm leichte Feldhaubitze 18 - 10.5 cm light field howitzer mod. 1918, or le.F.H. for short. 18. The gun was officially put into service on July 28, 1935.
First option
Gross production of howitzers le.F.H. 18 began in 1935. At first it was carried out by the Rheinmetall-Borsig plant in Düsseldorf. Subsequently, the production of howitzers was established at enterprises in Borsigwald, Dortmund and Magdeburg. By the beginning of World War II, the Wehrmacht received over 4000 le.F.H. 18, and the maximum monthly production was 115 units. It seems interesting to compare the complexity of production and cost field guns, produced at that time in Germany.
As we can see, according to economic indicators le.F.H. 18 was significantly superior not only to heavier artillery systems (which is quite logical), but even to the 75-mm cannon.
The barrel of the new howitzer was longer than that of its predecessor (le.F.H.16), by 6 calibers. Its length was 28 calibers (2941 mm). That is, according to this indicator le.F.H. 18 can easily be classified as howitzer guns. Structurally, the barrel was a monoblock with a screwed-on bolt part. The gate is a horizontal wedge. The barrel is rifled right-handed (32 grooves). The recoil device is hydraulic (knurl is hydropneumatic).
Thanks to the longer barrel, it was possible to significantly improve the ballistic characteristics: the initial velocity of the projectile when using the most powerful charge was 470 m/s versus 395 m/s for the le.F.H. 16. Accordingly, the firing range increased - from 9225 to 10675 m.
As already noted, in le.F.H. 18 used a carriage with sliding frames. The latter had a riveted structure, a rectangular cross-section and were equipped with coulters. The use of such a carriage made it possible to increase the horizontal aiming angle compared to the le.F.H. 16 in 14(!) times - from 4 to 56°. The horizontal aiming angle (as in the text, we are talking about the vertical aiming angle, Air Force note) has also increased slightly - up to + 42° versus + 40°. IN pre-war years such indicators were considered quite acceptable for howitzers. As you know, you have to pay for everything. So for improving fire data we had to pay in weight. Weight le.F.H. 18 in the stowed position increased by more than six centners compared to its predecessor and reached almost 3.5 tons. Mechanical traction could not be more suitable for such a weapon. But the automobile industry could not keep up with the Wehrmacht, which was growing by leaps and bounds. Therefore, the main means of transporting most light howitzers was a six-horse team.
Howitzer crossing le.F.H. 18 along the pontoon bridge, Western Europe, May-June 1940
The first production le.F.H. 18 were equipped with wooden wheels. They were then replaced by cast light alloy wheels with a diameter of 130 cm and a width of 10 cm, with 12 lightening holes. The wheel drive was sprung and equipped with a brake. The wheels of horse-drawn howitzers were equipped with steel tires, over which rubber bands were sometimes put. For mechanically driven batteries, wheels with solid rubber tires were used. Such a weapon was towed (without a limber) by a half-track tractor at a speed of up to 40 km/h. Note that horse-drawn artillery required a whole day of marching to cover the same 40 km.
In addition to the basic version, an export modification was also prepared for the Wehrmacht, ordered in 1939 by the Netherlands. The Dutch howitzer differed from the German one in slightly lighter weight and even more increased firing angles - up to +45° in the vertical plane and 60° in the horizontal. In addition, it was adapted to fire Dutch-style ammunition. Due to the workload of Rheinmetall enterprises, the production of howitzers for export was carried out by the Krupp concern plant in Essen. After the occupation of the Netherlands in 1940, about 80 howitzers were captured by the Germans as trophies. After changing the barrels, they were adopted by the Wehrmacht under the designation le.F.H. 18/39.
Ammunition
For firing from the 105 mm howitzer le.F.H. 18 six charges were used. The table shows data when firing a standard high-explosive fragmentation projectile weighing 14.81 kg.
The howitzer's ammunition included a fairly wide range of projectiles for various purposes, namely:
- 10.5 cm FH Gr38 - a standard high-explosive fragmentation projectile weighing 14.81 kg with a trinitrotoluene (TNT) charge weighing 1.38 kg;
- 10.5 cm Pzgr - the first version of an armor-piercing projectile weighing 14.25 kg (TNT weight 0.65 kg). For firing, charge No. 5 was used. The initial speed was 395 m/s, the effective range of a direct shot was 1500 m;
- 10.5 cm Pzgr rot - a modified armor-piercing projectile with a ballistic tip. Projectile weight 15.71 kg, explosive - 0.4 kg. When firing with charge No. 5, the initial speed was 390 m/s, armor penetration at a distance of 1500 m at an impact angle of 60° was 49 mm;
- 10.5 cm Gr39 rot HL/A - cumulative projectile weighing 12.3 kg;
- 10.5 cm FH Gr Nb - the first version of a smoke projectile weighing 14 kg. The explosion produced a cloud of smoke with a diameter of 25-30 m;
- 10.5 cm FH Gr38 Nb - improved smoke projectile weighing 14.7 kg;
- 10.5 cm Spr Gr Br - incendiary projectile weighing 15.9 kg;
- 10.5 cm Weip-Rot-Geshop - propaganda projectile weighing 12.9 kg.
Improved modifications
The experience of the first months of World War II clearly showed that the le.F.H.18 light howitzers are quite effective. But at the same time, in reports from the front there were complaints about the insufficient firing range. The simplest solution to this problem was to increase the muzzle velocity of the projectile by using a more powerful propellant charge. But this made it necessary to reduce the force of the recoil. As a result, in 1940, production began of a new version of the howitzer, equipped with a two-chamber muzzle brake. This system was designated le.F.H.18M (M - from Mündungsbremse, i.e. muzzle brake).
The le.F.H.18M barrel length with muzzle brake was 3308 mm versus 2941 mm for the base model. The weight of the gun also increased by 55 kg. A new 10.5 cm FH Gr Fern high-explosive fragmentation projectile weighing 14.25 kg (TNT weight - 2.1 kg) was developed especially for firing at maximum range. When firing with charge No. 6, the initial speed was 540 m/s, and the firing range was 12325 m.
Produced by le.F.H. 18M continued until February 1945. A total of 6,933 of these guns were produced (this number also included a number of basic model howitzers produced after the outbreak of World War II). In addition, during the repair, le.F.H. howitzers also received a new barrel with a muzzle brake. 18.
The appearance of the next variant was also dictated by the experience of combat operations - this time on the Eastern Front, where in off-road conditions the relatively heavy le.F.H.18s lost their mobility. Even three- and five-ton half-track tractors could not always overcome the autumn thaw of 1941, let alone horse-drawn teams. As a result, in March 1942, technical specifications were formulated for the design of a new, lighter carriage for a 105-mm howitzer. But its creation and implementation into production took time. In such a situation, the designers went for improvisation, placing the barrel of the le.F.H.18M howitzer on the carriage of the 75-mm Pak 40 anti-tank gun. The resulting “hybrid” was adopted for service under the designation le.F.H.18/40.
The new gun weighed almost a quarter of a ton less in firing position than the le.F.H.18M. But the anti-tank gun carriage, due to the small diameter of the wheels, did not allow firing at maximum elevation angles. I had to use new wheels of larger diameter. The design of the muzzle brake was also changed, since the old one, “inherited” from the le.F.H.18M, was severely damaged when firing new 10.5 cm Sprgr 42 TS sub-caliber projectiles. All this delayed the start of mass production of le.F.H.18/40 until March 1943, when the first batch of ten units was released. By July, 418 new howitzers had already been delivered, and a total of 10,245 le.F.H.18/40 were produced by March 1945 (7,807 such guns were produced in 1944 alone!). The production of le.F.H.18/40 was carried out by three factories - Schichau in Elbing, Menck und Hambrock in Hamburg and Krupp in Markstadt.
Proposed replacement
The adoption of the le.F.H.18/40 howitzer was considered as a palliative: after all, the carriage used in it was developed for a gun weighing 1.5 tons, and with the addition of a howitzer barrel it turned out to be overloaded, which led to numerous breakdowns of the chassis during operation. Designers from Krupp and Rheinmetall-Borzig continued to work on new howitzers of 105 mm caliber.
The prototype of the Krupp howitzer, designated le.F.H.18/42, featured a barrel extended to 3255 mm with a new muzzle brake. The firing range increased slightly - up to 12,700 m. The horizontal firing angle also increased slightly (up to 60°). The Army Weapons Department rejected this product, noting the lack of fundamental improvement in firing characteristics compared to the le.F.H.18M and the unacceptable increase in the weight of the system (over 2 tons in combat position).
The Rheinmetall prototype looked more promising. The le.F.H.42 gun had a firing range of 13,000 and a horizontal firing angle of 70°. At the same time, the weight in combat position was only 1630 kg. But even in this case, the Armaments Department decided to refrain from serial production. Instead, the development of even more “advanced” projects from Krupp and Skoda continued. These howitzers used completely new carriages that provided all-round fire. But in the end, the Krupp system was never translated into metal.
In Pilsen, work at the Skoda plant was more successful. A prototype of the new le.F.H.43 howitzer was built there, but it was never put into production. Thus, the le.F.H.18 and its modifications were destined to remain the basis of the Wehrmacht field artillery until the end of the war.
Combat use
As already noted, deliveries of le.F.H.18 to combat units began in 1935. In the same year, a fundamental decision was made to remove guns from the divisional artillery. From now on, the artillery regiments of the divisions were armed only with howitzers - 105 mm light and 150 mm heavy. It should be noted that this decision seemed by no means indisputable. There was a heated debate on this issue in the pages of the specialized press. Supporters of cannons cited, in particular, the argument that, with the same caliber, howitzer shells are significantly more expensive than cannon shells. The opinion was also expressed that with the removal of guns, divisional artillery would lose tactical flexibility. Nevertheless, the leadership listened to the opinion of the “howitzer faction”, trying to standardize weapons and avoid diversity in production and in the troops. A significant argument in favor of howitzers was the desire to provide a fire advantage over the armies of neighboring countries: in most of them, the basis of divisional artillery was 75-76 mm cannons.
In the pre-war period, each Wehrmacht infantry division had two artillery regiments - light (three divisions of horse-drawn 105-mm howitzers) and heavy (two divisions of 150-mm howitzers - one horse-drawn, the other motorized). With the transition to wartime conditions, heavy regiments were withdrawn from divisions. Subsequently, for almost the entire war, the organization of the artillery of the infantry division remained unchanged: the regiment consisted of three divisions, and in each of them there were three four-gun batteries of horse-drawn 105-mm howitzers. The staff of the battery is 4 officers, 30 non-commissioned officers and 137 privates, as well as 153 horses and 16 carts.
Howitzer le.F.H.18 in position.
Ideally, the artillery regiment of an infantry division consisted of 36 105 mm howitzers. But during the fighting, not every division had such a number of guns. In some cases, some of the howitzers were replaced with captured Soviet 76.2-mm cannons, in others, the number of guns in the battery was reduced from four to three, or some of the howitzer batteries were replaced with batteries of 150-mm Nebelwerfer 41 rocket-propelled mortars. Therefore, the fact that that, despite the mass production of the le.F.H.18, it was not able to completely displace its predecessor, the le.F.H.16 howitzer, from the troops. The latter was used until the end of World War II.
The organization of the artillery regiments of the Volksgrenadier divisions, formed since the summer of 1944, was somewhat different from the standard one. They consisted of only two divisions of two batteries, but the number of guns in the battery was increased to six. Thus, the Volksgrenadier division had 24 105 mm howitzers.
In motorized (from 1942 - panzergrenadier) and tank divisions, all artillery was mechanically driven. A four-gun motorized battery of 105 mm howitzers required significantly fewer personnel - 4 officers, 19 non-commissioned officers and 96 privates, for a total of 119 people versus 171 in a horse-drawn battery. The vehicles included five half-track tractors (one of which was a spare) and 21 vehicles.
A German 105 mm leFH18 light field howitzer in an ambush, positioned for direct fire.
The artillery regiment of the motorized division on the eve of the war and during the Polish campaign corresponded in structure to the regiment of the infantry division - three three-battery divisions (36 howitzers). It was later reduced to two divisions (24 guns). The tank division initially had two divisions of 105 mm howitzers, since its artillery regiment also included a heavy division (150 mm howitzers and 105 mm guns). Since 1942, one of the light howitzer divisions was replaced by a self-propelled artillery division with Vespe and Hummel installations. Finally, in 1944, the only light howitzer division remaining in the tank divisions was reorganized: instead of three four-gun batteries, two six-gun batteries were introduced into its composition.
In addition to divisional artillery, some 105-mm howitzers were supplied to the RGK artillery. For example, in 1942, the formation of separate motorized divisions of 105 mm howitzers began. Three divisions of light howitzers (a total of 36 guns) were part of the 18th Artillery Division - the only formation of this type in the Wehrmacht, which existed from October 1943 to April 1944. Finally, when the formation of the Volksartillery corps began in the fall of 1944, one of the options for the staff of such a corps provided for the presence of a motorized division with 18 le.F.H.18.
German light field howitzer caliber 105 mm leFH18, view from the breech. Summer-autumn 1941
The standard type of tractor in motorized 105 mm howitzer battalions was the three-ton half-track tractor Sd. Kfz.11 (leichter Zugkraftwagen 3t), less commonly used five-ton Sd. Kfz. 6 (mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 5t). The RGK divisions formed since 1942 were equipped with RSO tracked tractors. This machine, simple and cheap to manufacture, was a typical wartime “ersatz”. Maximum speed towing howitzers was only 17 km/h (versus 40 km/h for half-track tractors). In addition, the RSO had only a two-seater cabin, so the howitzers were towed with the limber on which the crew was located.
As of September 1, 1939, the Wehrmacht had 4,845 light howitzers of 105 mm caliber. The bulk were le.F.H.18 guns, with the exception of a number of old le.F.H.16 systems, as well as former Austrian and Czech howitzers. By April 1, 1940, the fleet of light howitzers had increased to 5381 units, and by June 1, 1941 - to 7076 (this number already included the le.F.H. 18M systems).
By the end of the war, despite huge losses, especially on the Eastern Front, the number of 105 mm howitzers continued to remain very large. For example, on May 1, 1944, the Wehrmacht had 7996 howitzers, and on December 1 - 7372 (however, in both cases, not only towed guns were taken into account, but also self-propelled 105-mm Vespe howitzers).
In addition to Germany, the le.F.H.18 and its variants were in service with several other countries. It was already mentioned above about the supply of modified guns to Holland. Other foreign customers received standard howitzers. In particular, baptism of fire le.F.H.18, like many other weapons and military equipment, took place in Spain, where a number of these guns were delivered. Even before the start of the war, such howitzers were delivered to Hungary, where they received the designation 37M. During the war, le.F.H.18s reached Finland, as well as Slovakia (the latter received 45 le.F.H.18 howitzers for horse-drawn batteries and eight le.F.H.18/40 for motorized batteries in 1943-1944).
After the war, le.F.H.18, le.F.H.18M and le.F.H.18/40 howitzers were in service in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Albania and Yugoslavia for a long time (until the early 1960s). It is interesting that in the artillery units of the same Hungary until the end of the 1940s. horse traction was used. In Czechoslovakia, German howitzers were modernized by placing the le.F.H.18/40 barrel on the carriage of the Soviet 122-mm M-30 howitzer. This weapon was designated le.F.H.18/40N.
Overall rating
The le.F.H.18 light howitzers and their improved variants undoubtedly played a huge role in the Wehrmacht's combat operations during World War II. It is difficult to name at least one battle in which divisions of these guns did not take part. The howitzer was distinguished by its reliability, high barrel survivability, amounting to 8-10 thousand rounds, and ease of maintenance. At the beginning of the war, the ballistic characteristics of the gun were also satisfactory. But when the Wehrmacht faced more modern enemy weapons (for example, British 87.6 mm howitzer guns and Soviet 76.2 mm divisional guns), the situation was improved by deploying mass production of howitzers le.F.H.18M, and then le. F.H.18/40.
. German troops used a wide range of anti-tank weapons during the war: some were obtained from the enemy, others were the result of their own promising developments. In 1939, the standard anti-tank gun with which the Wehrmacht entered the war was 37 mm RaK 35/36.
Anti-tank artillery Wehrmacht anti-tank gun Pak 36 photo
The name RaK is a standard abbreviation for Panzerabwehr Kanon - anti-tank gun. Small, light in weight and relatively easy to use, the RaK 35 cannon was far from ideal for encounters with heavy, ballistic-armored vehicles that were entering service in the Allied armies at the beginning of the war.
photo of a 3.7 cm PaK 36 close-up France, June 1940
The standard German 37-mm anti-tank gun at the beginning of the war was the RaK 35. Developed in 1920, it was a light and convenient weapon in combat, but in 1940, after being used in the European theater, its calculations realized that it could not cope with the thick armor of British and French tanks. In fact, the artillerymen sympathetically dubbed it "knock on the door" because of them weak characteristics. Attempts to improve armor penetration included the use of tungsten-core projectiles and cumulative grenades with stabilizers that were loaded from the muzzle - Stielgranate 41. See short video, deployment of a gun, shelling of an elevator in Stalingrad and the death of a German crew as a result of an attack supported by tanks.
German soldiers pulling an artillery gun to the river bank
The RaK 35 gun had a maximum firing range of 4025 m with a high-explosive projectile and could penetrate 35 mm armor at an angle of 30° with a 500 m conventional projectile or 180 mm armor with a 300 m Stielgranate 41 grenade. More than 20,000 of these guns were manufactured during the war. Aware of the shortcomings of the RaK 35/36, the Wehrmacht demanded weapons larger caliber. Developed since 1938, the 38-mm RaK 38 gun entered service in 1940. Cancer 38 had a maximum firing range of 2652 m with a high-explosive projectile. With a tungsten core projectile, it could penetrate 55 mm armor from a distance of 1 km.
Wehrmacht anti-tank artillery 50mm pak 38 at the time of the invasion of the USSR, the infantry division had 72 anti-tank guns, of which 14 pak 38 50-mm and 58 pak 35/36 37-mm
Wehrmacht anti-tank artillery in World War II photo , guns from Skoda. The Germans also used a 47-mm anti-tank gun from the Czech company Skoda, which they inherited after the annexation of Czechoslovakia in 1939. It was designated as 4.7cm RaK 36(t). It weighed 400 kg in firing position and fired a 1.45 kg armor-piercing projectile with an initial speed of 900 m/s. The gun could penetrate 51 mm armor from 500 m.
47-mm anti-tank gun of the Czech company Skoda 4.7 cm RaK 36 t
Another loot that fell to Austria and capitulated Poland and Denmark was the Austrian 47-mm Boler anti-tank gun. In Germany it was designated 4.7 cm Cancer or “Boler” and was assigned to mountain divisions.
47-mm Austrian Boler anti-tank gun photo
The appearance of the KV-1, protected by thick armor, added urgency to the need to develop a new anti-tank gun. As a result, two new 75 mm guns were designed. Cancer 40, produced by Rheinmetall-Borsig, and PaK 41, produced at Krupp factories, soon entered the army.
Wehrmacht anti-tank guns 7.5 cm PaK 40 photo
Both of them turned out to be quite powerful, although PaK 40 is a more effective, enlarged modification of PaK 38.
German 7.5 cm PaK 40 camouflaged in a snowy area, Russia, February 1943 photo
75 mm RaK 40 cannon- one of the most effective and numerous anti-tank weapons of the war; The RaK 40 was used on all fronts after it entered service in 1941. Until 1945, more than 23 thousand guns were produced.
Moving a 7.5 cm Pak 40 anti-tank gun on dirt roads Northern France, October 1943
The RaK 41 gun, with significantly improved characteristics, was a new development. The Krupp design is one of the first “extended barrel” guns to enter service. The internal opening of the barrel gradually narrowed from the breech to the muzzle. The pressure behind the armor-piercing projectile with a tungsten core Pzgr Patr 41 (NK) increased as the projectile moved in the barrel, allowing a projectile exit velocity of 1125 m/s.
anti-tank gun 42-mm RaK 41 photos
The projectile had a lightweight aerodynamic fairing, behind which was a tungsten carbide core. The core was enclosed in an outer shell with protrusions at the center and base. The protrusions withstood gas pressure while moving in the barrel. The armor penetration of the newly introduced improved weapon was remarkable: shells fired from the RaK 41 could penetrate 145 mm armor from a range of 1 km. Fortunately for the Allies, Germany was short of tungsten. Another problem is replacing barrels: high pressure meant that gun barrels had to be replaced after 500 shots. Ultimately, only 150 RaK 41 guns were produced.
Germany experimented with two more tapered barrels during the war. The small sPz B 41 entered service in 1942 and was considered by the German army as a heavy anti-tank rifle, preferable to a cannon.
Heavy anti-tank rifle of the Wehrmacht sPz B 41 photos
Soldiers from the Grossdeutschland division 2.8cm sPzB 41 anti-tank rifle mounted on an Sd.Kfz.250 armored personnel carrier
It fired a 28 mm projectile from a barrel that tapered from 28 mm at the breech to 20 mm at the muzzle, resulting in a terrifying speed of 1402 m/s and a maximum range of 1 km. The airborne version of the sPz B 41 cannon - le Feldlafette 41 - weighed only 118 kg in combat position, but, like the main version, it could only penetrate 50 mm armor at an angle of 30 ° from 500 m.
Airborne version of the sPz B 41 cannon - le Feldlafette 41photos
At a quick glance, the 42 mm RaK 41 looked like a RaK 35/36 with an extended barrel. In reality, its barrel narrowed from 42 to 28 mm. The gun had a maximum firing range of 1 km and penetrated 70 mm armor at an angle of 30 "from 500 m and 50 mm armor from 1 km. It was not widely used, but it is known that it was used in some airborne divisions in 1942-1943.
Wehrmacht anti-tank artillery in World War II photo .
In 1944, the Rheinmetall plant introduced the 80 mm PaW 600 barrel-loading cannon, firing a 2.7 kg finned projectile with a shaped charge. This was a very advanced development for that time, the gun penetrated 140 mm armor at an angle of 30° from 750 m, but could not open fire on the enemy beyond this distance.
Sample of the 80 mm PAW 600 cannon on display at the Aberdeen Museum
Anti-tank gun, on 8.8 cm Pak 43 was developed based on Krupp Gerät 42, mentioned in the article. A new cross-shaped carriage is used, with a lower location, now it is much easier to hide, the lower silhouette makes it more difficult to hit the cannon. To provide better protection, thicker and more angular shield armor is used. Then, to simplify the design and reduce dimensions Pak 43 mounted on a carriage from 105 mm field howitzer.
Various modifications of the Pak 43 based on the 88 mm FlaK anti-aircraft gun
The Tiger's standard armament, the KwK 43 tank gun, was essentially Pak 43 slightly modified to accommodate it in the tower.
- Models Pak 43 88 mm appeared
- in "Elephant" (formerly "Ferdinand"),
The heavily armored Elephant was discovered to be too bulky and mechanically unreliable. "Rhinoceros" chassis is too slow; its armor provides protection only against shell fragments and 30-caliber bullets. In total, about 900 pieces were produced.
88 mm pak 43-41 anti-tank guns of the Wehrmacht photo
All gun versions 8.8 cm Pak 43 could penetrate about 200 mm of armor at a distance of 1000 m, which allows Pak 43 and its modifications are guaranteed to hit any enemy tank of that period. The 1943 model 88-mm cannon shell has a very high muzzle velocity, which allows artillerymen to hit even distant moving targets.
Ukraine, December 1943 PaK 43
The projectile's trajectory was so flat that with some adjustments, the gunner could make his own own calculations altitude range of 3400 meters for high-explosive shells and 4400 meters for armor-piercing shells. The flat trajectory naturally means that artillerymen can open fire on tanks and other armored vehicles without prior calculation. Model 8.8 cm Pak 43, but as is customary here 88 mm, had certain disadvantages. With the increase in projectile speed, the Germans tried to reduce the weight of the gun. The result is a barrel with a significantly reduced safety factor. Thus, the German gun crews were warned not to use high-velocity ammunition in the 1943 gun models; after firing 500 shells, the barrel required replacement. To keep the gun barrel from eroding, they could fire high-explosive shells with a yield of 1,080 feet per second. This ammunition gives a maximum flight range of only 7765 meters.
Bulky but effective anti-tank gun PaK 43/41
Pak 43/41 very heavy (9660 pounds) 4,381 kilograms, fully loaded weighs almost the same as a 150 mm SFH 18 howitzer. This weight excludes manual rotation of the gun, the main reason for the death of the gun and crew, attacking a position not from the firing sector. Inactivity led to large losses, both of the gun's personnel and of its materiel. The entry of a gun into battle meant either victory on the battlefield or defeat, without the ability to maneuver. It is impossible to describe in one article the entire variety of Wehrmacht artillery weapons used to fight tanks, and it was anti-tank artillery that caused the most significant damage tank troops allies.
west of Kyiv 41-42, shelling of a village
An interesting photo, if a machine gunner fires, it’s okay, but a shot from a gun can cause irreparable damage to the machine gunner’s household.
Contrary to popular opinion formed feature films, literature and computer games like “World of Tanks”, the main enemy of Soviet tanks on the battlefield was not enemy tanks, but anti-tank artillery.
Tank duels, of course, happened regularly, but not so often. Large oncoming tank battles can generally be counted on one hand.
After the war, ABTU conducted a study on the reasons for the defeat of our tanks.
Anti-tank artillery accounted for about 60% (with tank destroyers and anti-aircraft guns), 20% was lost in battles with tanks, the rest of the artillery destroyed 5%, 5% was blown up by mines, and aviation and anti-tank infantry weapons accounted for 10%.
The numbers are, of course, highly rounded, since it is impossible to determine exactly how each tank was destroyed. The tanks on the battlefield were fired upon by everything that could shoot. Thus, during the battles near Kursk, the destruction of the heavy tank self-propelled gun "Elephant" was recorded by a direct hit from a 203-mm projectile. A coincidence, of course, but a very significant coincidence.
37 mm anti-tank gun Pak. 35/36 It was the main anti-tank weapon with which Germany entered the war.
The development of this weapon, bypassing the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, was completed at Rheinmetall Borsig in 1928. The first samples of the gun, which received the name Tak 28 (Tankabwehrkanone, i.e. anti-tank gun - the word Panzer came into use later) entered testing in 1930, and in 1932 deliveries to the troops began. The Reichswehr received a total of 264 of these guns. The Tak 28 gun had a 45-caliber barrel with a horizontal wedge breech, which ensured a fairly high rate of fire - up to 20 rounds/min. The carriage with sliding tubular frames provided a large horizontal aiming angle - 60°, but at the same time chassis with wooden wheels, it was designed only for horse traction.
By the end of the 20s, this weapon was perhaps the best in its class, far ahead of developments in other countries. It was supplied to Turkey, Holland, Spain, Italy, Japan, Greece, Estonia, the USSR and even Abyssinia. 12 such guns were supplied to the USSR, and another 499 were manufactured under license in 1931-32. The gun was adopted as a “37 mm anti-tank gun mod. 1930." The famous Soviet “forty-five” - a cannon of the 1932 model - traces its ancestry precisely to the Tak 29. But the German military was not satisfied with the cannon due to its too low mobility. Therefore, in 1934, it was modernized, receiving wheels with pneumatic tires that could be towed by a car, an improved carriage and an improved sight. Under the designation 3.7 cm Pak 35/36 (Panzerabwehrkanone 35/36), the gun entered service with the Wehrmacht as the main anti-tank weapon.
The horizontal firing sector of the gun was 60°, the maximum barrel elevation angle was 25°. The presence of an automatic closing mechanism for the wedge-type bolt ensured a rate of fire of 12-15 rounds per minute. To aim the gun it was used optical sight.
The shooting was carried out with unitary shots: fragmentation and armor-piercing. The 37-mm armor-piercing projectile of this gun penetrated 34 mm thick armor at a distance of 100 m. The 1940 model sub-caliber projectile had armor penetration at this distance of 50 mm, and in addition, a special over-caliber cumulative ammunition with armor penetration of 180 mm, with a maximum firing range of 300 m, was developed for the Pak.35/36 cannon. In total, about 16 thousand Pak guns were built. 35/36.
Pak.35/36 guns were in service with anti-tank companies of infantry regiments and tank destroyer battalions in infantry divisions. In total, the infantry division had 75 37-mm anti-tank guns.
In addition to the towed version, the Pak 35/36 was standardly installed on Sd armored personnel carriers. Kfz. 250/10 and Sd. Kfz. 251/10 - command vehicles, reconnaissance and motorized infantry units.
The troops also used various types of improvised self-propelled guns with such guns - on the chassis of Krupp trucks, captured French Renault UE wedges, British Universal armored personnel carriers and Soviet Komsomolets semi-armored tracked tractors.
The gun received its baptism of fire in Spain, where it demonstrated high efficiency, and was then successfully used during Polish campaign against lightly armored wedges and light tanks.
However, it turned out to be ineffective against new French, British and especially Soviet tanks with shell-resistant armor. German soldiers nicknamed the Pak 35/36 “door knocker” or “cracker” due to its low efficiency.
As of September 1, 1939, the Wehrmacht had 11,250 Pak 35/36 cannons; by June 22, 1941, this number increased to a record 15,515 units, but subsequently steadily decreased. By March 1, 1945, the Wehrmacht and SS troops still had 216 Rak 35/36 guns, and 670 of these guns were stored in warehouses. Majority infantry divisions switched to more powerful guns in 1943, but in the parachute and mountain divisions they remained until 1944, and in the occupation units and second-line formations (training, reserve) until the end of the war.
The Wehrmacht used it the same way 3.7cm Pak 38(t)- a 37-mm anti-tank gun produced by the Czech company Skoda. At a distance of 100 m, the sub-caliber projectile had a normal armor penetration of 64 mm.
The gun was manufactured by Skoda to order German army, in 1939-1940, a total of 513 guns were produced.
In 1941, Beilerer & Kunz developed 4.2 cm PaK 41- anti-tank gun with a conical bore.
It was generally similar to the Pak 36 anti-tank gun, but had a higher muzzle velocity and armor penetration.
The diameter of the bore varied from 42 mm at the breech to 28 mm at the muzzle. A projectile with crushable leading belts weighing 336 g pierced armor 87 mm thick from a distance of 500 m at a right angle.
The gun was produced in small quantities in 1941-1942. The reasons for the cessation of production were the shortage of tungsten, which was scarce in Germany, from which the projectile core was made, the complexity and high cost of production, as well as the low survivability of the barrel. A total of 313 guns were fired.
The most effective of the captured light anti-tank guns turned out to be the 47-mm Czechoslovak gun model 1936, which the Germans called 4.7 cm Pak36(t).
A characteristic feature of the gun was the muzzle brake. The shutter is semi-automatic, the recoil brake is hydraulic, the knurl is spring-loaded. The gun had a somewhat unusual design for that time; for transportation, the barrel was rotated 180 degrees. and attached to the frames. For more compact installation, both frames could be folded. The cannon's wheel travel is sprung; the wheels are metal with rubber tires.
In 1939, 200 units of 4.7 cm Pak36(t) were manufactured in Czechoslovakia, and in 1940, another 73, after which production began on a modification of the gun model 1936, the 4.7 cm Pak (t) (Kzg .), and for self-propelled units - 4.7 cm Pak (t) (Sf.). Production continued until 1943.
Mass production of ammunition for 4.7 cm Czechoslovak anti-tank guns was also established.
The ammunition of the 4.7-cm Pak36(t) gun included Czech-made fragmentation and armor-piercing shells, and in 1941. The German sub-caliber projectile model 40 was adopted for service.
The caliber armor-piercing projectile had an initial speed of 775 m/s and an effective firing range of 1.5 km. Normally, the projectile penetrated 75 mm armor at a distance of 50 meters, 60 mm at a distance of 100 meters, and 40 mm armor at a distance of 500 meters.
The sub-caliber projectile had an initial speed of 1080 m/s and an effective firing range of up to 500 meters. Normally, at a distance of 500 meters, it penetrated 55 mm armor.
In addition to the Czech ones, the German army actively used guns captured in other countries.
By the time Austria joined the Reich, the Austrian army had 357 units of the 47-mm M.35/36 anti-tank gun, created by the Bohler company (in a number of documents this gun was called an infantry gun). In Germany it was called 4.7 cm Pak 35/36(o).
There were 330 units in service with the Austrian army and went to the Germans as a result of the Anschluss. By order of the German army in 1940, another 150 units were produced. They entered service with anti-tank companies of infantry division regiments instead of 50-mm guns. The gun did not have very high characteristics, with an initial speed of an armor-piercing projectile of -630 m/s, armor penetration at a distance of 500 m was 43 mm.
In 1940 was captured in France larger number 47-mm anti-tank guns model 1937. Schneider systems. The Germans gave them the name 4.7cm Pak 181(f).
In total, the Germans used 823 French 47 mm anti-tank guns.
The gun barrel is a monoblock. The shutter is a semi-automatic vertical wedge. The gun had a sprung ride and metal wheels with rubber tires. The Germans introduced German armor-piercing sub-caliber projectiles model 40 into the ammunition load of the guns sent to the Eastern Front.
The ammunition of the 4.7-cm Pak181(f) gun included a French armor-piercing solid projectile with a ballistic tip; at a distance of 400 meters, the normal caliber projectile penetrated 40 mm armor.
Anti-tank 5 cm Pak 38 was created by Rheinmetall in 1938. However, due to a number of technical and organizational difficulties, the first two guns entered service only at the beginning of 1940. Large-scale production began only at the end of 1940. A total of 9,568 guns were produced.
50-mm anti-tank guns, together with 37-mm cannons, were part of the anti-tank companies of infantry regiments. An armor-piercing projectile with an initial speed of 823 m/s, at a distance of 500 meters, penetrated 70 mm of armor at a right angle, and a sub-caliber projectile at the same distance penetrated 100 mm of armor. These guns could already fight the T-34 and KV quite effectively, but from 1943 they began to be replaced by more powerful 75 mm guns.
In 1936, the Rheinmetall company began designing a 7.5 cm anti-tank gun, called 7.5 cm Pak 40. However, the Wehrmacht received its first 15 guns only in February 1942. The gun's ammunition included both caliber armor-piercing shells and sub-caliber and cumulative shells.
It was a very effective weapon, in production until the end of the war, and it turned out to be the most numerous. A total of 23,303 guns were produced.
An armor-piercing projectile with an initial speed of 792 m/s had normal armor penetration at a distance of 1000 meters of 82 mm. Sub-caliber with a speed of 933 m/s, penetrated 126 mm of armor from 100 meters. Cumulative from any distance, at an angle of 60 degrees - armor plate 60 mm thick.
The gun was widely used for installation on the chassis of tanks and armored tractors.
On March 1, 1945 5,228 units of 7.5 cm Pak 40 guns remained in service, of which 4,695 were on wheeled carriages.
In 1944 an attempt was made to create a lighter 7.5 cm anti-tank gun, called 7.5 cm Pak 50. To create it, they took the barrel of a 7.5 cm Pak 40 cannon and shortened it by 16 calibers. The muzzle brake was replaced by a more powerful three-chamber one. All the shells from the Pak 40 remained in the ammunition load, but the length of the cartridge case and the charge were reduced. As a result, a projectile weighing 6.71 kg had an initial speed of about 600 m/s. The reduction in barrel weight and recoil force made it possible to use a carriage from the 5 cm Pak 38. However, the weight of the gun did not decrease much and did not justify the deterioration in ballistics and armor penetration. As a result, the release of the 7.5 cm Pak 50 was limited to a small series.
During the Polish and French campaign, the Germans captured several hundred 75-mm divisional guns model 1897. The Poles purchased these guns from France in the early 20s. In France alone, the Germans captured 5.5 million rounds for these guns. Initially, the Germans used them in their original form, giving the Polish gun the name 7.5 cm F.K.97(p), and French - 7.5 cm F.K.231 (f). These guns were sent to the “second line” divisions, as well as to the coastal defenses of Norway and France.
Use guns model 1897. for combating tanks in its original form it was not possible due to the small pointing angle (6 degrees) allowed by the single-beam carriage. The lack of suspension did not allow transportation at a speed of more than 10-12 km/h even on a good highway. However, German designers found a way out: the swinging part of a 75-mm French gun mod. 1987 was placed on the carriage of the German 5-cm anti-tank gun Pak 38. This is how the anti-tank gun turned out 7.5 cm Pak 97/38.
The cannon's valve breech ensured a relatively high rate of fire - up to 14 rounds per minute. The Germans introduced their caliber armor-piercing projectile and three types of cumulative projectiles into the cannon's ammunition; only French high-explosive fragmentation projectiles were used.
An armor-piercing projectile with an initial flight speed of 570 m/s, normal, at a distance of 1000 meters penetrated -58 mm of armor, cumulative, at an angle of 60 degrees - 60 mm of armor.
In 1942 The Wehrmacht received 2854 units of 7.5 cm Pak 97/38 cannons, and the next year another 858. In 1942. the Germans produced a small number anti-tank installations, placing the rotating part of a 7.5 cm Pak 97/40 on the chassis of a captured Soviet T-26 tank.
These guns started the Second World War by hitting camera lenses duringstorming of the post office in Danzig . They were the main ones in the field artillery of the Wehrmacht during the Second World War, they were supplied to Germany’s allies, and after the war they were distributed to “hot spots” around the world - some examples can still be seen today in footage from the Middle East and Africa. Reproduced in many modifications, the 105 mm howitzerleFH18 was a modern, efficient gun that was easy to maintain and could be mounted on a variety of carriages and tracked vehicles. Let's try to understand the history of its creation and serial production.
History of the leFH 18
To begin with, we immediately need to discuss one extremely common mistake that many military history buffs make, who believe that the number “18” in the designation leFH 18 is the year the howitzer was put into service. This is wrong. The index was assigned in order to hide the new model of weapon from Western observers of compliance with the Versailles restrictions - in fact, the leFH 18 was put into service on July 27, 1935. Production began a little earlier, in 1934.
Above, howitzer FH 98/09 (http://www.landships.info), below howitzer leFH 16 (https://commons.wikimedia.org)
The impetus for the creation of the leFH 18 was the desire of the Reichswehr command to modernize the leFH 16, a 105-mm light field howitzer of the 1916 model, which had proven itself well in the battles of the First World War, another weapon from the Krupp line of howitzers.
In 1909, the German army adopted the 105-mm field howitzer 98/09 (Feldhaubitze 98/09), produced by Krupp, which, in turn, was a modernization of the field howitzer of the 1898 model (Feldhaubitze 98). This gun had a box-section carriage with fixed frames, an earthen coulter and a shield, the barrel was short in length - 1.68 m. In addition to the German army, this howitzer was supplied to the allied Turkey and Bulgaria. By the beginning of the First World War, the German army had 1,144 FH 98/09 howitzers, and by the end of the war, 1,260. However, the firing range of this weapon was small, only a little more than 6,000 m. The troops demanded a longer range, this became especially important after the start of hostilities.
The use of a carriage from the 12 cm Haubitze 12, developed by order of Switzerland, and lengthening the barrel to 20 calibers, which resulted in an increase in the mass of the gun by 275 kg, made it possible to increase the initial velocity of the projectile by 130–150 m/s and increase the firing range to 10 km. This gun was designated leFH 17; a total of 294 of these howitzers were produced. However, changes were made only by 1917 and were late - the Rheinmetall company developed its own model, which turned out to be more successful.
leFH 18: front view, maximum barrel elevation angle (MAE)
At the beginning of 1914, Rheinmetall, based on the FH 98/09, created its own howitzer that met the requirements of the artillery test commission; in the summer of 1916, the first experimental battery was prepared, and in September of the same year, production of the gun, designated leFH 16, was launched at the plant "Rheinmetall". The gun was supposed to completely replace the outdated FH 98/09. By 1918, 3,004 leFH 16 howitzers were in use on all fronts.
Due to martial law, the leFH 16 carriage was unified with the FH 98/09. When creating it, we tried to use as many parts as possible from the Krupp howitzer carriage. The shells, charging cartridges and powder charges were also identical. The barrel was longer than that of the FH 98/09 - its length was 2.29 m, and the weight in the firing position was 120 kg less. The firing range of the upgraded FHGranate 98 projectile (“cigar-shaped”, C-Geschoss) reached 9700 m.
Howitzer leFH 18 in combat position. The beds are clearly visible (TsAMO)
In fact, leFH 16 was not a new design, it was rather a temporary solution that served to quickly achieve results using available means and worked well. Until the end of the 20s, experts considered the leFH 16 an excellent weapon with excellent ballistic characteristics, effective and quite maneuverable. These estimates were achieved through a number of small changes, which were embodied in the gun, which received the designation 10.5 cm leFH 16 nA (neuer Art - a new model). Before the adoption of the leFH 18, it was the standard howitzer of divisional artillery and was widely used until 1945.
In 1933, the Reichswehr had only 28 leFH 16 light howitzers, in 1934 - 496, in 1935 - 568, in 1936 - 728, and in 1937 - already 980. The basic structure of the Wehrmacht divisional artillery was formed taking into account the production of leFH 16 .
In June 1927, the testing department of the Army Weapons Directorate requested the development of a new light field howitzer. The project was assigned the second degree of priority - “priority work/primary work”. In 1928, preparation of calculations and projects began - first for a barrel length of 25 calibers, then 28 calibers. In the early 1930s, Rheinmetall began production of the leFH 18.
Howitzer LeFH 18M on wooden wheels. Gun manufactured in 1934
Almost all the main characteristics of the leFH 16 have been significantly improved:
- the barrel length was increased by 6 calibers (63.1 cm) - up to 294.1 cm;
- the initial velocity of the projectile increased by 79 m/s - up to 470 m/s;
- the maximum firing range increased by 1400 m – up to 10,675 m.
Finally, we managed to go beyond the military requirements of the required firing range - 10 km. To achieve this, the weight of the projectile was reduced by almost 1 kg with a slightly increased weight of the explosive - up to 1.845 kg. The price of all the improvements, which were carefully calibrated and thought out, was an increase in weight of approximately 500 kg compared to the leFH 16 - the weight of the leFH 18 in the combat position was just over 2000 kg.
device leFH 18
Fundamentally new, different from the leFH 16, was a carriage with sliding frames with a wedge-shaped bolt locking and large folding coulters, as well as a carriage suspension. The combat axle was equipped with springs, and in case of failure in emergency situation it could be secured and used for slow marching at a speed of no more than 8 km/h.
Wheels leFH 18: left cast light alloy, right wooden with rubber tires
Thanks to three points of support, the carriage with sliding frames became much more stable, which was important when the initial velocity of the projectile increased. The horizontal firing angle has increased significantly - by 28° on each side, which has become a great advantage when firing directly.
In 1936, easier-to-manufacture cast light alloy wheels with a diameter of 130 cm, a rim 10 cm wide and steel ball bearings were introduced into production. Previously, wheels with wooden spokes and rubber tires were used. The new wheels were stronger and provided ease of movement. Instead of the previously used cable brake, a more efficient brake with internal pads and brake drums was introduced. During mechanical traction, due to the increased speed and traction force, an additional air brake was used. However, the troops continued to use wooden wheels; in some cases, wooden wheels from the leFH 16 could be installed.
At the top is the leFH 18, towed by a tractor, with a rubber tire on a light alloy wheel (http://www.warrelics.eu), at the bottom is the leFH 18, horse-drawn (http://historywarsweapons.com)
The use of mechanical traction had significant advantages over horse traction: the daily travel range in the first case was 6–10 times greater, the speed of movement was up to 40 km/h, mobility was higher during battle, there was no need for fodder for horses, it was required less people. During transportation, the gun was attached directly, without a limber, to a light or medium-sized half-track tractor-transporter.
The shield cover of the new howitzer was no longer rectangular, but acquired a complex trapezoidal shape with an uneven large base at the top. A folding shield was attached to the bottom of the carriage, which was used in the combat position to protect the crew’s legs from bullets and shrapnel. What was new was the barrel knurl, located on top of the barrel, which, with the help of compressed air, returned the barrel to the firing position after recoil. The device consisted of a pneumatic cylinder, a compression cylinder and a piston with a rod.
Howitzer leFH 18M. Gun, modernized from leFH 18, used in the Finnish army
The upper machine in the carriage cradle had a recoil brake with a casing and a hydraulic compensator containing 6.2 liters of fluid for the recoil brake. On top part The barrel was equipped with a knurl filled with 3 liters of compressed air and 5.4 liters of liquid under a pressure of 55 atmospheres, which immediately after the shot returned the barrel to the firing position. The guide runners/ribs of the cradle were extended back - primarily to increase the vertical firing angle to 42°. At maximum load on the barrel during a shot, the guides periodically “fly out.”
The prismatic wedge bolt with a crank on the breech was equipped with a locking mechanism/safety and an ejection mechanism.
Howitzer leFH 18/40 (http://hobby-games.com.ua)
The gunner was located on the left and aimed horizontally; vertical aiming of the sight was not rigidly connected to the barrel: the 2nd crew number carried out vertical aiming and was responsible for firing the shot. Sighting device with this method of aiming the gun, it would have a complex design, but it was simplified by introducing an indicator sight with an indicator of distance scales of the sight and a gun arrow, which allowed the gunner to set vertical aiming regardless of the barrel, and the 2nd crew number only needed to align the arrows on the indicator, rotating the vertical aiming flywheel. It was also possible to quickly target moving targets, including tanks, which made it possible to effectively use the leFH 18 with a trained crew at direct fire.
The monoblock barrel could withstand from 8,000 to 10,000 shots.
Modifications of leFH 18 on a wheeled carriage
By order of the government of the Netherlands in 1939, the Krupp plant in Essen produced an export version of the leFH 18, which differed from the German one in the barrel and in minor design differences: with a slightly lower weight of the gun, the vertical (+45°) and horizontal (60°) angles were increased shelling. The barrel was adapted to fire projectiles used by the Dutch army. In 1940, after the capture of the Netherlands, about 80 export howitzers became trophies of the Wehrmacht and were adopted by the German army as leFH 18/39.
Howitzer leFH 18 in a combat position. The gun is camouflaged (TsAMO)
In 1941, another modernization was proposed: a replaceable liner began to be installed on the howitzer, which improved the characteristics of the barrel and increased the firing range by 1,700 m (up to 12,325 m). A 60 cm long muzzle brake was also installed, which prevented the barrel from rolling back. When fired, the flow of gases entered the two chambers of the muzzle brake and dissipated sideways and backwards, which extinguished a significant part of the recoil energy, and thus the recoil of the barrel was reduced. The initial velocity of the projectile increased by 70 m/s. This modification became designated leFH 18M.
In March 1942, Hitler personally demanded that the leFH 18 be combined with a 7.5 cm Pak 40 carriage. On the same day, Rheinmetall-Borsig was given the task of working on this modification. Already on October 15 it was ready to go into production. After the first 10 howitzers were accepted by the Wehrmacht in March 1943, their production began in April 1943. mass release, and from September 15 of the same year - systematic delivery to the troops. This hybrid was designated leFH 18/40.
By the time of the Battle of Kursk, the number of leFH 18/40 had reached 418, and in total the production of this modification accounted for more than half of the entire production of light field howitzers over the entire period.
Howitzer leFH 18 in a combat position, front view (TsAMO)
The leFH 18/40 modification was one of the forced decisions made under the pressure of wartime conditions. Due to the large number of carriages available for the 7.5 cm Pak 40 from Rheinmetall-Borsig and the high demand for the leFH 18, engineers and production technologists combined the howitzer's upper mount with a slightly modified lower mount from the Pak 40 in order to simplify and unify. This change redistributed the roles calculation numbers leFH 18/40: lifting mechanism and descent (for leFH 18 they were on the right) moved from right side to the left, to the gunner.
The gun received double suspension of the combat axis due to the use of torsion bars, which were automatically disconnected when the frames were moved apart (bringing the gun into a firing position). The effectiveness of the muzzle brake was increased (due to a modified design) and cross-country ability was improved by increasing the width of the wheel rim (the leFH 18/40 weighs more than the Pak 40). Since the weight of the gun in firing position was reduced by 240 kg (compared to the leFH 18), the stability of the gun also decreased, despite the fact that the height of the firing line was reduced. The horizontal firing angle was increased to 60°. However, the carriage frames turned out to be too weak and bent at high elevation angles and maximum charge.
LeFH 18 howitzer at direct fire. NIZAP, August 20, 1942 (TsAMO)
In addition, until 1945, Rheinmetall, Krupp and Skoda developed several improved designs and prototypes, which were primarily aimed at increasing the maximum firing range and transitioning from the previous wheeled carriage to a carriage on a rotating platform.
The leFH 18/42 howitzer produced by Krupp with a barrel length of 31 calibers was in fact an improved model of the leFH 18M howitzer with a 28 caliber barrel, due to which the firing range increased to 12,700 m.
The leFH 42 howitzer was an improved example of the leFH 18/40 howitzer with an initial maximum firing range of 13,000 m, but with a 170 kg lighter weight (1630 kg), an electric trigger and a knurling under the barrel in the cradle, which made it possible to reduce the profile of the gun, and a wide rim wheels.
Left workplace gunner, on the right is an extension for a sight for shooting over the shield (TsAMO)
Truly revolutionary projects under the designation leFH 43 from Krupp and Skoda used a carriage with a cross-shaped base like the 8.8 cm Flak and 8.8 cm Pak 43 for all-round firing, and were used in France and Sweden after the war. Sample I of the Krupp company with a barrel length of 28 calibers at an initial projectile speed of 720 m/s showed a maximum firing range of 15,000 m in field tests. Sample II of the Krupp company had a barrel length of 35 calibers, which brought the barrel closer to the 100-caliber barrel mm cannon, and fired rockets at a range of 16,500 m.
Production leFH 18
In 1939, the German army had 4862 leFH 18 howitzers. Number of wheeled leFH 18s adopted for service from September 1939 to February 1945. was 6933 units, maximum amount was adopted in 1940 and 1943.
From March 1943 to March 1945 10,245 leFH 18/40 howitzers were adopted, of which 7,807 were delivered in 1944. In addition to wheeled carriages, leFH 18 were installed on various self-propelled chassis, so when calculating total number of howitzers produced must be taken into account.
Lower mounting of howitzer leFH 18 (TsAMO)
The leFH 18/2 modification guns mounted on the Wespe (Panzerhaubitze Wespe, Sd.Kfz. 124, Geschützwagen II für le.F.H.18/2 (Sf.) Wespe) were produced from February 1943 to May 1944. 662 units. From March 1943 to March 1945 1,264 Sturmhaubitze 42 (StuH 42, 105 mm) were also produced self-propelled howitzer model 1942).
Rheinmetall and Krupp did not have enough of their own production capacity to fulfill other contracts, so in 1942 they transferred all production of the leFH 18 to six companies in Pilsen, Altona (Hamburg area), Elbląg, Magdeburg, Dortmund and Borsigwald.
A total of 19,104 leFH 18 howitzers were adopted from industry in 24 different versions, with the leFH 18 remaining the Wehrmacht's standard weapon until 1945.
Study of captured leFH 18 in the USSR
The first samples of leFH 18 were captured by the Red Army at the beginning of the war, but before full study at the training grounds of the Main artillery control(GAU) it only came to fruition in 1942. From the surviving archival documents it is clear that the study was carried out on unmodernized leFH 18 early editions on light alloy wheels. The research took place independently of each other at the Gorokhovets Artillery Research Site (ANIOP) and at the GAU Research Anti-Aircraft Artillery Test Site (NIZAP).
In NIZAP documents, the howitzer is designated as a “105-mm light field howitzer, model 1934” - i.e., the gun was named after the year of production, not adoption. During the research, the guns were disassembled down to the screw and described. The result of the research was a research report and a brief description of the weapon. The research report is of greatest interest: it notes design details that attracted the attention of Soviet artillerymen, while some of the technical solutions were subsequently applied in Soviet artillery systems.
Howitzer leFH 18, view from the crew side (TsAMO)
The conclusions based on the results of the study of leFH 18 at NIZAP indicate that the howitzer, defined as a divisional one, can be transported by both horse and mechanical traction, while its cross-country ability and maneuverability are assessed as satisfactory. The overall layout and design of the system was also found to be satisfactory and of interest. The design of the system, disassembly and assembly were considered simple, and the howitzer should also be simple in production. No substitutes or critically scarce metals were noted in the system; the use of welding, riveting and casting was assessed as uniform. It is noted that stamping is widely used.
The design of the barrel aroused interest in terms of the front grip and mounting of the pipe in the breech, which was characterized by significant ease of processing. Due to the considerable simplicity of processing the pipe and disassembling the barrel, in the event of a breakdown, lining was not required - it was noted that it was cheaper to replace the pipe. It was indicated that the shutter is convenient to use, its disassembly and assembly are simple. The design of the combat tiles and the insert bushings that were used to make holes with complex configurations aroused interest.
The design of the cradle included its welded trunnion holder, the fastening of the front end of the knurl to the cradle, and the design of the indicator ruler.
In recoil devices, the compensator and water cooling of the recoil brake are mentioned as worthy of study. It was noted that the compensator is very simple in design and much simpler than spring compensators used in Soviet artillery. In addition, sealing devices in places of hermetic connections, the design of plugs, and the location of the valve in the knurl aroused interest.
The upper mounting of the gun aroused interest due to its simplicity and lightness, and the sight – due to the design of the panorama basket and its extension, which allows aiming over the shield cover.
The lower machine received close attention - the chassis, automatic switching on and off of the suspension and bringing the gun to three points of support, fastening the beds in a combat manner, connecting the beds in the stowed position, and summer folding openers were carefully studied.
Based on the results of research at the GAU training grounds, the following tactical and technical characteristics of the gun were obtained:
- barrel length - 28 calibers;
- number of grooves - 32;
- cutting steepness – 15°;
- rollback length – 1150 mm;
- length of the system in combat position - 5750 mm;
- system width in combat position – 4800 mm;
- height of the system in combat position (aiming angle 0/40°) – 1800/2850 mm;
- height of the firing line – 1180 mm;
- ground clearance - 390 mm;
- stroke width – 1560 mm;
- system weight in combat position - 1980 kg;
- weight of the system in the stowed position (for horse traction) – 3265 kg;
- vertical firing angle – from −5 to +40°;
- horizontal firing angle – 56°;
- projectile weight - 14.81 kg;
- gun crew – 6–7 people;
- rate of fire – 4–6 rounds per minute.
It is important that the leFH 18 arrived at the GAU testing grounds with only one charge, and they learned only a little later that the charge is variable and the firing range and initial velocity of the projectile depend on it. In total, the gun was equipped with five main charges and one special one. A wide range of projectiles (more than 20 types) were developed for the leFH 18: high-explosive fragmentation, armor-piercing, cumulative, propaganda, training and practical.
Conclusion
The leFH 18 howitzer was intended to destroy and suppress manpower located openly or behind light cover, to suppress firing points and destroy light field shelters, to act against tanks or armored vehicles, to combat artillery. This article does not pretend to be complete - it only talks about the history of the appearance and creation of the leFH 18. The number of modifications and options for installing the gun on different carriages and self-propelled chassis opens up enormous opportunities for study. This weapon turned out to be very successful, technologically advanced in production and easy to maintain and repair, and can rightfully be considered one of the achievements of German weapons thought.
Sources and literature:
- Documents of the State Agrarian University Foundation, TsAMO
- Joachim Engelmann. Deutsche Leichte Feldhaubitzen 1935–1945. Arbeitspferde der Divisionsartillerie – Podzun Pallas Verlag, 1990
- Joachim Engelmann. German light field artillery 1935–1945 – Schiffer Publishing, 1995
- Handbook of German artillery - M.: Voenizdat, 1945
- Artillery ammunition of the former German army. Directory of the GAU USSR Armed Forces - M.: Voenizdat, 1946
Heavy howitzers
Again, we’ll start the list with Skoda products.
15 cm sFH 15(t) - 150 mm howitzer from the First World War. The Wehrmacht received 42 such systems, which were used in training units.
15 cm sFH 25(t) - 150 mm howitzer, produced from 1925 to 1933. Weight in firing position is 3740 kg, projectile weight is 42 kg. Barrel length 18 calibers. The vertical aiming angle is from -5° to +70°, the horizontal aiming angle is only 7°. Maximum firing range -
11,800 m. The Wehrmacht used 219 units. In particular, in the last months of the war they were used by the 1147th, 1149th and 1162nd stationary artillery divisions.
15 cm sFH 37(t) - modern 150 mm howitzer (brand designation K 4). Unlike the previous model, it had a carriage with sliding frames, due to which the horizontal aiming angle was increased to 45°. Weight in combat position - 5230 kg. Barrel length - 24 caliber. The maximum firing range is 15,750 m. The Wehrmacht received 118 such systems in 1939, and Skoda manufactured another 60 to German orders from April to August 1940.
15 cm sFH 400(i) and 15 cm sFH 401(i) - former Austro-Hungarian howitzers mod. 1914 and 1914/16, which became Italian trophies, and in 1943 captured by the Wehrmacht (several dozen copies).
15 cm sFH 402(j) - Yugoslav howitzer M 36. Developed in 1933 by Skoda and, in addition to Yugoslavia, was supplied to Turkey and Romania. Barrel length 27 calibers. The weight of the gun in firing position is 5020 kg. Vertical aiming angle - from -5° to +70°, horizontal - 45°. The maximum firing range is 15,100 m.
Le.F.H.18 howitzer diagram
The Wehrmacht operated more than a thousand French-designed 155 mm howitzers. Among them were the following samples:
15.5 cm sFH 414(f) - howitzer mod. 1917 developed by the Schneider company. In the 30s these systems were modernized, receiving suspension and metal wheels instead of wooden ones. The weight of the howitzer in combat position is 3300 kg, the weight of the projectile is 44 kg. Barrel length 15 calibers. Vertical aiming angle - from 0° to +42° horizontal -60°. The maximum firing range is 11,200 m. By March 1944, the Wehrmacht and SS troops had 782 such howitzers, of which 342 were in France, 275 on the Eastern Front, 110 in Norway, 36 in the Balkans and 19 in Italy . They were used in a number of separate artillery divisions - 929th, 1140th, 1180th, 1181st, 1182nd, etc.
15.5 cm sFH 17(p) - “Schneider” howitzer modernized in Poland mod. 1917 Polish designation - arr. 17/38. The gun received a new carriage with sliding frames, thanks to which the firing angles increased significantly. The vertical aiming angle ranged from 0° to +55°, horizontal - 50°. In September 1939, the Wehrmacht captured about 220 units.
15.5 cm sFH 415(f) - howitzer mod. 1915 developed by the Saint-Chamon company. An outdated system with a short firing range and a carriage on wooden wheels without suspension. The Wehrmacht used 198 such systems.
Quite a lot of 152-mm Vickers howitzers of the 1915 model were captured by the Wehrmacht.
15.2 cm sFH 412(e), sFH 412(f) and sFH 412(i) - captured, respectively, from the British Expeditionary Force (220 units), from the French and Italian armies.
The Soviet 152 mm howitzers and howitzer guns should also be mentioned.
15.2 cm sFH 445(r) - howitzer mod. 1909/30
15.2 cm sFH 443(r) - howitzer M-10 mod. 1938
15.2 cm KH 433/1(r) - howitzer-gun ML-20 mod. 1938
15.2 cm K 433/2(r) - gun mod. 1910/34, the ballistic data of which were almost identical to the ML-20. Both systems - RH 433/1(r) and K 433/2(r) - were captured in the amount of 974 units. They were used mainly in the motorized divisions of the RGK. Thus, the 985th, 992nd and 997th divisions each had three batteries of such guns, and the 456th, 457th and 460th had two each, as well as one battery of 122 mm guns.
From the book Equipment and Weapons 1997 03 authorHowitzers in coastal defense And in the 19th, and even more so in the 20th century, mortars and howitzers in coastal defense could be successfully used only in exceptional cases - on narrow fairways, skerries, etc. When firing at a ship freely maneuvering on the open sea,
From the book Equipment and Weapons 1999 02 author Magazine "Equipment and Weapons" From the book Wehrmacht Artillery author Kharuk Andrey IvanovichSelf-propelled versions of the 105-mm light field howitzer leFH 18 The Wehrmacht tank divisions began the war with only mechanically propelled artillery. But the campaign in Poland in September 1939, and in particular the offensive in the West in May-June 1940, clearly showed
From the book Equipment and Weapons 2013 12 authorsLight howitzers Just like among divisional guns, howitzers from the Czech company Skoda were very widely represented among captured howitzers. 10 cm leFH 14 (c) - 100 mm howitzers mod. 1914 Received as a result of the Anschluss of Austria. 10 cm leFH 315 (i) - the same howitzers mod. 1914, captured in 1918
From the book Equipment and Weapons 2014 01 authorHowitzers and mortars 210-mm mortar Mrs 18 Since 1910, the 210-mm mortar developed by the Krupp company entered service with the Kaiser's army. By the beginning of the First World War, there were already 256 such guns - 112 in combat units, 112 in reserve and 32 in fortresses. In 1916 they adopted
From the book Equipment and Weapons 2014 03 authorsCaptured howitzers and mortars Compared to German systems, the variety of captured high-power guns was significantly greater. Just like among the lighter guns, among the heavy artillery systems of the Wehrmacht there were several samples produced by the company
From the book Modern Africa Wars and Weapons 2nd Edition author Konovalov Ivan Pavlovich From the book Equipment and Weapons 2014 04 authors152 mm howitzers M-10 and D-1. Part 2 Anatoly Sorokin Combat vehicles armed with a 152-mm howitzer mod. 1938 During the Soviet-Finnish (Winter) War of 1939–1940. the Red Army needed a combat vehicle with powerful weapons and armor to destroy enemy reinforced concrete
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From the book Armor Collection 1995 No. 03 Armored vehicles Japan 1939-1945 author Fedoseev S.Heavy mortars M30 - American heavy mortar of 106.7 (107) mm caliber. Firing range - 5650 m. Model 1938 - Soviet mountain pack mortar of 107 mm caliber. M5 - South African mortar of 120 mm caliber. Firing range - up to 6250 (6100) m and up to 10,531 m with rocket mines. M.60
From the book Armored Vehicles of the USSR 1939 - 1945 author Baryatinsky Mikhail152-mm howitzers M-10 m D-1 Part 4 Endgame of the “nine” Combat vehicles armed with a 152-mm howitzer mod. 1943. Unlike other artillery systems, which were installed in an adapted form on serial and experimental combat vehicles various types, howitzer D-1 almost
From the book Armored vehicles of France and Italy 1939-1945 author Kolomiets M.Chapter 3 Divisional howitzers As an inheritance from the tsarist army, the Red Army received two 122-mm howitzers - mod. 1909 and 1910 with almost identical tactical and technical characteristics. But the designs of both systems had fundamental differences, starting from the wedge gate at
From the book Equipment and Weapons 2016 01 authorHeavy tanks Heavy tanks “2591” and “2595” Back in 1927, the Osaka arsenal built an experimental two-turret 18-ton tank No. 1 (“Chi-i” - “medium first”) with a 57-mm gun, two machine guns and 140- strong engine. In 1931, the same arsenal built an 18-ton three-tower “91” with
From the author's bookHeavy tanks Heavy tank T-35 The only serial five-turret tank in the world. It was intended to qualitatively strengthen combined arms formations when breaking through particularly strong and pre-fortified enemy defensive lines. Developed in the plant's design bureau
From the author's bookHeavy tanks Char de bataille B1Developed since 1921 within the framework of the concept heavy tank infantry escort. After lengthy testing of prototypes, it was put into service in March 1934 under the designation B1. Since 1935, tanks were built at factories of five companies - Renault, FCM, Schneider, FAMH,
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