Large Bore German Howitzers

Large Bore German Howitzers

150-MM MEDIUM HOWITZER (15 cm s. F. H. 18).

General description. The 15 cm s. F. H. 18 is the standard divisional artillery medium howitzer, with the same mount as the 10 cm K. 18, the standard medium gun. The tube is solid, and loose in its jacket. The manually operated breech, with horizontal sliding block, has continuous-pull firing mechanism and cartridge case obturation. Spring equilibrators are fitted. The carriage has split-box trails, and double-disk, solid rubber-tired wheels. A new model of this weapon, called the 15 cm s. F. H. 18/40, is fitted with a muzzle brake. The same ammunition is fired at higher muzzle velocity, 1,952 feet per second, increasing maximum range to 16,514 yards. An s. F. H. 42, a further modification, has also been reported.

Characteristics.

Caliber	. . . . .	150 mm (5.866 inches).
Length of tube	. . . . .	14 feet 5.16 inches.
Weight in action	. . . . .	12,096 pounds.
Maximum range	. . . . .	14,630 yards.
Muzzle velocity (with charge 8)	. . . . .	1,705 feet per second.
Traverse	. . . . .	60°.
Elevation	. . . . .	1° 30' to +45°.
Traction	. . . . .	Horse- or tractor-drawn.

(3) Ammunition. HE. anti-concrete, AP, and smoke projectiles are fired. Projectiles weigh 95.7 pounds. The propellant charge consists of eight increments.

d. 105-MM MEDIUM GUN (s. 10 cm K. 18). (1) General description. The 10 cm K. 18 is the standard medium gun. It has a mount interchangeable with that of the 15 cm s. F. H. 18. The breech is hand-operated, with horizontal sliding block and cartridge case obturation.

(2) Characteristics.

Caliber	. . . . .	105 mm (4.14 inches).
Length of tube	. . . . .	17 feet 11.28 inches.
Weight in action	. . . . .	11,424 pounds.
Maximum range	. . . . .	20,850 yards.
Muzzle velocity	. . . . .	2,740 feet per second.
Traverse	. . . . .	60°.
Elevation	. . . . .	-1° 30' to +45°.
Traction	. . . . .	better than horse- or motor-drawn.

(3) Ammunition. HE, AP and APCBC projectiles are fired. Projectile weights are: HE, 33.5 pounds, AP, 31.25 pounds ; APCBC, 34.63 pounds. Three charges, small, medium, and large, are used.

The 15cm howitzer ammunition boxes are shown below. The 10.5 had only a "special" Charge 6, while the 15cm had special Charges 7 and 8. The label, which says "s.F.H" and not "l.F.H." means Heavy Field Howitzer as opposed to Light Field Howitzer.Both the 10.5cm and the 15cm had the same model number 18.