German field artillery of the Second World War. Heavy howitzers

These guns started the Second world war, 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, put into service German army 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), was adopted. This gun had a box-section carriage with fixed frames, an earthen share and a shield, the barrel was short length– 1.68 m. In addition to the German army, this howitzer was supplied to the allies 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. 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 an emergency, 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. 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, the mobility during battle was higher, there was no need for fodder for horses, and fewer people were required. 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. A knurl was installed on the top of the barrel, 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. The sighting device with this method of aiming the gun would have a complex design, but 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 independently of the barrel, and the 2nd crew only needed to align the arrows on indicator by rotating the vertical aiming handwheel. 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 mass production began in April 1943, and from September 15 of the same year, systematic delivery to the troops began. 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 leFH 18/40 crew numbers: the lifting mechanism and descent (for the leFH 18 they were on the right) moved from the right side to the left, towards 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 the total number of howitzers produced, they 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 self-propelled howitzer model 1942) were also produced.

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 the 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 testing grounds, the following were obtained: performance characteristics guns:

• 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:

1. Documents of the GAU Foundation, TsAMO
2. Joachim Engelmann. Deutsche Leichte Feldhaubitzen 1935–1945. Arbeitspferde der Divisionsartillerie – Podzun Pallas Verlag, 1990
3. Joachim Engelmann. German light field artillery 1935–1945 – Schiffer Publishing, 1995
4. Handbook of German artillery - M.: Voenizdat, 1945
5. Artillery ammunition of the former German army. Directory of the GAU USSR Armed Forces - M.: Voenizdat, 1946

Contrary to popular belief, formed by feature films, literature and computer games like World of Tanks, the main enemy Soviet tanks on the battlefield there were 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 the chassis with wooden wheels 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 the Polish campaign against weakly 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. Most 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 produced by Skoda by order of the 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).

Consisted of 330 units in service 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 company 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 the 75 mm French cannon arr. 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 load, high-explosive fragmentation shells Only French ones 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 guns, and in 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.

Since WWI, super-heavy and heavy guns have occupied an important place in German artillery. However, as a result of the emergence new funds fights such as tanks and aircraft, in World War II they were no longer given the same importance as before.

German artillery actually had to be created anew, in an extremely short time. Construction was made easier to some extent by the fact that the design artillery systems was started during the period of the Treaty of Versailles. Work on prototypes of artillery guns was moved abroad.

An important feature of the German field artillery was that the howitzer was chosen as the main artillery weapon of the division. The solution was very advanced for those times. As already noted, Germany did not have a significant fleet of outdated guns like other countries, and this is what facilitated the howubization of divisional artillery.

Howitzer the best way corresponded to German views on the role of divisional artillery in modern warfare, since the weapon was best suited for the destruction of enemy fortifications, supporting tanks and infantry, as well as maneuver warfare in general. Thirty-six 105-mm and eighteen 150-mm howitzers of the artillery regiment of the Wehrmacht division had sufficient power to achieve their goals.

Traditionally, an important place in the organization of German artillery is given to heavy and super-heavy guns. Their main purpose was the destruction of long-term enemy fortifications, as well as shelling of the enemy’s nearest rear. However, most of these tasks were already quite successfully solved by aviation and tank forces.

Work in the field of designing recoilless rifles made it possible to create several successful models even in the pre-war period. This type of gun was in demand in mountain rifle and parachute units and showed themselves quite successfully in the airborne operation on the island of Crete. Although, for a number of reasons, both organizational and technical plans, the recoilless system did not receive further distribution.

Already at the beginning of the war, the composition of the German artillery included units and units rocket launchers. Later, new samples of launchers and projectiles were developed. However, German rocket artillery itself did not have the power of Soviet units rocket artillery, even though they were created later. This can be explained both by the underestimation of the new type of artillery due to its novelty and the resulting imperfections, and by departmental bureaucracy.

Although it should be noted that from the end of 1943, there were plans to create large MLRS units following the example of the Soviet ones. On the basis of the destroyed 18 TD, the 18th artillery division was created, which fought on the eastern front from 10.1943 to 04.1944. Subsequently, the division was destroyed and was not restored due to a lack of materiel.

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This post is dedicated exclusively real story and shows the path of development of artillery regiments as part of Soviet rifle divisions.

here I am correcting my own mistakes in understanding what role 76mm cannons, 122mm howitzers and 152mm howitzers played in defending the Motherland from Nazi aggression.

In August 1926 The staff of the light artillery regiment consisted of three divisions mixed type. The first and second divisions each had three three-gun batteries. Moreover, the first two batteries were armed with 76-mm cannons, and the third battery was armed with 122-mm howitzers. The third division consisted of four batteries; of these, the first and second batteries were armed with 76 mm cannons, and the third and fourth batteries were armed with 122 mm howitzers. So, the division received only 30 guns, of which 18 76 mm guns and 12 122 mm howitzers:

In June 1929. The staff of the artillery regiment of the rifle division retained its previous structure (3 divisions, two of them with 3 batteries and one with four batteries. Each battery has 3 guns) and the total number of artillery guns is 30 units. But the ratio of guns and howitzers has changed - now the regiment has eighteen 122 mm howitzers and twelve 76 mm guns:

In December 1935. The organization of the artillery regiment changed. Firstly, all batteries began to consist of two firing squads of 2 guns each, for a total of 4 guns per battery. By the way, the four-gun composition of the artillery battery was retained for divisional artillery regiments in the future. Secondly, the artillery regiment now included three light artillery divisions (each with 2 batteries of 76mm cannons and one battery of 122mm howitzers) and one heavy artillery division (which had 3 batteries of 152mm howitzers). The total number of guns was 48, of which there were 24 76mm cannons, 12 122mm howitzers and 12 152mm howitzers:

April 22, 1937 The Defense Committee outlined a plan for strengthening military artillery for the period 1938-1941. According to this plan, the number of divisional artillery was to be increased from 48 to 60 guns, of which 76-mm howitzers-20, 122-mm howitzers-28, 152-mm howitzers-12. In accordance with this, on September 13, 1939, a new staff of the rifle division was approved, according to which the division was supposed to have two artillery regiments: the first - a three-divisional composition (76-mm guns-20, 122-mm howitzers-16) horse-drawn, the second - two-divisional composition (122-mm howitzers-12, 152-mm howitzers-12) on mechanical traction. In addition to divisional artillery, the division had standard regimental guns - 6 regimental 76mm guns in each rifle regiment (18 regimental 76mm guns per division)

By the beginning of the war with Finland, some of the divisions had one artillery regiment. Meanwhile, the experience of the Soviet-Finnish war confirmed the advisability of having two artillery regiments in the division. Therefore, after the war, the division retained two artillery regiments with a total number of 60 guns, but with a changed ratio of guns and howitzers in favor of the latter.
June 10, 1940 the division was intended to have one light and one howitzer artillery regiment. A light artillery regiment consisting of two divisions of three batteries, four guns in each battery. Each division has two cannon batteries (76-mm cannons, model 1939) and one howitzer battery (122-mm howitzers, model 1938). The howitzer artillery regiment consisted of three divisions, with three four-gun batteries in each division. Of these, the first two divisions were 122 mm howitzers and the third were 152 mm howitzers. In addition to divisional artillery, the division had standard regimental guns - 6 regimental 76mm guns in each rifle regiment (18 regimental 76mm guns per division)

In battles with Nazi Germany In the summer and autumn of 1941, the USSR lost, in particular, 5516 divisional 76mm guns, 4937 divisional 122mm howitzers, 2030 units of 152mm howitzers. Supplies from industry during this period amounted to approximately 30% of the number of lost guns. Approximately the same fate befell the regimental guns, as did other components of the USSR’s combat power. As a result, the Red Army, on the one hand, faced the need to increase the number of rifle divisions, and on the other hand, faced a significant (about two-fold) drop in the number of available divisional artillery systems.

August 11, 1941 Due to the need to bring the staff of artillery regiments into line with the actual reserves of divisional artillery systems in the country and with the required number of rifle divisions, the staff of divisional artillery guns is being significantly reduced. Instead of two artillery regiments, there remains one in the rifle division, namely a light artillery regiment according to the 1940 staff. The light artillery regiment consisted of two divisions of three batteries, with four guns in each battery. Each division has two cannon batteries (76-mm cannons, model 1939) and one howitzer battery (122-mm howitzers, model 1938). At the same time, the number of regular regimental guns decreased: instead of 6 regimental 76mm guns, each rifle regiment had 4 guns left (12 regimental 76mm guns per division)

March 18, 1942 The third division was introduced into the artillery regiment of the rifle division, consisting of one battery of 76-mm cannons (4 USV guns) and one battery of 122-mm howitzers (4 howitzers). Introduce 15 tractors as means of traction for 122 mm howitzers. Thus, the Light Artillery Regiment in 1942 consisted of three divisions: two three-battery divisions and one two-battery division. In total, the regiment had 32 guns, of which 20 were 76mm guns mod. 1939 and 12 units of 122mm howitzers of the 1910/1930 model.

In addition to the rifle divisions that victoriously completed fighting in May 1945, with the above-mentioned staff of the divisional artillery regiment, the formation of guards rifle divisions began in December 1942.

December 10, 1942 The staff of the Guards Rifle Division is approved, numbering 10,670 people. Guards divisions had 32% more automatic weapons than regular rifle divisions, and their artillery regiment consisted of not 8, but 9 batteries (36 guns).

December 18, 1944 An artillery brigade was introduced into the guards rifle divisions, which included a howitzer (20 122 mm caliber howitzers), light artillery (20 76 mm caliber guns) and mortar (24 120 mm caliber mortars) regiments, as well as a separate anti-tank fighter (12 caliber guns 76 mm) and anti-aircraft (6 37 mm guns and 16 12.7 mm machine guns) divisions. In addition, two batteries of 76-mm and 57-mm guns and a battery of 120-mm mortars were introduced into the staff of rifle regiments, and rifle battalions received a battery of 45-mm or 57-mm guns (4 units) and a mortar company (9 mortars of caliber 82 mm). The combat power of some guards divisions was increased by including a separate self-propelled artillery division (12 SU-76M) into their composition.

Thus, The dynamics of changes in the number of artillery pieces of various calibers in the artillery regiments of rifle divisions looks like this:

As you can see, since 1929, the Red Army has taken a course towards increasing the share of 122mm howitzers and reducing the share of 76mm divisional guns in the range of divisional artillery systems: the share of 76mm divisional guns in 1926 was 60%, starting from 1929 it was 40%, and since 1935 - 29%. However, the situation changed radically in August 1941.

In the period from August 1941 to May 1945, in all Soviet rifle divisions, except for the Guards, 76mm divisional guns accounted for 62%..67% of the total range of divisional artillery systems, and even in the Guards divisions their share was not less than 50%.

The consumption of ammunition in 1942, 1943 and 1944 emphasizes the same fact of the decrease in the howubization of divisional artillery: the consumption of ammunition for 76mm divisional guns was 70%..75% of the total ammunition consumption of divisional artillery systems.

VERMACHT, 1941 - 1945

In 1941 The artillery regiment of a German infantry division during the Second World War included: a regimental headquarters with a headquarters battery, three light divisions (a total of 36 light field howitzers lFH 18) and one heavy division (12 heavy field howitzers sFH 18). Each battalion consisted of four batteries, one of which was the headquarters battery, and three firing batteries consisting of four guns each.

In 1943 the heavy division with 12 heavy field howitzers sFH 18 reduced its composition to 9 guns.

Increased efficiency Soviet troops starting in 1943 led to a decrease in the number of German artillery. In the photo, the T-34 tank irons a German battery in 1943:

In 1944, the artillery regiment of a German infantry division was left with a light division (a total of 24 light field howitzers lFH 18) and one heavy division (4 heavy field howitzers sFH 18).

Dynamics of changes in the number of divisional artillery of the Red Army

In addition to one or two artillery regiments, different years the division also included other units (usually separate divisions) armed with other types of divisional artillery and mortar weapons and military equipment. All of them together made up the divisional artillery of the Red Army.

So, for example, in December 1942 All types of artillery were fully represented in the organizational structure:

• battalion artillery- anti-tank platoon (2 45 mm guns) and mortar company (6 82 mm mortars); mortar platoons of rifle companies (3 50-mm mortars each);
• regimental artillery- artillery battery (4 76.2 mm regimental guns), mortar company (7 120 mm mortars (8 in the guards division), anti-tank battery (6 45 mm anti-tank guns), anti-aircraft machine gun company ( 6 Maxim anti-aircraft machine gun installations of 7.62 mm caliber or DShK 12.7 mm caliber);
• divisional artillery- light artillery regiment: three mixed divisions (in two divisions there are 8 76.2 mm guns and 4 122 mm howitzers, in the third division - 4 76.2 mm guns and 4 122 mm howitzers; in the guards divisions all three divisions each had 12 guns), the total artillery regiment consisted of 20 76.2 mm divisional guns (24 in the Guards division) and 12 122 mm howitzers;
• anti-tank fighter artillery division- three batteries (12 45 mm guns);
• anti-aircraft artillery battery- 6 37-mm automatic anti-aircraft guns.

Dynamics of changes in the number of divisional artillery of the Wehrmacht

List of used literature:
1. “Military artillery of the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.” Colonel A.V. Lobanov.
2. Website www.rkka.ru
3. E. Middeldorf “Russian company: Tactics and weapons”
4. “Artillery Regiment” Alexander Prager

During the Second World War, anti-aircraft artillery of the middle and large caliber acquired special significance for the defense of Germany. Since 1940, British long-range bombers, and since 1943, American “flying fortresses” systematically erased German cities and factories from the surface of the earth. Air defense fighters and anti-aircraft guns were the only means of protecting the country's military potential and population. Heavy bombers from England and especially the USA carried out raids on high altitudes(up to 10 km). Therefore, heavy anti-aircraft guns with high ballistic characteristics turned out to be the most effective in combating them.

During 16 massive raids on Berlin, the British lost 492 bombers, which amounted to 5.5% of all sorties. According to statistics, for every downed plane there were two or three damaged ones, many of which were subsequently beyond repair.

American flying fortresses carried out raids in daytime and, accordingly, suffered more significant losses than the British. Particularly indicative was the raid of the B-17 flying fortresses in 1943 on a ball bearing factory, when German air defenses destroyed about half of the bombers participating in the raid.

The role of anti-aircraft artillery is also great in the fact that a very large percentage (more than the Allies admit) of bombers dropped bombs anywhere, just to escape, or not to enter the anti-aircraft fire zone at all.

Work on the creation of medium-caliber anti-aircraft guns for the German armed forces began in the mid-20s. In order not to formally violate the terms of the restrictions imposed on the country, the designers of the Krupp company worked in Sweden, under an agreement with the Bofors company.

Anti-aircraft gun created in 1930 7.5 cm Flak L/60 with a semi-automatic bolt and a cross-shaped platform, was not officially accepted for service, but was actively produced for export. In 1939, unsold samples were requisitioned by the German Navy and used in anti-aircraft coastal defense units.

The company "Rheinmetall" was created in the late 20s 75 mm anti-aircraft 7.5 cm Flak L/59, which also did not suit the German military and was subsequently proposed to the USSR as part of military cooperation with Germany.

The original samples, manufactured in Germany, were tested at the Anti-Aircraft Research Site in February-April 1932. In the same year, the gun was adopted into service in the USSR, under the name " 76-mm anti-aircraft gun mod. 1931».

Gun arr. 1931 was a completely modern weapon with good ballistic characteristics. Its carriage with four folding frames ensured all-round firing; with a projectile weight of 6.5 kg, the vertical firing range was 9 km.

Designed in Germany 76 mm. the anti-aircraft gun had an increased safety margin. Calculations have shown that it is possible to increase the caliber of the gun to 85 mm. Subsequently, on the basis of the anti-aircraft gun “mod. 1931", was created "85 mm gun model 1938".

Among the Soviet weapons that fell into the hands of the Germans in the first months of the war were a large number of anti-aircraft guns. Since these guns were practically new, the Germans willingly used them themselves. All 76.2 and 85 mm guns were recalibrated to 88 mm so that the same type of ammunition could be used. By August 1944, the German army had 723 Flak MZ1(r) cannons and 163 Flak M38(r) cannons. The number of these guns captured by the Germans is unknown, but we can say for sure that the Germans had a significant number of these guns. For example, the Daennmark anti-aircraft artillery corps consisted of 8 batteries of 6-8 such guns, and about twenty more of the same batteries were located in Norway.

In addition, the Germans used a relatively small number of other foreign medium-caliber anti-aircraft guns. Italian guns were most widely used 7.5 cm Flak 264(i) And 7.62 cm Flak 266 (i), as well as Czechoslovakian guns 8.35 cm Flak 22(t).

In 1928, Krupp designers, using elements of the 7.5 cm Flak L/60, began designing an 8.8 cm anti-aircraft gun in Sweden. Later, the developed documentation was delivered to Essen, where the first prototypes of the guns were manufactured. The Flak 18 prototype appeared back in 1931, and mass serial production of 88-mm anti-aircraft guns began after Hitler came to power.

The 88 mm anti-aircraft gun, known as the Acht Komma Acht, was one of the best German guns of World War II. The weapon had very high characteristics for that time. Fragmentation projectile weighing 9 kg. had an altitude reach of 10,600 m and a horizontal range of 14,800 m.

The system, called 8.8 cm Flak 18 underwent a “baptism of fire” in Spain, after which they began to mount a shield on it to protect it from bullets and shrapnel.

Based on the experience gained during operation in the army and during combat operations, the gun was modernized. The modernization affected mainly the design of the barrel, developed by Rheinmetall. Internal organization Both barrels and ballistics were the same.
A modernized 8.8 cm cannon (8.8 cm Flak 36) entered service in 1936. Subsequently, some changes were made in 1939. The new model was named 8.8 cm Flak 37.

Most gun assemblies mod. 18, 36 and 37 were interchangeable, for example, you could often see a Flak 18 barrel on a Flak 37 carriage. The Flak 36 and 37 gun modifications differed mainly in the design of the carriage. The Flak 18 was transported on the lighter Sonderaenhanger 201 wheeled trolley, so when stowed it weighed almost 1,200 kg lighter than later versions transported on the Sonderaenhanger 202.

In 1939, Rheinmetall received a contract to create a new gun with improved ballistic characteristics. In 1941 The first prototype was manufactured. The weapon was named 8.8 cm Flak 41. This gun was adapted to fire ammunition with a reinforced propellant charge. The new gun had a rate of fire of 22-25 rounds per minute, and the initial speed of the fragmentation projectile reached 1000 m/s. The gun had a hinged carriage with four cross-shaped frames. The design of the carriage ensured firing at an elevation angle of up to 90 degrees. The automatic shutter was equipped with a hydropneumatic rammer, which made it possible to increase the rate of fire of the gun and facilitate the work of the crew. The height of the gun had a reach of 15,000 meters.

The first production samples (44 pieces) were sent to the Afrika Korps in August 1942. Tests in combat conditions revealed a number of complex design flaws. Flak 41 guns were produced in a relatively small series. In August 1944, the troops had only 157 guns of this type, and by January 1945 their number increased to 318.

88-mm guns became the most numerous heavy anti-aircraft guns of the III Reich. In the summer of 1944, the German army had more than 10,000 of these guns. 88-mm anti-aircraft guns were the weapons of anti-aircraft battalions of tank and grenadier divisions, but even more often these guns were used in the anti-aircraft units of the Luftwaffe, which were part of the Reich air defense system. With success, 88-mm guns were used to fight enemy tanks, and also acted as field artillery. The 88-mm anti-aircraft gun served as the prototype for the Tiger tank gun.

After the surrender of Italy, the German army received a large number of Italian weapons.
Throughout 1944, at least 250 90-mm Italian anti-aircraft guns, called 9 cm Flak 41 (i), were in service in the German army.

In 1933 A competition was announced to create a 10.5 cm anti-aircraft gun. The companies "Krup" and "Rheinmetall" each produced two prototypes. Comparative tests were carried out in 1935, and in 1936 the 10.5-cm gun from Rheinmetall was recognized as the best and put into mass production under the name 10.5 cm Flak 38. The gun had a semi-automatic wedge breech. Semi-automatic mechanical type, cocked when rolling up.

As part of military-technical cooperation, four 10.5 cm Flak 38 cannons were delivered to the USSR and tested from July 31 to October 10, 1940. research anti-aircraft range near Evpatoria. They underwent joint tests with domestic 100-mm anti-aircraft guns L-6, 73-K and the ground version of the B-34. Tests showed the superiority of the German model in most respects. Was highly noted precise work automatic fuse installer. However, for some reason, it was decided to launch the 100 mm 73-K into production. However, the “gunners” of the plant named after. Kalinin never managed to do this.

The 10.5 cm Flak 38 gun initially had electro-hydraulic guidance drives, the same as the 8.8 cm Flak 18 and 36, but in 1936 the UTG 37 system was introduced, used on the 8.8 cm Flak 37 gun. a barrel with a free pipe was introduced. The system modernized in this way was named 10.5 cm Flak 39.

The 10.5 cm Flak 38 anti-aircraft gun began to enter service with the German army en masse at the end of 1937. Flak 39 appeared in units only at the beginning of 1940. Both types differed mainly in the design of the carriage.

The 10.5 cm Flak 38 and 39 remained in production throughout the war, despite the fact that the ballistic characteristics of the 8.8 cm Flak 41 gun were almost equal to them.

The guns were mainly used in the Reich's air defense, they covered industrial facilities and Kriegsmarine bases. In August 1944, the number of 105-mm anti-aircraft guns reached its maximum. At that time, the Luftwaffe had 116 guns mounted on railway platforms, 877 guns mounted fixedly on concrete bases and 1,025 guns equipped with conventional wheeled carriages. The Reich defense batteries consisted of 6 heavy guns, and not 4, as was the case in the front-line units. 10.5 cm gun mod. 38 and 39 were the first German anti-aircraft guns to be equipped with FuMG 64 "Mannheim" 41 T radars.

Work on the creation of a 128-mm anti-aircraft gun at the Rheinmetall company began in 1936. The first prototypes were presented for testing in 1938. In December 1938, the first order for 100 installations was given. At the end of 1941, the troops received the first batteries with 12.8 cm anti-aircraft guns.

12.8 cm Flak 40 was a fully automated installation. Guidance, supply and reloading of ammunition, as well as installation of the fuse, were carried out using four asynchronous three-phase current generators with a voltage of 115 V. The four-gun battery of 12.8 cm Flak 40 was served by one generator with a power of 60 kW.

The 128 mm 12.8 cm Flak 40 guns were the heaviest anti-aircraft guns used during the 2nd World War.
With a fragmentation projectile mass of 26 kg, which had an initial speed of 880 m/s, the altitude reach was more than 14,000 m.

Anti-aircraft guns of this type were supplied to Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe units. They were mainly installed on stationary concrete positions, or on railway platforms. Target designation and adjustment of anti-aircraft fire were carried out according to data from radar posts.

It was initially assumed that mobile 12.8 cm units would be transported on two wagons, but later it was decided to limit ourselves to one four-axle wagon. During the war, only one mobile battery (six guns) entered service.

The first battery of 128 mm guns was located in the Berlin area. These guns were installed on powerful concrete towers 40-50 meters high. Apart from Berlin, air defense towers also protected Vienna, Hamburg and others big cities. 128 mm cannons were mounted on top of the towers, and lower, along the protruding terraces, there was smaller caliber artillery.

In August 1944, the following were in service: six mobile installations, 242 stationary installations, 201 railway installations (on four platforms).

In the spring of 1942, twin 128-mm anti-aircraft guns entered service with the Berlin air defense. 12.8 cm Flakzwilling 42. When creating a 12.8 cm two-gun stationary installation, the base from an experimental 15 cm installation was used.

In August 1944, there were 27 installations in service, and in February 1945, 34 installations. The battery had four settings.
The installations were part of the air defense of large cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Vienna.

On September 1, 1939, Germany had 2459 - 8.8 cm Flak 18 and Flak 36 cannons and 64 - 10.5 cm Flak 38 cannons. In 1944, production of 88 mm, 105 mm and 128 mm guns reached of its maximum, 5933 - 8.8 cm, 1131 - 10.5 cm and 664 -12.8 cm were produced.

With the advent of radar stations, the effectiveness of shooting, especially at night, has increased significantly.

By 1944, all heavy anti-aircraft air defense batteries of objects within the country were armed with anti-aircraft radars. The heavy motorized anti-aircraft batteries operating at the front were only partially equipped with radars.

During the war, German medium- and large-caliber anti-aircraft guns, in addition to their intended purpose, also showed themselves to be excellent anti-tank weapons. Although they cost significantly more anti-tank guns of their caliber and were used for lack of a better one. Thus, in 1941, the only guns capable of penetrating the armor of Soviet KV tanks were anti-aircraft guns of 8.8 cm and 10.5 cm caliber. Of course, we are not talking about corps and RVGK artillery. However, until September 1942, when the number of 8.8 cm and 10.5 cm anti-aircraft guns at the front was small, relatively few Soviet T-34 and KV tanks were hit by them (3.4% - 8.8 cm guns and 2.9% - 10.5 cm guns). But in the summer of 1944, 8.8 cm guns accounted for from 26 to 38% of destroyed Soviet heavy and medium tanks, and with the arrival of our troops in Germany in the winter - spring of 1945, the percentage of destroyed tanks rose to 51-71% (at different fronts). Moreover, the largest number of tanks were hit at a distance of 700 - 800 m. These data are given for all 8.8 cm guns, but even in 1945 the number of 8.8 cm anti-aircraft guns significantly exceeded the number of special 8.8 cm anti-tank guns guns. Thus, on last stage During the war, German anti-aircraft artillery played a significant role in land battles.

After the war, before the adoption of 100-mm KS-19 anti-aircraft guns and 130-mm KS-30 anti-aircraft guns, a number of 8.8 cm, 10.5 cm and 12.5 cm German guns were in service with the Soviet Army. According to American sources, several dozen 8.8 cm and 10.5 cm German guns took part in the Korean War.

Based on materials:
http://ursa-tm.ru/forum/index.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deckarudo
http://www.xliby.ru/transport_i_aviacija/tehnika_i_vooruzhenie_1998_08/p3.php
A.B. Shirokohdrad "God of War of the Third Reich"