Skoda K series
| Skoda K series | |
|---|---|
 K1 heavy howitzer near Army Museum Zizkov inPrague,Czechia | |
| Type | Heavy howitzer |
| Place of origin | Czechoslovakia |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1933–1995 |
| Used by | Turkey Kingdom of Romania SFR Yugoslavia Czechoslovakia Nazi Germany Slovakia |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Skoda |
| Manufacturer | Skoda |
| Variants | 15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 37 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | K1: 5,020 kg (11,070 lb) Vz. 37: 5,200 kg (11,500 lb) |
| Barrellength | K1: 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) L/27 Vz. 37: 3.6 m (11 ft 10 in) L/24[1] |
| Crew | 11 |
| Shell | 42 kg (93 lb) |
| Caliber | 149.1 mm (5.87 in) |
| Carriage | Split trail |
| Elevation | -5° to +70° |
| Traverse | 45°[1] |
| Muzzle velocity | K1: 570 metres per second (1,900 ft/s) Vz. 37: 580 m/s (1,900 ft/s) |
| Maximum firing range | 15 km (9.3 mi)[1] |
TheŠkoda 149 mm K serieswas a line of heavyhowitzerdesigns used by Germany, Turkey, Romania,Slovakia,andYugoslaviaduringWorld War II.
Description
[edit]The K-series howitzers were modern designs for their time, with a powerful 149.1 mm calibre barrel mounted on a heavy field carriage designed for motorized transport. TheK1model was slightly longer and could be disassembled for horse carrying as well. TheK4model was more modern and used pneumatic wheels as opposed to the K1's solid rubber rims. Both howitzers used spade plates that had to be pounded into the ground to anchor the weapon in place.
History
[edit]The K series was an entirely new design by theŠkoda Workscompany of Czechoslovakia. The original K1 model was in production by 1933, and was a successful export weapon, with sales to Turkey, Romania, and Yugoslavia. However, the Czechoslovak Army was not a buyer, but desired modifications to the weapon before any purchase. The newer weapon was titled the K4 and was accepted by the Czechoslovak Army as its standard heavy howitzer intended to replace the large variety ofWorld War Iera pieces still on inventory. In Czech service it received the designation15 cm hrubá houfnice vzor 37and had just begun production whenCzechoslovakiacapitulated to Germany in 1939. The Germans continued production for service in theWehrmachtas the15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 37(t)orsFH 37(t).The weapon was widely used, particularly on theEastern Front,and some had been supplied to Axis-allied powers such asSlovakia.Yugoslav K1 guns captured by Germany were given the designationsFH 402(j).[1]
Romania purchased a total of 180 pieces between 1936 and 1939, designated asM34.Romania was not able to produce the whole piece by itself, but its Astra Works did manage to produce thegun barrel.Gun barrels of 150 mm were produced by Astra during the war for the replacement of damaged/worn-out barrels.[2]
Gallery
[edit]-
A battery of 15 cm sFH 37(t) in German service, Greece, 1941. -
15 cm sFH 37(t) in German service, Greece, 1941. -
A Turkish howitzer -
K1 howitzer (with postwar pneumatic wheels) in traveling position.
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]
- Chamberlain, Peter & Gander, Terry.Heavy Artillery.New York: Arco, 1975ISBN0-668-03898-5
- Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter.Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945.New York: Doubleday, 1979ISBN0-385-15090-3
- Bishop, Chris (General Editor).The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II.New York: Barnes £ Noble Books, 1998ISBN0-7607-1022-8