Historic context :

The company Schneider, in Le Creusot, hade manufactured in 1910 a 4.8 inches (122 mm) middle field howitzer for the Russian army, in association with Putilov. This very good weapon who will survive in numerous quantities in the Soviet army until the end of WW2 was equipped with the most modern specificities of the Schneider System (hydro-pneumatic recoil recuperation system, quick action breech mechanism, long rear cradle for easy balancing of the tube, ...).

As with most of the excellent weapons produced for Russia, Schneider designed a derivated weapon at the metric system (calibre 120 mm) that was inserted inside its catalog under the name ' O.C. 120 Nr2' ('Obusier de Campagne de 120'). Serbia (6 batteries) and Bulgaria were the very first customers in 1910-1911. Serbia ordered another 2 batteries in 1912

Bulgaria ordered around 1913 another lot of 11 batteries of these howitzers in a slightly improved version, that were being in manufacturing by Schneider when the war started in 1914. These weapons were bought by the French governement at the war outbreak, and briefly used on the Somme then in the Orient French Army under the name 'Obusier de 120 TR Schneider', then given to its allies Serbia, Belgium and Rumania. In Belgium (22 weapons), they were named 'Ob. 120 S.'.

Technical data :

• Complete description : 120 mm M 1915 Schneider howitzer O.C.120 Nr2
• Design year : 1913
• Calibre : 120.00 mm
• Weight in firing position : 1416 kg
• Weight for transportation : 2228 kg with the trailer
• Tube length in calibres : 10.00 (rifled part) - 13 calibres total length
• Grooves : 36 to the right, constant angle 12 degrees
• Projectile weight : 18.7 kg (acier) / 19.3 kg (fonte)
• Initial speed : 167 to 350 m/s
• Fire rate : 10 rounds / min
• Range : 8300 m
• Elevation range : -3 to +43 degrés
• Direction range :