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SURVIVING GUN FILE (# 1222)
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Russia

Obusier de 12 pouces M 1915

Heavy power artillery

Contributor :
Bernard Plumier      http://www.passioncompassion1418.com
     
     
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Location :
Russia
St Petersburg
Artillery Museum
Coordinates : Lat : 59.95460 / Long : 30.31330
General comments on this surviving gun :


Identical items in the same location : 1
Items covered by this file : 1

No markings found


Historic and technical information
Denomination :     12 pouces Mle 1915 Origin :       ( Obuchov)          

Historic context :

In July 1915, the tests of Navy Howitzers 12 inches tubes gave the Russian headquarters the idea to allocate them to the Army. This latter immediately sent an order to the company Obuchov in August 1915 for 8 heavy howitzers based on these barrels, the carriage being contracted to another company. A new 4 pieces order was given in November 1915, and a 36 pieces one in January 1916.

It seems the 12 '12 inches heavy howitzers M 1915' of the two first orders were delivered from July 1916, while those of the second order were delivered from May 1917. The howitzer was mounted on a steel platform, itself placed on an impressive wooden platform structure, and needed a narrow gauge railway to bring the heavy ammunitions.

The Soviet army had 34 such howitzers available in June 1941, and there still was 30 of them in 1945. These weapons participated to the destruction of Koenigsberg defenses in Eastern Prussia in 1945 together with the Schneider 11 inches mortars.

Technical data :

  • Complete description : 12 inches super heavy howitzer M 1915
  • Design year : 1915
  • Calibre : 304.80 mm (12 inches)
  • Weight in firing position : 63900 kg
  • Weight for transportation : unknown, on railway
  • Tube length in calibres : 0.00 unknown
  • Grooves : 0 unknown
  • Projectile weight : 377 kg
  • Initial speed : 442 m/s
  • Fire rate : 1 round / 3 minutes
  • Range : 13470 m
  • Elevation range : +0 to +58 degrees
  • Direction range : 60 degrees total range


Sources