468

In World War I the main role of artillery
consisted of preparing the battlefield for

the infantry to occupy by shelling the
enemy and firing protective barrages. The
development of the aircraft and the tank
led to the manufacture of new types of
artillery weapons: the antitank and the
antiaircraft gun, both of which would play
a major role in World War II. From 1943
it became common to mount high-velocity
antitank guns on tracked and armoured
carriages, termed assault artillery.
Standard artillery pieces were also
mounted on tracked carriages and thus
became self-propelled artillery. Their
mobility allowed them to keep pace with
mechanized infantry and tank units.
Artillery of World War II contains the

most important field and self-propelled
artillery pieces used by both Axis and
Allied armies in the European and Pacific
theatres between 1939 and 1945. In
addition to the more well-known field
guns, such as the British 25-pounder,
German Pak 38, the famous German
" 8 8 " , the Soviet 76.2mm Model 1941
and the US 155mm Howitzer M l ,
Artillery of World War II includes lesser-
known Italian, French and Japanese
artillery pieces, such as the Semovente,
Field Gun Type 90 and 40mm Bofors gun.
Also, the book features the self-propelled
artillery pieces that fought in the conflict,
such as the Wespe and Nashorn.
In addition to the text and photographs,

Artillery of World War II includes a full
specifications table for each piece of
hardware, including the following
categories (all weights and measures in
metric and imperial): type, calibre,
length, width, weight, traverse, range,
crew, muzzle velocity, rate of fire, and
projectile weight.
Chris Chant is an expert on weapons
technology, military science and aviation
history. He has written numerous books
on these subjects, including Warfare of
the 20th Century, The Role of the Fighter
and Bomber, Modern Reconnaissance
Aircraft, World War II Maritime Attack
Aircraft, The History of the World's
Warships and Civil Aircraft. He currently
lives in central England.
Front cover: A British 25-pounder (Robert Hunt

Library).
Back cover: British Ordnance QF 3.7in (Robert

Hunt Library)
Printed in Hong Kong

DP WORLD WAR 11
Chris Chant
This edition published in 2 0 0 1 by Grange Books
Grange Books pic
The Grange
1 - 6 Kingsnorth Estate
Hoo
Near Rochester
Kent ME3 9ND
www.grangebooks.co.uk
© 2001 Brown Partworks Limited
All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No

part of it may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior
permission in writing of the Publisher, nor be otherwise
circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in
which it is published and without a similar condition including
this condition being imposed on the subsequent publisher.
ISBN 1-84013-442-9
Editorial and design:

Brown Partworks Limited
8 Chapel Place
Rivington Street
London
EC2A 3DQ
UK
Editor: Anne Cree

Picture research: Antony Shaw
Design: Jeni Child
Production: Matt Weyland
Printed in Hong Kong
Picture Credits
All photographs The Robert Hunt Library except the
following:
Ian Hogg: 7, 9, 10, 12, 15, 21, 22, 27, 29, 37,
38, 39, 41, 44, 50, 51, 52, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59,
61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 82, 83, 89, 95
TRH Pictures: 6, 8, 16, 17, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26,
28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 40, 45, 46, 55,
60, 65, 68, 69, 72, 74, 75, 81, 86, 87, 88, 90,
91, 92, 93, 94
CONTENTS
FRANCE 6
GERMANY 13
GREAT BRITAIN 42
ITALY 55
JAPAN 60
SWEDEN 67
UNITED STATES 68
USSR 81
INDEX 96
>
CANON DE 47
SPECIFICATIONS T he two smallest-calibre towed anti-tank guns

o p e r a t e d by the F r e n c h at the b e g i n n i n g of World
War II were the 2 5 m m C a n o n leger de 25 antichar SA-L
CANON DE 47 modeles 1934 and 1937, these being L / 7 2 a n d L / 7 7

weapons respectively. Both weapons were too lightly built
and possessed only indifferent armour-penetration
Type: Effective ceiling:
light towed AT gun n/a
capability, but the same c a n n o t be said of the two weapons
next up the calibre ladder. These were the 47mm SA
Calibre: Road range: modele 1937 APX and the later but virtually identical SA
47mm (1.85in) n/a
modele 1939 APX, which were both sturdy and capable
Vehtcle length: Range:
weapons. Low to the g r o u n d a n d comparatively easy to
n/a unknown handle, both weapons could have played a major part in
the campaign of 1940 had they been given the
Length of barrel: Projectile weight:
opportunity. Germany seized large n u m b e r s of these guns,
2.49m (98in) 1.725kg (3.81b)
a n d pressed t h e m into service by its occupation forces
Weight travelling: Armour: l ight into the time of the Allied invasion of 1944.
n/a n/a In G e r m a n service the modeles 1937 a n d 1939
b e c a m e the 4.7cm PaK 181(f) a n d PaK 183(f)
Weight in action: Engine:
1070kg (23601b) n/a respectively, and moderately large n u m b e r s of the
weapons were also used in self-propelled anti-tank
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: m o u n t i n g s including the 4.7cm PaK 181(f) o d e r 183(f)
-13° to +16.5° 855mps (2805fps)
auf Pzjag Lorraine Schlepper(f), the 4.7cm PaK(f) auf
Traverse arc: Speed: Panzerspahwagen P204(f), the 4.7cm PaK(f) auf
68° n/a Infanterie PzKpfw Mk 11(e), a n d the 4.7cm Pak 181(f)
o d e r 183(f) auf PzKpfw 35R(f).
F R A N C E
CANON DE 75 1897
T he C a n o n de 75 m o d e l e 1897 can lay claim to being

the p r o g e n i t o r of m o d e r n quick-firing artillery a n d
was also the most extensively fielded light g u n ever
SPECIFICATIONS
placed in service. P r o d u c e d by Schneider f r o m 1897, the
"75" was the first m o d e r n field piece as it employed the
CANON DE 75 1897
first successful hydraulic recoil system, while the
N o r d e n f e l d breech block allowed a high rate of fire. light towed field gun n/a
Before 1914 the gun was o n e of the most closely guarded
French secrets, but by 1918 was used by many countries. Calibre: Road range:
75mm (2.95in) n/a
As late as 1939 the "75" was still in widespread service. T h e
USA fielded the gun in M1897A2 and A4 variants up to Vehicle length: Range:
1941. Poland used the type as the armata polowawt 1897 n/a 11,100m (12,140 yards)
or wt 9 7 / 1 7 , a n d in 1939 and 1940 the British Army
received small n u m b e r s with the designation O r d n a n c e ,
2.587m (101.85in) 6.195kg (13.661b)
QF, 75mm Mk I. T h e gun still served with the Romanian
a n d Greek armies, a n d some delivered to Lithuania Weight travelling: Armour:
passed into service with the Red Army. By 1939 many of 1970kg (43441b) n/a
the French guns, of which several thousands were still in

service, had been modernized with pneumatic tyres, but 1140kg (25141b) n/a
large n u m b e r s with the original pattern of wooden spoked
wheels remained in service. After France's June 1940 Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-11° to +18° 575mps (1886fps)
defeat many equipments fell into German hands to
receive the designation FK 231 (f) but m o r e c o m m o n Traverse arc: Speed:
designation FK 97(f). In 1942 they converted some 600 6° n/a
barrels for use as PaK 9 7 / 3 8 a n d 9 7 / 4 0 anti-tank guns.
CANON DE 75 1933
SPECIFICATIONS L ike many French artillery pieces in service on the

outbreak of World War II, the C a n o n de 75 contre
aeronefs sur r e m o r q u e Schneider had its origins in
CANON DE 75 1933 World War I, specifically the C a n o n de 75 anti-aerien

m o d e l e 1917 sur plate-forme Schneider using the barrel
of the m o d e l e 1897 field gun. In an effort to u p d a t e the
medium AA gun 7200m (23,620ft)
weapon, the original barrel was replaced in 1934 by a
m o r e m o d e r n barrel and the heavy carriage was retained
Calibre: Road range: in an u p d a t e d f o r m a n d fitted with a complex fire-
75mm (2.95in) n/a
control system. In 1940 many of these C a n o n de 75
Vehicle length: Range:
contre aeronefs m o d e l e 1917/34 sur r e m o r q u e
n/a n/a Schneider were seized by the G e r m a n s a n d kept in
service with the revised designation 7.5cm FlaK
M . l 7 / 3 4 ( f ) . T h e C a n o n de 75 contre aeronefs m o d e l e
4m (157in) 9kg (19.851b)
1930 was basically similar b u t lacked the on-carriage fire-
Weight travelling: Armour: control system, as a central predictor was employed. T h e
n/a n/a G e r m a n s used this g u n as the 7.5cm FlaK M.30(f). T h e
Weight in action:
C a n o n de 75 contre aeronefs m o d e l e 1933 r e p r e s e n t e d
Engine:
4200kg (92591b) n/a an effort to m o d e r n i z e the 7 5 m m family of AA guns by
installing the modified Schneider barrel on a m o r e
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: m o d e r n mounting: a folding cruciform with a
0° to +70° 715mps (2346fps)
conventional pedestal a n d folding platform for the
Traverse arc: Speed: d e t a c h m e n t of o n e c o m m a n d e r a n d 10 m e n . Only
360° n/a limited n u m b e r s were p r o d u c e d , the G e r m a n s taking
these for service as the 7.5cm FlaK M.33(f) weapons.
F R A N C E
CANON DE 105 C
E arly in the 1930s the French Army realized that it

n e e d e d heavier field artillery than the 75mm modele
1897 rapid-fire gun, which was now an obsolescent piece
SPECIFICATIONS
CANON DE 105 C
of artillery that should be replaced by a type or types of
m o r e m o d e r n design a n d offering the ability to deliver
heavier fire to a longer range.
T h e first result of this process was an order placed with medium towed howitze:r n/a
the Schneider armaments company for a field howitzer in
105mm rather than 75mm calibre. T h e resulting Canon Calibre: Road range:
105mm (4.13in) n/a
de 105 C modele 1934 Schneider (specification at right)
was of conventional design without any genuinely Vehicle length: Range:
distinctive features, and had split trails, a large and n/a 10,300m (11,265 yards)
angular gun, a n d large-diameter spoked wheels with solid
r u b b e r tyres providing the capability for motor traction at
1.95m (76.7in) 15.6kg (34.41b)
a comparatively high speed.
Trials of the weapon were completed without u n d u e Weight travelling: Armour:
p r o b l e m , t h o u g h this was d u e to its a d e q u a t e design a n d unknown n/a
lack of any radical features, a n d p r o d u c t i o n was then

started without delay; this helped to e n s u r e that the 1722kg (37971b) n/a
French Army had moderately large n u m b e r s of these
pieces in service in 1939 to m e e t the expected G e r m a n Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-8° to +50° 440mps (1444fps)
Army invasion. Following the defeat of France in J u n e
1940 many were c a p t u r e d by the G e r m a n Army Traverse arc: Speed:
for service a n d given the designation 10.5cm leichte 58° n/a
Feldhaubitze 324(f).
CANON DE 155C
SPECIFICATIONS T he n a t u r e and intensity of the warfare f o u g h t on the

Western Front d u r i n g World War I d e m a n d e d
weapons tailored to the particular d e m a n d s of essentially
CANON DE 155C static fighting, a n d o n e French result was the C a n o n de

155 C m o d e l e 1917, generally known as the C 17 S.
T his weapon entered service in 1917 and soon gained
heavy gun/howitzer n/a
an excellent reputation, being a d o p t e d for US servic e as
the 155mm Howitzer M1917 a n d M1917A1, a n d after
Calibre: Road range: World War I was also e x p o r t e d to many nations including
155mm (6.1in) n/a
Brazil, Finland, Romania a n d Yugoslavia. As a result the
weapon was still in widespread service d u r i n g 1939, in
n/a 11,300m (12,360 yards) which France could still muster m o r e than 2000 such
e q u i p m e n t s in frontline roles. T h e Soviet guns had b e e n
sleeved in the Soviet 152mm calibre, and all the weapons
2.176mm (85.67in) 43.61kg (96.161b)
captured by the G e r m a n s f r o m the- Soviets after the
Weight travelling: Armour: invasion of J u n e 1941 and o t h e r c o n q u e r e d countries
3720kg (82031b) n/a were pressed into service in tasks as diverse as standard
field use a n d coastal defence.
3300kg (72771b) n/a T h e ex-Belgian Obusier de 155 became the 15.5cm
schwere Feldhaubitze 413(b), the French C 17 S b e c a m e
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: the 15.5cm sFH 4 1 4 ( 0 , the Italian Obice da 1 5 5 / 1 4 PB
0° to +42° 20' 450mps (1476fps)
became the 15.5cm sFH 414(i), the Polish 155mm
Traverse arc: Speed: haubica wz 1917 became the 15.5cm sFH 17(p) a n d the
6° n/a Soviet 152-17S became the 15.2cm sFH 449(r). It was
certainly a reliable a n d robust weapon.
F R A N C E
CANON DE 155
GRAND PUISSANCE
T he C a n o n de 155 G r a n d Puissance Fillonx (GPF)

e n t e r e d service in 1917 and, proving itself o n e of the
best pieces of French artillery in World War I, was
SPECIFICATIONS
chosen for use by the US Army forces in France d u r i n g
1918. T h e type r e m a i n e d in American service into World
CANON DE 155 G.R
War II as the 155mm G u n M1918M1.
T h e r e were still some 450 GPF equipments in French heavy towed gun n/a
service d u r i n g 1939, and after June 1940 the Germans
used seized weapons with the designation 15.5cm Kanone Calibre: Road range:
155mm (6.1in) n/a
418(f) in the field and coastal defence roles. T h e Canon
de 155 Grand Puissance Filloux - CA was a development of Vehicle length: Range:
the GPF firing a diff erent type of a m m u n i t i o n from a n/a 19,500m (21,325 yards)
revised chamber. Only a few such equipments were still in
service during 1939, and captured examples were not
5.725m (225.4in) 4 3 k g (94.81b)
taken into German service for field use as their
capabilities were inferior to those of the GPF. Statically Weight travelling: Armour:
emplaced GPF-CA weapons were retained with the 11,700kg (25,7941b) n/a
designation 15.5cm K 417(1) until all ammunition had

been used (these weapons were of little use, but looked 10,750kg (23,7001b) n/a
good f o r newsreels to boost civilian morale). T h e c a n o n
de 155 G r a n d Puissance Filloux - Touzzard was a Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
0° to +35° 735mps (2411fps)
m o d e r n i z e d GPF with a new carriage carried on six
pneumatically tyred wheels of which two were removed Traverse arc: Speed:
as the gun was b r o u g h t into action. T h e GPF-T was 60° n/a
o p e r a t e d by the G e r m a n s as the 15.5cm K 419(f).
CANON DE 155 1932
SPECIFICATIONS A characteristic of the guns a n d howitzers developed

for service with the French Army in the period
b e f o r e a n d d u r i n g World War I h a d b e e n their
CANON DE 155 1932 comparatively short range. This was not perceived as
being a tactical limitation d u r i n g the first half of the
1920s, but by the second half of the decade the armies of
the larger E u r o p e a n countries were b e g i n n i n g to
heavy howitzer n/a
develop concepts of fast-moving mobile warfare based on
Calibre: Road range: motorization if not mechanization of their forces. This
155mm (6.1in) n/a type of warfare clearly required that infantry a n d
a r m o u r e d forces should be provided with artillery
n/a 27,500m (30,075 yards) s u p p o r t firing at longer ranges, a n d the F r e n c h Army
t h e r e f o r e called for a new generation of weapons
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: capable of motorized towing at h i g h e r speed a n d of
8.525m (335.6in) 50kg (1101b)
firing a heavier projectile to a longer range. An
Weight travelling: Armour:
immediate result of this d e m a n d was the C a n o n 155 L
n/a n/a m o d e l e 32 Schneider. This was an o r t h o d o x but
thoroughly m o d e r n piece of artillery by the standards of
the day, a n d its two most obvious tactical capabilities
16,400kg (36,1551b) n/a
were accuracy to a long range a n d an advanced
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: m o u n t i n g a n d carriage offering the capacity for high-
-8° to +45° 900mps (2953fps) speed towing and, after the g u n h a d b e e n emplaced,
360° traverse. T h e gun proved useful in the campaign of
Traverse arc: Speed:
360° n/a
May-June 1940, a n d after the def eat of France the
surviving e q u i p m e n t s were seized by the Germans.
G E R M A N Y
FLAK 38
T he capability of the FlaK 30 was h a m p e r e d by the

gun's low rate of fire, so Mauser was allocated the
task of boosting the firing rate and, at the same time,
SPECIFICATIONS
significantly r e d u c i n g the gun's tendency to jam. T h e
result was the 2cm Flak 38 that a p p e a r e d in 1940 with a
FLAK 38
revised breech mechanism improving the cyclic a n d
practical rates of fire to 420-480 and 180-220rpm light towed AA gun 2200m (6630ft)
respectively. T h e feed system and carriage/trailer were
essentially unaltered, b u t sighting was now effected by Calibre: Road range:
20mm (0.8in) n/a
m e a n s of the Flakvisier 38, a complex a n d somewhat
fragile a n d expensive unit replaced f r o m 1941 by the Vehicle length: Range:
Linealvisier 38 o p e n ring sight, itself succeeded f r o m a n/a n/a
time late in 1944 by the Schwebekreisvisier 38.
T h e FlaK 38 s u p p l e m e n t e d but did not supplant the
2.2525m (88.68in) 0.119kg (0.26251b)
FlaK 30, a n d d u r i n g August 1944 the G e r m a n air force
alone had in service just u n d e r 17,600 Flak 30 a n d FlaK Weight travelling: Armour:
38 guns. T h e FlaK 38 used the same a m m u n i t i o n as the 750kg (1,6541b) n/a
Flak 30 a n d had the same d e t a c h m e n t , a n d was also

carried on a n u m b e r of self-propelled m o u n t i n g s 420kg (9261b) n/a
including the leichte Selbstfahrlafette (2cm FlaK 38)
(SdKfz 1 0 / 5 ) , the 2cm Flak 38 auf Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-20° to +90° 900mps (2953fps)
Mannschaftkraftwagen, the 2cm FlaK 38 a u f l e gl Lkw
Kfz 70, the mittlerer Schutzenpanzerwagen (2cm FlaK Traverse arc: Speed:
38) (SdKfz 251), the SdKfz 251/17, and the leichte 360° n/a
Flakpanzer 18(t) (SdKfz 140).
FLAKVIERLING 38
he 2cm Flakvierling 38 q u a d r u p l e 2 0 m m m o u n t i n g
SPECIFICATIONS T was highly respected by Allied airmen operating at
low level. Designed bv Mauser for G e r m a n naval use, the
FLAKVIERLING 38 Flakvierling 38 e n t e r e d p r o d u c t i o n for the army a n d air

force d u r i n g 1940. T h e Flakvierling 38 c o m b i n e d four
FlaK 38 barrels on an adapted version of the FlaK 38's
light towed AA gun 2200m (7220ft)
carriage, and while the standard sight was the Flakvisier
40 or improved Flakvisier 40A, provision was being m a d e
Calibre: Road range: for radar direction by the e n d of World War II.
20mm (0.8in) n/a
T h e n e e d to keep f o u r barrels supplied with
a m m u n i t i o n m e a n t that the d e t a c h m e n t was increased to
n/a n/a a c o m m a n d e r a n d seven men (reduced to six f r o m
August 1944) rather than the FlaK 38's total of six men:
this provided for four loading a n d a m m u n i t i o n n u m b e r s
2.252m (88.7in) 0.119kg (0.26251b)
in place of the FlaK 38's two, but the Flakvierling 38
Weight travelling: Armour: could be o p e r a t e d by just f o u r m e n .
2212kg (48771b) n/a T h e Flakvierling 38 was carried on trains a n d
installed on FlaK towers to s u p p l e m e n t heavier weapons,
1514kg (33381b) n/a a n d was also used on a n u m b e r of self-propelled
m o u n t i n g s including the 2cm Flakvierling 38 auf m Lkw,
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: the mittlerer Zugkraftwagen 8t mit 2cm Flakvierling 38
-10° to +100° 900mps (2953fps)
(SdKfz 7 / 1 ) , the Flakpanzer IV (2cm Flakvierling 38) auf
Traverse arc: Speed: Fgst PzKpfw IV Mobelwagen, a n d the Flakpanzer IV
360° n/a (2cm) auf Fgst PzKpfw I V / 3 Wirbelwind. It was an
excellent a n d reliable weapon.
G E R M A N Y
FLAKPANZERIV
T h e r e were two Flakpanzer IV types, namely the

Flakpanzer IV (2cm Flakvierling 38) auf Fgst PzKpfw
IV Mobelwagen (furniture van) a n d the Flakpanzer IV
SPECIFICATIONS
FLAKPANZER IV
(2cm) mit PzFgst Panzer I V / 3 Wirbelwind (whirlwind).
T h e f o r m e r was developed as the Flakpanzer 38(t), with
o n e 2 0 m m FlaK 38 c a n n o n on a Czechoslovak light tank
chassis, a n d h a d not proved satisfactory, a n d the new
self-propelled AA gun n/a
type e n t e r e d p r o d u c t i o n in 1943.
T h e Mobelwagen comprised a Flakvierling 38 four- Calibre: Road range:
gun m o u n t i n g (provided with 3000 rounds) on a PzKpfw n/a 210km (130 miles)
IV m e d i u m tank chassis. A large rectangular fighting

c o m p a r t m e n t of a r m o u r plate was provided above the 5.89m (19ft 4in) n/a
superstructure f o r protection, a n d in action this
c o m p a r t m e n t ' s walls were lowered to the horizontal Length of barrel: Projectile weight:
n/a n/a
position to enlarge the fighting platform. T h e gun
m o u n t i n g could be traversed t h r o u g h 360° and elevated Weight travelling: Armour:
in an arc f r o m +10° to +90°. T h e Flakpanzer IV (2cm) n/a 16-85mm (.6-3.35in)
mit PzFgst Panzer I V / 3 was i n t r o d u c e d at the e n d of
1943 after being designed to provide better protection to
22,176kg (48,8891b) Maybach HL 120 TR 112
the gun crew t h r o u g h the installation of the Flakvierling
38 (with 3200 rounds) in an o p e n - t o p p e d octagonal Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
rotating a r m o u r e d turret that could be rotated t h r o u g h n/a n/a
360° a n d provided the gun m o u n t i n g with an elevation
arc between +10° a n d +90°. T h e specification applies to n/a 40km/h (24.8mph)
the Wirbelwind.
FLAKPANZER
WIRBELWIND
SPECIFICATIONS A tactically i m p o r t a n t weapon that e n t e r e d service in

December 1943 to provide G e r m a n a r m o u r e d forces
with a high level of air d e f e n c e against low-flying attack
FLAKPANZER WIRBELWIND aircraft, the five-man Flakpanzer IV (2cm) mit PzFgst

Panzer I V / 3 Wirbelwind (whirlwind) was based on the
chassis of the PzKpfw IV A u s f J m e d i u m tank. This
self-propelled AA gun n/a
e n s u r e d that the vehicle had mobility equal to the battle
tanks then in service, while the design of the a r m a m e n t
Calibre: Road range: installation e n s u r e d that the g u n crew had better
n/a 210km (130 miles)
protection than had b e e n offered in earlier self-
Vehicle length: Range: propelled anti-aircraft gun mountings. This protection
5.89m (19ft 4in) n/a was created by the installation of the 2cm Flakvierling 38
unit, with its f o u r 20mm c a n n o n , inside an eight-sided
turret, with outward-angled lower sides a n d inward-
n/a n/a
angled u p p e r sides of exactly the same dimensions to
Weight travelling: Armour: facilitate the task of welding together the turret's 16mm
n/a 16-85mm (,63-3.35in) (0.63in) plates. T h e turret had power traverse t h r o u g h
360°, a n d the g u n s could be elevated t h r o u g h an arc
22,175kg (48,8871b) Maybach HL 120 TR 112 between +10° a n d +90°. A m m u n i t i o n for the guns was
carried in 20-round clips, stowage being provided for 16
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: such clips in the turret for r e p l e n i s h m e n t f r o m some
n/a n/a
2280 m o r e r o u n d s carried in 15 boxes inside the hull.
Traverse arc: Speed: T h e Flakpanzer IV (3.7cm) Ostwind (east wind) was
n/a n/a basically similar except for its a r m a m e n t of o n e 3.7cm
Flak 43 g u n in a turret.
G E R M A N Y
FLAK 36/37
P roduction of Germany's first m o d e r n light anti-

aircraft g u n , the FlaK 18, e n d e d in 1936 to allow
m a n u f a c t u r e of an improved model, the 3.7cm FlaK 36,
SPECIFICATIONS
FLAK 36/37
that was the FlaK 18 g u n on a new m o u n t i n g carried on
a two-wheeled carriage and served by an eight-man
d e t a c h m e n t . T h e ballistics of the FlaK 36 were the same
as those of the FlaK 18 b u t when, in 1940, there light towed AA gun 4800m (15,750ft)
a p p e a r e d a new range of a m m u n i t i o n characterized by
o n e rather than the original two driving bands, the FlaK Calibre: Road range:
36's c h a m b e r was s h o r t e n e d accordingly. T h e FlaK 36 37mm (1.457in) n/a
was originally sighted with the aid of the Flakvisier 35 or Vehicle length: Range:
36 until Zeiss developed its clockwork-powered n/a n/a
Uhrwerksvisier that was accepted for service as the
Flakvisier 37.
3.626m (142.75in) 0.64kg (1.41b)
E q u i p m e n t s fitted with this sight were FlaK 37, a n d
were in all o t h e r respects identical to the FlaK 36. T h e Weight travelling: Armour:
FlaK 36 a n d 37 became the G e r m a n forces' standard 2400kg (52911b) n/a
d e f e n c e against low-flying warplanes, a n d were used in 9-
or 12-gun batteries by the land-based forces. T h e 1550kg (34171b) n/a
weapons were also fitted on trains, surface warships, U-
boats, FlaK towers a n d a n u m b e r of self-propelled Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-8° to +85° 820mps (2690fps)
mountings to create the 3.7cm FlaK auf Lkw Mercedes-
Benz 4500 A, the 3.7cm FlaK auf Maultier, the 3.7cm Traverse arc: Speed:
FlaK (Sf) auf Zugki aftwagen 5t SdKfz 6 / 2 , and the 360° n/a
mZgkw 8t mit 3.7cm Flak 36 SdKfz 7 / 2 .
PAK 35/36
SPECIFICATIONS T he 3.7cm PaK 3 5 / 3 6 e n t e r e d service in 1936. More

than 15.000 such weapons had b e e n completed in
Germany by 1941. a n d the type was also built u n d e r
PAK 35/36 licence by other countries. Experience proved that by

the standards of the day the PaK 3 5 / 3 6 was excellent,
and the weapon strongly influenced the design of other
towed light AT gun n/a
guns: the American 37mm M3, for example, was a close
copy. Bv the e n d of 1940 it was clear that the PaK 3 5 / 3 6
Calibre: Road range: was obsolescent in the face of thicker tank armour, and
37mm (1.46in) n/a
the weapon was gradually replaced by larger-calibre
guns. In the shorter term the effectiveness of the PaK
n/a 375m (410 yards) 3 5 / 3 6 was boosted by tungsten-cored AP40 a m m u n i t i o n ,
a n d in secondary battlefield roles the PaK 3 5 / 3 6
r e m a i n e d in service to the e n d of World War II.
1.665m (65.5in) 0.354kg (12.5oz)
It was also used by o t h e r countries that later fell to
Weight travelling: Armour: Germany in the war. T h u s the Soviet 3 7 m m Anti-Tank
432kg (9521b) n/a Gun Model 1930 became the PaK 158(r), the Italian
C a n n o n e contracarro da 3 7 / 4 5 became the PaK 162(i),
328kg (7231b) n/a a n d the Dutch 3 7 m m Rheinmetall became the PaK
153(h). Self-propelled m o u n t i n g s of the PaK 3 5 / 3 6
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: included the 3.7cm PaK auf I ge Lkw(o), 3.7cm PaK auf
-8° to +25° 1030mps (3379fps)
Fahrgestell B r e n ( e ) , the 3.7cm PaK (ST) auf Infanterie
Traverse arc: Speed: Schlepper UE(f), the 3.7cm PaK auf gep
60° n/a Artillerieschlepper(r), the 3.7cm l'ak auf le Zgkw and
the 3.7cm PaK (SI) auf Zgkw It.
G E R M A N Y
PAK 38
T he need for an anti-tank g u n with a calibre greater

than that of the 3.7cm PaK 3 5 / 3 6 had b e e n
anticipated even as the PaK 3 5 / 3 6 was e n t e r i n g service,
SPECIFICATIONS
PAK 38
a n d the design of a new 5cm weapon began d u r i n g 1938.
T h e design authority was again Rheinmetall-Borsig, a n d
the new weapon e n t e r e d service late in 1940 as the 5cm
P a n z e r a b w e h r k a n o n e 38. This was a capable g u n that medium towed AT gun n/a
r e m a i n e d in service right to the e n d of World War II:
firing tungsten-cored AP40 a m m u n i t i o n , the PaK 38 Calibre: Road range:
50mm (1.97in) n/a
could successfully tackle all but the most heavily
protected Allied tanks, a n d between 1941 a n d 1942 was Vehicle length: Range:
the only G e r m a n anti-tank gun able to p e n e t r a t e the n/a 450m (490 yards)
a r m o u r of the Soviet T-34 tank.
T h e e m p l o y m e n t of light alloys in the carriage
3.173m (124.9in) 2.25kg (41b 15.25oz)
lighted the e q u i p m e n t a n d m a d e it easier to handle. T h e
wheels h a d torsion-bar suspension that was locked when Weight travelling: Armour:
the trails were split, creating a stable firing platform. 986kg (21741b) n/a
Later in the war the PaK 38 was adapted for aircraft

m o u n t i n g as the B o r d k a n o n e 5 with an automatic feed unknown n/a
system, a n d this was t h e n used as the basis for the 5cm
FlaK 214 anti-aircraft gun. As an anti-tank g u n the PaK Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-8° to +27° 1198mps (3930fps)
38 was installed on a n u m b e r of self-propelled
mountings including the 5cm PaK 38 (Sf) auf leichter Traverse arc: Speed:
Selbstfahrlafette, the SdKfz 250 a n d the 5cm Pak 38 auf 65° n/a
PzKpfw II nA.
LE IG 18
SPECIFICATIONS O ne of the pieces of light field artillery used in the

largest n u m b e r s by the G e r m a n Army in World War
II was the 7.5cm leichte Infanteriegeschutz 18. T h e need
LE IG 18 for such a weapon was perceived in the first half of the

1920s, a n d the task of designing a n d developing such a
gun was entrusted to Rheinmetall d u r i n g 1927. Field
infantry support gun
trials of the new e q u i p m e n t proved very successful, and a
n/a
m a j o r m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o g r a m m e was initiated so that
Calibre: Road range: the le IG 18 could be a d o p t e d as the standard artillery
75mm (2.95in) n/a
weapon of the s u p p o r t companies of infantry regiments
and also of some m o u n t a i n units. T h e le IG 18 featured
n/a 3550m (3885 yards) an unusual loading system in which the barrel was wholly
enclosed in a square slipper which pivoted upwards as
the b r e e c h block r e m a i n e d fixed. Early examples of the
0.884m (34.8in) 6 - 5 . 4 5 k g (13.2-12lb)
le IG 18 had old-fashioned spoked wheels better suited
Weight travelling: Armour: to horse traction, but later e q u i p m e n t s ran on
unknown n/a pneumatically tyred wheels of the type required for
higher-speed towing b e h i n d m o t o r vehicles. A special
400kg (8821b) n/a variant, p r o d u c e d in 1939 to the extent of just six
equipments, was the 7.5cm le IG 18F (Fallschirmjager, or
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: a i r b o r n e forces), which was i n t e n d e d for p a r a d r o p p i n g
-10° to +73° 210mps (689fps)
for the support of a i r b o r n e forces: this m o d e l had small
Traverse arc: Speed: wheels, lacked any shield a n d could be broken down into
12° n/a four 140kg (3091b) loads carried in containers. A n o t h e r
limited-production variant was the 7.5cm le GebIG 18.
G E R M A N Y
GEBIRGS-
GESCHUTZ 36
I t was in 1935 thai Rheinmetall-Borsig, working on the

basis of a r e q u i r e m e n t issued by the G e r m a n Army,
e m b a r k e d on the process of developing a new piece of
SPECIFICATIONS
GEBIRGSGESCHUTZ 36
thoroughly m o d e r n light artillery for service with
Germany's m o u n t a i n infantry formations. T h e new
g u n / h o w i t z e r was to b e c o m e the standard gun of the
artillery batteries supporting such infantry a n d was, of light mountain gun n/a
course, to be of the pack type so that the entire weapon
could be b r o k e n down into loads which could each be Calibre: Road range:
75mm (2.95in) n/a
carried by a draft animal, most typically a mule. T h e
resulting weapon e n t e r e d service in 1938 as the 7.5cm Vehicle length: Range:
Gebirgsgeschi'itz 36, whose unusual features included n/a 9150m (10,390 yards)
variable recoil facility a n d a large muzzle brake of the
p e p p e r p o t type. T h e Gebirgsgeschi'itz 36 could be
1.4475m (57in) 5.83kg (12.851b)
b r o k e n down into eight loads, but service use soon
revealed that the weapon was decidedly heavy for its role Weight travelling: Armour:
Even so, the weapon proved p o p u l a r with the m e n of unknown n/a
batteries operating it as it was generally easy to h a n d l e

a n d offered considerable stability when fired. T h e 750kg (16531b) n/a
r e p l a c e m e n t for the Gebirgsgeschutz 36 was to have
been the Gebirgsgeschutz 43 of the same calibre, for Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-10° to +70° 475mps (1558fps)
which Rheinmetall a n d Bohler offered designs. T h e
Bohler design was p r e f e r r e d , but as only f o u r were Traverse arc: Speed:
completed the Gebirgsgeschutz 36 r e m a i n e d in service 40° n/a
to the e n d of World War II.
FELDKANONE 38
SPECIFICATIONS A piece of light field artillery used by the G e r m a n

Army only to a limited degree, the 7.5cm
Feldkanone 38 was based on a design created a n d
FELDKANONE 38 m a n u f a c t u r e d by the arms m a n u f a c t u r e r Krupp in

response to an o r d e r f r o m the Brazilian Army, which
received 64 such e q u i p m e n t s with six-baffle muzzle
light towed gun n/a
brakes and large-diameter spoked w o o d e n wheels inside
steel tyres (as shown).
Calibre: Road range: During 1942 the Germany Army f o u n d itself in need
75mm (2.95in) n/a
of substantially larger quantities of m o r e m o d e r n field
Vehicle length: Range: artillery, largely to satisfy its needs on the Eastern Front
n/a 11,500m (12,575 yards) against the masses of Soviet m a n p o w e r a n d hardware,
a n d as a result Krupp adapted its Brazilian design to
create the 7.5cm F e l d k a n o n e 38 that was built to provide
2.335m (91.9in) 5.83kg (12.851b)
a partial replacement for the obsolete 7.5cm leichte
Weight travelling: Armour: Feldkanone, a K r u p p weapon that e n t e r e d service in
1860kg (41011b) n/a 1931 a n d reflected World War 1 artillery thinking rather
Weight in action:
than the r e q u i r e m e n t s of m o d e r n mobile warfare as was
Engine:
1365 kg (3,0091b) n/a being practised over the vast distances on the Eastern
Front. Features of the FK 38 were trail legs that were
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: heavier a n d larger than those of the Brazilian weapon as
-5° to +45° 605mps (1985fps)
well as a two-baffle muzzle brake a n d typically solid
Traverse arc: Speed: G e r m a n wheels or steel construction with sold r u b b e r
50° n/a types. Like most pieces of G e r m a n field artillery, the FK
38 fired fixed (one-piece) a m m u n i t i o n .
G E R M A N Y
PAK 41
B uilt in competition with the Rheinmetall-Borsig

7.5cm PaK 40 as a means of providing the German
Army with the best possible weapon to succeed the 5cm
SPECIFICATIONS
PaK 3 5 / 3 6 , the 7.5cm P a n z e r a b w e h r k a n o n e 41 was
designed by Krupp, the o t h e r main creator of larger-
PAK 41
calibre weapons for the G e r m a n Army. T h e weapon was
characterized by the incorporation of several advanced medium towed AT gun n/a
features. T h e e q u i p m e n t was thus the largest of the
Gerlich taper-bore guns with a calibre of 7.5cm at the Calibre: Road range:
75/55mm (2.95/2.1in) n/a
breech r e d u c i n g to 5.5cm at the muzzle. It possessed
trail legs attached directly lo the one-piece shield in a Vehicle length: Range:
fashion that effected considerable economies in n/a n/a
m a n u f a c t u r i n g time a n d also in weight, a n d
incorporated an automatic hydraulic braking system
4.32m (170in) 2.59kg (51b 11.2502)
o p e r a t e d by the towing vehicle. In addition, the PaK 41
h a d a c o m m e n d a b l y low overall silhouette, a n d its Weight travelling: Armour:
comparatively light weight was a decided advantage in 1356kg (29891b) n/a
h a n d l i n g I lie weapon. But for its particular a m m u n i t i o n

r e q u i r e m e n t , which was based on a tungsten-cored shot unknown n/a
with collapsing light alloy skirts, a n d a barrel that lasted
for only 400 r o u n d s because of the d e m a n d s placed on Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
0° to +16° 1124mps (3690fps)
it, the PaK 41 might well have b e c o m e a standard
weapon. T h u s only 150 PaK 41 guns were p r o d u c e d , a n d Traverse arc: Speed:
when tungsten for their special a m m u n i t i o n was 60° n/a
exhausted, the weapons were scrapped.
JAGDPANZER 38(T)
SPECIFICATIONS M a n u f a c t u r e d f r o m 1943 to provide the G e r m a n

forces with a dedicated Panzerjager (tank h u n t e r )
capable of defeating the Allied powers' latest a r m o u r e d
JAGDPANZER 38(T) fighting vehicles, the Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer" (baiter)

was based on the redesigned hull of the PzKpfw 38(t)
light tank of Czechoslovak origins. T h e f r o n t , sides a n d
four-mari tank hunter n/a
rear of the superstructure were e x t e n d e d upward to a
small horizontal roof by the acute inward-angling of the
Calibre: Road range: front, sides a n d rear to provide superior ballistic
protection yet still providing a fighting c o m p a r t m e n t for
the four-man crew. T h e lower part of the hull's f r o n t was
6.27m (20ft 7in) n/a 6 0 m m (2.36in) thick, angled at 40°. a n d was interlocked
with the sides a n d u p p e r nose plate, the latter also
60mm thick but angled at 60° up to the top of the
n/a n/a
superstructure. T h e primary a r m a m e n t was o n e 7.5cm
Weight travelling: Armour: PaK 39 ( L / 4 8 ) g u n located some 0.38m (15in) to the
unknown 8-60mm (.3-2.36in) right of the hull centreline, a n d litted with an improved
Weight in action:
tvpe of recoil mechanism permitting the muzzle brake to
Engine:
15,925kg (35,1081b) one EPA TZJ be omitted. T h e PaK 39's elevation arc was -6° to +10°
a n d its traverse arc was 11° right a n d 5° lef t of the
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: centreline, a n d 41 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n were carried.
n/a n/a
O n e 7.92mm m a c h i n e g u n was s u p p o r t e d on a
Traverse arc:
arc: Speed:
Speed: m o u n t i n g built into the roof a n d fitted with a periscopic
n/a 25.75km/h (16mph) sight a n d e x t e n d e d trigger mechanism. Production
totalled 1577 vehicles.
G E R M A N Y
JAGDPANZERIV
I n t r o d u c e d late in 1943, the J a g d p a n z e r IV was based

on the PzKpfw IV m e d i u m tank with the turret
removed a n d the u p p e r hull revised into a fixed
SPECIFICATIONS
superstructure, including 6 0 m m (2.47in) u p p e r a n d
lower frontal plates sloped at 45° a n d 57° respectively,
JAGDPANZER IV
above the all-welded original hull. T h e sloping sides of
the superstructure e x t e n d e d beyond the vertical hull four-man tank hunter n/a
sides over the tracks to provide additional volume for
a m m u n i t i o n stowage (a m a x i m u m of 79 r o u n d s ) . Calibre: Road range:
A r m o u r skirts of 5 m m (0.2in) thickness were bolted to
brackets welded to the vehicle's sides. Vehicle length: Range:
T h e 7.5cm Pak 39 L / 4 8 main g u n was installed in the 7.29m (23ft l l i n ) n/a
sloped f r o n t plate, the m o u n t i n g being of the gimbal
type protected by a heavy external casting. T h e g u n
n/a n/a
could be elevated between -8° a n d +10°, a n d traversed
between 12° left a n d 10° right. T h e PaK 39 provided a Weight travelling: Armour:
muzzle velocity of 700m (2297ft) per second with n/a 10-60mm (,3-2.36in)
APCBC a m m u n i t i o n a n d 550m (1805ft) per second HE

a m m u n i t i o n , a n d there were also AP40 a n d smoke 23,788kg (52,4431b) Maybach HL 120 T R M
projectiles. On later models of the e q u i p m e n t the
muzzle brake was omitted, together with the machine- Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
n/a n/a
gun port on the left side of the f r o n t plate. Potent on
paper, this vehicle was unreliable a n d p r o d u c e d in too Traverse arc: Speed:
few n u m b e r s to make a real impact on the battlefield at n/a 45km/h (28mph)
a time when G e r m a n y desperately n e e d e d good kit.
MARDER III
SPECIFICATIONS D esigned as a tank destroyer on the basis of obsolete

PzKpfw II Ausf A, C a n d F light tanks, the 7.5cm
PaK 4 0 / 2 auf Sfl II (Marder II, or pine marten II) was
delivered f r o m 1942. T h e original tank superstructure
MARDER III a n d turret were replaced by a boxy o p e n - t o p p e d lighting
c o m p a r t m e n t that sloped down to the rear. T h e PaK 40
four-man tank destroyer n/a
gun, complete with its original shield, was m o u n t e d on a
platform on the f r o n t of the vehicle, the gun shield
Calibre: Road range: f o r m i n g a part of the f r o n t protective superstructure,
a n d the e n g i n e was relocated to the rear. T h e proximity
of the g u n shield to the f r o n t superstructure limited
5.76m (18ft l l i n ) n/a traverse to 65° a n d the elevation arc was -5° to +22°, a n d
37 r o u n d s were carried in total.
With a four-man crew, the Marder II t u r n e d the scales
n/a n/a
at 10,886 kg (23,999 lb). T h e 7.5cm Pak 4 0 / 3 auf Sfl 38
Weight travelling: Armour: (t) Ausf H (Marder III) was p r o d u c e d d u r i n g 1942 as a
n/a 14-25mm (.5-lin) stop-gap tank destroyer, a n d comprised PaK 40 (with up
to 40 r o u n d s ) on the chassis of the PzKpfw 38(t) light
10,685kg (23,5561b) one Praga EPA AC tank of Czechoslovak origin. T h e PaK 40's turntable was
bolted to the angle section that originally carried the
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: superstructure top plate a n d the g u n shield, up to 15mm
n/a n/a
(0.59in) thick, was o p e n at the top a n d rear. T h e g u n
Traverse arc: Speed: could be elevated between -5° a n d +22°, a n d traversed
n/a 40km/h (25mph) 65° left a n d right. T h e specifications table at left applies
to the Marder III.
G E R M A N Y
STUG III 7.5CM
r.
O therwise known as ihe 7.5cm Sturmgeschiitz III. the

7.5cm Sturmgeschiitz 40 was p r o d u c e d in t h r e e
SdKfz 142/1 versions as the definitive models of the
SPECIFICATIONS
assault g u n series based on the chassis of the PzKpfw III
m e d i u m tank. T h e first variants of this four-man vehicle
STUG III 7.5CM
were a r m e d with the 7.5cm KwK L / 2 4 short-barrel gun,
a n d were the StuG III Ausf A that was p r o d u c e d in 1940, four-man assault gun n/a
the StuG III Ausf B / I ) with chassis variations, a n d the
StuG III Ausf E of 1942 with an additional a r m o u r e d Calibre: Road range:
p a n n i e r on the right-hand side f o r radio e q u i p m e n t
when used as a unit c o m m a n d e r ' s vehicle. T h e StuG 40 Vehicle length: Range:
Ausf F that a p p e a r e d early in 1942 was a development 5.49m (18ft) n/a
with a cooling fan in the fighting c o m p a r t m e n t a n d the
m o r e p o t e n t 7.5cm S t u r m k a n o n e 40 L / 4 3 assault g u n
n/a n/a
d e v e l o p m e n t of the KwK 50 tank g u n with 54 rounds,
while the StuG 40 Ausf F / 8 h a d the longer L / 4 8 version Weight travelling: Armour:
of the same gun. Late in 1942 there a p p e a r e d the StuG n/a 30-80mm (1.2-3.15in)
40 Ausf G, based on the chassis of the PzKpfw III Ausf J

tank with the 1. 48 gun and, in place of the original 21,950kg (24,3911b) Maybach HL 120 T R M
c o m m a n d e r ' s hatch, a cupola with seven episcopes a n d
an a r m o u r e d shield for the local-defence m a c h i n e g u n Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
n/a n/a
and, on later vehicles, a r m o u r e d skirts. T h e final model
was the StuG 40 Ausf G (nicknamed the sow's head) with Traverse arc: Speed:
thicker a r m o u r a n d a cast g u n mantlet. T h e data applies n/a 40km/h (25mph)
to the StuG 40 Ausf E
FLAK 36/37
SPECIFICATIONS S uccessor to the p i o n e e r i n g FlaK 18 anti-aircraft g u n ,

which itself r e m a i n e d in first-line service to 1945, the
8.8cm Fliegerabwehrkanone 36 e n t e r e d service in 1936
FLAK 36/37 as a d e v e l o p m e n t of the FlaK 18 with a barrel of

different construction a n d a new carriage. T h e
Rheinmetall-designed barrel h a d t h r e e removable liners,
towed AA gun 8000m (26,245ft)
which could be c h a n g e d when worn a n d thus removed
the n e e d for the r e p l a c e m e n t of the complete barrel,
Calibre: Road range: a n d the new S o n d e r A n h a n g e r 202 carriage h a d d o u b l e
88mm (3.465in) n/a
wheels a n d was towed with the g u n aligned to the rear.
In 1939 there a p p e a r e d FlaK 37 d e v e l o p m e n t with a
n/a n/a revised data-transmission system optimized for the
anti-aircraft role so, unlike the dual-role FlaK 18 a n d
36 anti-tank a n d anti-aircraft guns, the FlaK 37 was a
4.93m (1994.1in) 9.24kg (20.341b)
single-role gun.
Weight travelling: Armour: T h e three guns shared a n u m b e r of c o m p o n e n t s , so it
6861kg (15,1261b) n/a was n o t u n c o m m o n to find the FlaK 18 barrel on the
FlaK 37's carriage. T h e i m p o r t a n c e of the series is
5150kg (11.5341b) n/a attested by the fact that in August 1944 there were
10,930 examples of the three weapons in service.
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: Examples of the type were also o p e r a t e d by the Italians
-3° to +85° 820mps (2690fps)
as the C a n n o n e da 8 8 / 5 6 CA, a n d self-propelled
Traverse arc: Speed: m o u n t i n g s were the 8.8cm FlaK 37 (SI) auf
360° n/a Zugkraftwagen 18t a n d the 8.8cm FlaK 37 auf
Sonderfahrgestell. They were excellent weapons.
G E R M A N Y
PAK 43
T he 8.8c:m P a n z e r a b w e h r k a n o n e 43 was a Krupp

d e v e l o p m e n t of the p r o p o s e d PaK 42. Entering
service late in 1943, this e q u i p m e n t proved itself to be
SPECIFICATIONS
the best anti-tank gun of World War II. T h e weapon
possessed a low silhouette a n d was also protected by a
PAK 43
well-sloped shield, a n d its potency was revealed by the
fact that the PaK 43 was the only G e r m a n weapon able to heavy towed AT gun n/a
p e n e t r a t e the thick a n d well-sloped a r m o u r of the Soviet
IS heavy tanks, a n d t h e n at ranges well in excess of those Calibre: Road range:
88mm (3.46in) n/a
offered by smaller-calibre guns. T h e PaK 43 was o d d for
a G e r m a n weapon in using a semi-automatic breech Vehicle length: Range:
block of the vertically falling type a n d having electrical n/a 450m (490 yards)
firing, a n d was installed on a cruciform carriage based
on that of the 8.8cm FlaK guns: thus the e q u i p m e n t was
6.61m (260.25in) 7.3kg (161b 1.5oz)
moved on f o u r wheels with the outrigger arms folded.
T h e PaK 43 could be fired f r o m this wheeled carriage, Weight travelling: Armour:
but the general practice was for the g u n to be d u g in. 5000kg (11,0231b) n/a
Self-propelled m o u n t i n g s for this exceptional weapon

were the 8.8cm PaK 4 3 / 3 auf Panzerjager 38(t), the n/a n/a
8.8cm Panzerjager 43 auf Sfl 38(d), the 8.8cm Pak 4 3 / 3
auf K r u p p Steyr Sfl 38(d), the Panzerjager II I / I V Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-8° to +40° 1130mps (3707fps)
Nashorn friiher Hornisse, the Jagdpanzer Tiger (P)
Elefant mit 8.8cm PaK 4 3 / 2 , the 8.8cm PaK 4 3 / 3 auf Traverse arc: Speed:
Panzerjager Panther, the J a g d p a n t h e r (SdKfz 173), and 360° n/a
the Jagdtiger f u r 8.8cm PaK 43 (SdKfz 186).
NASHORN
SPECIFICATIONS T he five-man vehicle originally called (he Hornisse

(hornet) but later the Nashorn (rhinoceros) was
developed as a tank destroyer a r m e d with the 8.8cm PaK
NASHORN 43 gun, and reached operational service d u r i n g

November 1942. At this time the G e r m a n Army was
h e a d i n g for defeat at Stalingrad, and the W e h r m a c h t
heavy tank destroyer n/a
desperately n e e d e d self-propelled anti-tank vehicles to
c o m b a t the increasing quantities of Red Army tanks on
Calibre: Road range: the Eastern Front.
T h e vehicle comprised the Pak 4 3 / 1 g u n on the
chassis of the PzKpfw IV m e d i u m tank with its e n g i n e
5.89m (19ft 4in) n/a (with the transmission a n d drive of the PzKpfw III)
moved forward to the centre of the hull to provide a
clear area for a fighting c o m p a r t m e n t at the rear. T h e
n/a n/a
gun was located over the e n g i n e inside a comparatively
Weight travelling: Armour: tall o p e n - t o p p e d superstructure of a r m o u r 3 0 m m
n/a 10-30mm (,3-1.18in) (1,18in) thick at the f r o n t a n d 20mm (0.79in) thick at
the sides. Supplied with a m a x i m u m of 48 r o u n d s of
24,192kg (53,3331b) Maybach HK 120 T R M a m m u n i t i o n , whose shot could p e n e t r a t e 169mm
(6.65in) of a r m o u r at 900m (985 yards), the g u n could
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: be elevated between -5° a n d +20°, a n d traversed 15° left
n/a n/a
a n d 15° right of the centreline. When the vehicle was
Traverse arc: Speed: travelling, the gun's long barrel was s u p p o r t e d by a lock
n/a 40km/h (25mph) whose two arms were h i n g e d to the f r o n t of the vehicle
a n d looked like an inverted V when clamped the barrel.
G E R M A N Y
JAGDPANTHER
G ermany's first efforts to create a decisive tank

destroyer by installing the magnificent PaK 43 g u n
on existing tracked chassis had produced useful but not
SPECIFICATIONS
exceptional vehicles: the Pzjag Tiger (P) "Elefant f r u h e r
Ferdinand" was too heavy and lacked a machine gun for
JAGDPANTHER
all-round defence (which proved disastrous at the Battle of
Kursk in July 1943, when large n u m b e r s were knocked out heavy tank destroyer n/a
by Soviet infantry), while the "Hornisse f r u h e r Nashorn"
was too small and lacked adequate performance. Calibre: Road range:
T h e obvious solution was use of the PzKpfw V
P a n t h e r ' s chassis without a turret but with the a r m o u r Vehicle length: Range:
plate of the f r o n t a n d u p p e r sides e x t e n d e d upwards a n d 9.85m (32ft 4in) n/a
roofed over to create well-sloped a n d enclosed fighting
c o m p a r t m e n t . T h e 8.8cm Pak 4 3 / 3 L / 7 1 gun was
n/a n/a
located in an a p e r t u r e in the f r o n t plate with protection
provided by a heavy cast-steel mantlet inside a cast-steel Weight travelling: Armour:
ring welded to the f r o n t plate. Provided with a n/a 15-80mm (.5-3.15in)
m a x i m u m of 50 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n , the gun could

be elevated between -8° a n d +14°, a n d traversed 13° left 45,158kg (99,5551b) Maybach HL 230 P 30
a n d 13° right of the centreline. Manufacture of the
five-man "Jagdpanther" ( h u n t i n g p a n t h e r ) started Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
n/a n/a
d u r i n g the early part of 1944 on the basis of the
P a n t h e r Ausf G chassis, a n d while the first such Traverse arc: Speed:
e q u i p m e n t s had a one-piece barrel, the definitive variant n/a 29km/h (18mph)
had a two-piece barrel.
FLAK 38/39
SPECIFICATIONS A lthough the G e r m a n air force's 8.8cm anti-aircraft

guns were to prove highly capable weapons, b o t h
against aircraft a n d against a r m o u r e d vehicles, it became
FLAK 38/39 clear in the early 1930s that larger-calibre weapons with a
h i g h e r muzzle velocity would be n e e d e d for the
e n g a g e m e n t of the high-flying aircraft that were
b e c o m i n g feasible.
heavy towed AA gun 12,800m (41,995ft)
In 1933 K r u p p a n d Rheinmetall were each tasked
Calibre: Road range: with the construction of a pair of prototypes for
105mm (4.1in) n/a
competitive evaluation in 1935. RheinmetaH's Gerat 38
was selected in 1936 a n d o r d e r e d as the 10.5cm
n/a n/a Fliegerabwehrkanone 38. In basic c o n c e p t this was an
enlarged 8.8cm FlaK 18 with significant changes
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: including the electrical control system a n d the loading
6.648m (261.7in) 15.1kg (33.31b)
mechanism subsequently a d o p t e d for the 8.8cm Flak 41,
Weight travelling: Armour: and the original FlaK 1 8 / 3 6 data-transmission system was
14,600kg (32,1871b) n/a replaced with that of the FlaK 37 d u r i n g 1939, when a
sectioned barrel was i n t r o d u c e d to create the FlaK 39.
T h e FlaK 38 a n d 39 were m a n u f a c t u r e d in quantity, even
10,240kg (22,5751b) n/a
t h o u g h they were excelled in p e r f o r m a n c e by the
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: smaller 8.8cm FlaK 41. T h e gun was generally o p e r a t e d
-3° to 85° 880mps (2887fps) by a c o m m a n d e r a n d n i n e m e n , which increased to 11
when m a n u a l loading was required. T h e "88" was an
360° n/a altogether s u p e r b weapon which was not rivalled by
anything the Allies p r o d u c e d .
G E R M A N Y
LE FH 18
T he 10.5cm le FH 18 was designed a n d developed by

Rheinmetall f r o m 1928 a n d e n t e r e d service in 1935
as what became the standard m e d i u m field howitzer of
SPECIFICATIONS
LE FH 18/40
the G e r m a n Army up to 1945. T h e le FH 18 was a
completely o r t h o d o x but capable a n d reliable weapon
given a somewhat obsolescent look as a result of its large
wheels. T h e type was latter adapted as the le FH 18.M medium field howitzer n/a
with a muzzle brake to r e d u c e the recoil forces, a n d
could fire a wide variety of shells including high Calibre: Road range:
explosive, smoke, tracer, hollow-charge a n d incendiary. 105mm (4.13in) n/a
In the period b e f o r e 1938 the type was e x p o r t e d to Vehicle length: Range:

H u n g a r y a n d Spain, a n d d u r i n g World War II was n/a 12,325m (13,480 yards)
installed in a large n u m b e r of self-propelled mountings.
T h e o n e m a j o r p r o b l e m with the le FH 18 was its
2.71m (106.7in) 14.81kg (32.651b)
considerable weight, and in March 1942 t h e r e a p p e a r e d
a r e q u i r e m e n t for a lighter howitzer offering the same Weight travelling: Armour:
capabilities. This led to the le FH 18/40, a weapon that 1955kg (43101b) n/a
combined the barrel of the le FH 18.M and a modified

7.5cm PaK 40 carriage on which the original wheels were n/a n/a
later replaced by larger wheels carrying tyres of greater
width. T h e le FH 1 8 / 4 0 (specification at right) Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-6° to +40° 540mps (1772fps)
s u p p l e m e n t e d rather than supplanted the le FH 18. T h e
latter, t h o u g h , served on all fronts in World War II a n d Traverse arc: Speed:
gave sterling service to the G e r m a n Army, proving very 56° n/a
reliable in adverse weather conditions.
WESPE
SPECIFICATIONS O therwise known as the 10.5cm leichte Feldhaubitze

auf Fgst PzKpfw II (Sd) "Wespe" (wasp), the SdKfz
124 was o n e of Germany's first g e n e r a t i o n of m e d i u m
WESPE a n d heavy self-propelled artillery. Such e q u i p m e n t was

i n t r o d u c e d to service in the middle of 1942 to improve
the fighting capability of panzer a n d motorized infantry
self-propelled howitzer n/a
divisions, a n d were hybrid weapons c o m b i n i n g existing
artillery barrels with the chassis of captured or
Calibre: Road range: obsolescent G e r m a n tanks. As a stopgap measure they
worked perfectly well, a n d were a m e a n s of utilizing
obsolete tank chassis.
4.79m (15ft 8.5in) n/a T h e five-man Wespe was created for the artillery
regiments of the p a n z e r divisions, a n d was in essence the
chassis of the PzKpfw II Ausf F light tank with its turret
n/a n/a
replaced by a fighting c o m p a r t m e n t , o p e n at the top a n d
Weight travelling: Armour: the rear, built up f r o m the existing superstructure with
n/a 5-20mm (.2-.79in) a r m o u r plate. In the f r o n t of this fighting c o m p a r t m e n t
was an a p e r t u r e for the barrel of the 10.5cm le FH 18/2
11,685kg (25,7601b) one Maybach HL 62 TR howitzer, for which 32 r o u n d s were carried. T h e le FH
1 8 / 2 could be elevated between -5° a n d +42°, a n d
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: traversed 17° left a n d right of the centreline. O n e the
n/a n/a
right-hand c o r n e r of the superstructure's f r o n t t h e r e was
Traverse arc: Speed: also a m o u n t i n g for o n e 7.92rhm MG 34 m a c h i n e gun
n/a 39km/h (24.5mph) (with 600 rounds) for the local d e f e n c e of the Wespe
(weapon on the right in the p h o t o g r a p h ) .
G E R M A N Y
STUG III 10.5CM
n t r o d u c e d to service in August 1942 a n d otherwise

I known as the Sturmhaubitze 42 Ausf F, the five-man SPECIFICATIONS
10.5cm Feldhaubitze 42 was basically identical to the
STUG III 10.5CM

Sturmgeschiitz 40 Ausf F (SdKfz 142/1) in all m a j o r
essentials except its a r m a m e n t , which was the powerful
10.5cm Sturmhaubitze 42, an L / 1 8 weapon based on the
10.5cm leichte Feldhaubitze 18. This was installed in an SP assault howitzer n/a
a r m o u r e d m o u n t i n g in the f r o n t of the raised
superstructure of welded steel a r m o u r that replaced the Calibre: Road range:
turret (as above).
This main a r m a m e n t was provided with 36 r o u n d s of Vehicle length: Range:
a m m u n i t i o n , t h o u g h n o n e of this was of the armour- 5.50m (18ft 0.5in) n/a
piercing type as the StuH 42 was i n t e n d e d solely for the
assault role in s u p p o r t of infantry, but there was no
n/a n/a
m a c h i n e g u n to provide a local d e f e n c e capability. T h e
StuH 42 howitzer could be elevated in an arc between -6° Weight travelling: Armour:
a n d +17°, a n d the weapon could be traversed 20° left n/a 80mm (3.15in)
and right of the centreline. T h e first vehicles h a d a

version of the StuH 42 with a muzzle brake, but later 23,370kg (51,5201b) one Maybach HL 120
machines were e q u i p p e d with a howitzer n o t fitted with a
muzzle brake a n d incapable of firing supercharge Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
n/a n/a
a m m u n i t i o n . Smoke dischargers were fitted at the f r o n t
of the superstructure's sides, a n d the c o m m a n d e r was Traverse arc: Speed:
provided with a cupola with episcopes for all-round n/a 40km/h (25mph)
vision on the battlefield.
JAGDTIGER
SPECIFICATIONS I n t r o d u c e d to service d u r i n g February 1944 a n d

otherwise known as the Panzerjager Tiger Ausf B f u r
12.8cm PaK 44, the six-man Jagdtiger ( h u n t i n g tiger) was
JAGDTIGER the last word in the G e r m a n Army's search for a tank

h u n t e r / d e s t r o y e r capable of destroying with a single hit
any tank fielded or likely to be fielded by the Allied
heavy tank destroyer n/a
powers. T h e Jagdtiger was based on the chassis of the
standard Tiger Ausf B (Royal Tiger) with a l e n g t h e n e d
Calibre: Road range: suspension a n d the turret replaced by a massive welded
superstructure constituting a virtually i m p e n e t r a b l e
barbette or fighting c o m p a r t m e n t . T h e f r o n t of the
10.65m (34ft 11.5in) n/a superstructure was a single piece of cast-steel a r m o u r
250mm (9.84in) in thickness a n d sloped back only 15°
f r o m the vertical, a n d in the centre of this f r o n t plate
n/a n/a
was the 12.8cm PaK 44 g u n with a massive cast mantlet to
Weight travelling: Armour: protect the a p e r t u r e in the f r o n t plate.
70,560kg (155,5561b) 30-250mm ( l . l - 9 . 9 5 i n ) T h e side plates were Interlocked with the f r o n t a n d
rear plates, a n d entry to the barbette was effected by
n/a Maybach HL 230 P30 m e a n s of a hatch with d o u b l e doors. Provided with 38
anti-tank r o u n d s of the separate-loading type, the g u n
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: was electrically fired a n d h a d a b r e e c h block of the
n/a n/a
vertical sliding type. This gun h a d an elevation arc
Traverse arc: Speed: between -7.5° to +15°, a n d could be traversed 10° left
n/a 38km/h (23.5mph) a n d right of the centreline. However, t h e r e were never
e n o u g h to make a difference on the battlefield.
G E R M A N Y
KANONE 44
W hen the\ invaded the USSR in J u n e 1941, the

Germans m a d e rapid a n d very extensive gains
against Soviet forces that were poorly trained, badly led
SPECIFICATIONS
a n d often e q u i p p e d with obsolescent if not obsolete
weapons. O n e exception, though, was Soviet m e d i u m
KANONE 44
artillery which, as the G e r m a n s rapidly f o u n d , was
technically excellent in many respects. In an effort to heavy towed field gun n/a
provide the G e r m a n Army with improved weapons in the
128mm calibre, Krupp created the 12.8cm Kanone 43 as Calibre: Road range:
128mm (5.04in) n/a
a structurally light gun with a screw breech r a t h e r than
the usual sliding block, but this f o u n d no favour, for Vehicle length: Range:
better 12.8cm k 44 (sometimes 12.8cm PaK 44) weapons n/a 24,400m (26,685 yards)
were offered by Rheinmetall-Borsig as well as Krupp as
field guns with a p o t e n t anti-tank capability on a carriage
6.625m (260.8in) 28.3kg (62.41b)
offering 360° traverse. T h e two guns were generally
similar in p e r f o r m a n c e , but the Krupp weapon was Weight travelling: Armour:
p r e f e r r e d as its four-wheel carriage offered production unknown n/a
advantages over the m o r e complicated six-wheel carriage

of the Rheinmetall weapon. Production of the K 44 10,160kg (22,391b) n/a
never rose above a trickle as a result of production
problems, however, a n d at the e n d of World War II the Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-7° to +45° 27' 920mps (3018fps)
G e r m a n Army h a d received only a few of these
impressive weapons. A v e r s i o n of the K 44 for installation Traverse arc: Speed:
in a r m o u r e d vehicles was the 12.8cm KwK 82, which was 360° n/a
installed in the Jagdtiger tank destroyer.
SIG 33
SPECIFICATIONS O f all the G e r m a n infantry support guns p r o d u c e d

for service in World War II, the most capable a n d
powerful was the 15cm schwere Infanteriegeschutz .'53.
SIG 33 P r o d u c e d bv the Rheinmetall-Borsig company f r o m

1927, the s IG 33 was a large item of e q u i p m e n t that gave
the impression, largely as a result of its steel wheels with
infantry support gun n/a
a diameter of 1.10m (43.3in), of being somewhat old
fashioned. In this instance a p p e a r a n c e was deceptive, for
Calibre: Road range: the s IC. 33 was capable a n d very reliable, and as a result
149.1mm (5.87in) n/a
the weapon r e m a i n e d in large-scale service right up to
the e n d of World War II in 1945. T h e s It; 33 had good
n/a 4700m (5140 yards) m i n i m u m and m a x i m u m range capabilities for a weapon
of its type, and could fire virtually the full range of
a m m u n i t i o n types (including the 89.5kg/197.31b muzzle-
1.650m (64.9in) 38kg (83.81b)
l a u n c h e d stick b o m b to "take out" strongpoints and
Weight travelling: Armour: b a r b e d wire e n t a n g l e m e n t s out to a range of
unknown n/a 1 0 2 5 m / 1 1 2 0 yards) for a weapon of its type. T h e s IG
Weight in action:
33"s main drawback was its high weight, a n d b e f o r e the
Engine:
1750kg (38581b) n/a outbreak of war in 1939 the G e r m a n s developed a
carriage of light alloy rather than steel m a n u f a c t u r e ,
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: which was then not put into p r o d u c t i o n . So it was only
0° to +73° 240mps (787fps)
after self-propelled m o u n t i n g s had been developed that
Traverse arc: Speed: the s IG 33 (later developed into the Sturmhaubitze 43
11° 30' n/a L / 1 2 weapon) really came into its own. These m o u n t i n g s
included the 15cm s IG 33 auf GW I Ausf B.
G E R M A N Y
KANONE 39
I n the 1930s Krupp r e s p o n d e d to a r e q u i r e m e n t of the

Turkish Army with the d e v e l o p m e n t of a powerful g u n
in 150mm calibre. Production got u n d e r way in the later
SPECIFICATIONS
stages of the decade, b u t delivery of the first c o m p l e t e d
weapons was prevented by the outbreak of World War II
KANONE 39
in S e p t e m b e r 1939 (notwithstanding its spectacular
victories, the G e r m a n Army e n t e r e d the war with a heavy towed field gun n/a
shortage of e q u i p m e n t ) . In 1940, therefore, the G e r m a n
Army decided to adopt the weapons for dual-role service Calibre: Road range:
149.1mm (5.87in) n/a
in the heavy field a n d coastal-defence roles. In the
f o r m e r the weapon was fired on its split-trail carriage, Vehicle length: Range:
while long-range accuracy in the latter role was n/a 24,700m (27,010 yards)
e n h a n c e d when the weapon was fired f r o m a mobile
turntable carried by a special transport: when the gun
7.868mm (309.7in) 43kg (94.81b)
was o p e r a t e d in this task, after the turntable h a d b e e n
d u g in, the trails were c o n n e c t e d as a single unit and the Weight travelling: Armour:
whole e q u i p m e n t could be traversed t h r o u g h 360° by n/a n/a
operation of a m e c h a n i s m powered by the rotation of a

handle. For road m o v e m e n t the K 39 was moved in t h r e e 12,200kg (26,8961b) n/a
loads (barrel a n d transporter, carriage, a n d platform a n d
t r a n s p o r t e r ) . T h e K 39 was a capable piece of artillery Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-3 to +46° 865mps (2838fps)
a n d r e m a i n e d in p r o d u c t i o n until the e n d of the war in
1945. T h e main p r o b l e m with large-calibre artillery Traverse arc: Speed:
pieces was the general lack of p r i m e movers to move 60-360° n/a
them to and from the battlefield.
HUMMEL
SPECIFICATIONS O therwise known as the 15cm schwere

Panzerhaubitze 18/1 (SI) auf Fgst PzKpfW I I I / I V or
as the Geschiitzwagen III/IV, the five-man " H u m m e l "
HUMMEL (bumble bee) was p r o d u c e d f r o m 1942 f o r service f r o m

the a u t u m n of 1943 as an item of self-propelled heavy
field artillery. Such artillery e n t e r e d G e r m a n Army
SP heavy howitzer n/a
service only in 1942, a n d was i n t e n d e d to provide
artillery support f o r panzer a n d motorized infantry
Calibre: Road range: divisions. Various obsolescent G e r m a n tank chassis were
employed, together with those of c a p t u r e d French tanks,
a n d the H u m m e l was based on a hybrid chassis based on
6.67m (21ft l l i n ) n/a that of the suspension a n d track work of the PzKpfw IV
with the engine, transmission a n d final drive of the
PzKpfw III. T h e e n g i n e was relocated to the c e n t r e of
n/a n/a
the tank, allowing the construction over the rear of the
Weight travelling: Armour: vehicle of a comparatively high a n d o p e n - t o p p e d
n/a 10-30mm (.3-1.18in) fighting c o m p a r t m e n t of well-sloped but light armour.
Weight in action:
T h e 15cm schwere Feldhaubitze 18/1 was installed with
Engine:
23,500kg (51,8081b) Maybach HL 120 T R M its barrel projecting t h r o u g h an a p e r t u r e in the f r o n t of
the fighting c o m p a r t m e n t , a n d was provided with only
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: 18 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n . T h e g u n could be elevated
n/a n/a
t h r o u g h an arc between -3 a n d +40°, and traversed a
Traverse arc: Speed: mere 3° left a n d right of the centreline. A 7.92mm MG
n/a 42km/h (26mph) 34 or MG 42 m a c h i n e g u n was provided for local
defence.
G E R M A N Y
BRUMMBAR
O therwise known as the S t u r m p a n z e r 43 or 15 cm

Sturmhaubitze 43 L / 1 2 auf Fgst PzKpfw IV (Sd),
the five-man S t u r m p a n z e r IV B r u m m b a r (grizzly bear)
SPECIFICATIONS
was created to meet the needs of the G e r m a n Army on
the Eastern Front for a heavy assault g u n carrying a
BRUMMBAR
149.1mm howitzer, the Sturmhaubitze 42 weapon that
had only an L / 1 2 barrel a n d was developed f r o m the SP assault howitzer n/a
schwere Infanteriegeschutz 33. This was fitted in a ball
m o u n t i n g that e x t e n d e d f r o m the 100mm (3.94in) thick Calibre: Road range:
f r o n t of the fixed superstructure via a large mantlet a n d
sleeve of cast armour. Vehicle length: Range:
T h e superstructure was of thick plate a n d built up 5.91m (19ft 5in) n/a
over the hull of a PzKpfw IV Ausf F, G, H or J m e d i u m
tank. This m o u n t i n g gave the howitzer an elevation arc
n/a n/a
between -8 a n d +30°, a n d a traverse arc of 20° left a n d
right of the centreline. T h e howitzer was provided with Weight travelling: Armour:
38 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n that could fire a 38kg (83.81b) n/a 20-100mm (.8-3.94in)
projectile to a range of 4275m (4675yards) with a muzzle

velocity of 240m (787ft) p e r second. Production of the 28,650kg (63,1611b) Maybach HL 120 T R M
B r u m m b a r totalled only 313 vehicles. Like many
innovative G e r m a n designs that e n t e r e d production Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
n/a n/a
towards the e n d of the war, t h e r e were never e n o u g h to
tip the scales in Germany's favour. T h o u g h they could Traverse arc: Speed:
achieve local victories, they were a case of too little, far n/a 40km/h (25mph)
too late.
QF 2-PDR
SPECIFICATIONS W ork on the design a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of the 2-pdr

anti-tank g u n began in 1934, a n d the weapon
e n t e r e d service in 1938 as a solidly constructed but
QF 2-PDR decidedly heavy e q u i p m e n t that was m o r e than twice the

weight of its G e r m a n c o u n t e r p a r t , the 3.7cm l'ak 3 5 / 3 6 .
This resulted f r o m the fact that the g u n was p l a n n e d as a
defensive weapon firing f r o m concealment, a n d was
t h e r e f o r e installed on a carriage offering 360° traverse
Calibre: Road range: a n d m o u n t e d on a tripod platform. In fact, many British
40mm (1.575in) n/a
artillery pieces were heavier than their G e r m a n
equivalents, which inhibited mobility on the battlefield.
n/a 655m (600 yards) In 1940 the g u n proved successful in the French
campaign, t h o u g h considering that the majority of
G e r m a n tanks were light PzKpfw I and II models, this is
2.08m (81.95in) 1.07kg (21b 6oz)
hardly surprising. Large n u m b e r s were a b a n d o n e d in the
Weight travelling: Armour: Dunkirk evacuation a n d seized by the G e r m a n s for
832kg (18481b) n/a service as 4cm PaK 192(e) coastal-defence weapons. T h e
g u n was already obsolete but maintained in production
n/a n/a for lack of any replacement, a n d f r o m mid-1942 was
withdrawn f r o m service with Royal Artillery anti-tank
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: batteries for infantry use. T h e g u n was used in the Far
-13° to +15° 792mps (2616fps)
East, against the m o r e lightly protected Japanese tanks,
Traverse arc: Speed: to 1945. T h e 2-pdr g u n was m a n u f a c t u r e d by Vickers-
360° n/a Armstrongs in several marks that differed in detail, a n d
the usual carriage was the Carriage 2-pdr Mark III.
GREAT B R I T A I N
QF 6-PDR
T he n e e d f o r a towed anti-tank g u n of larger calibre

b e c a m e evident even as t h e 2-pdr was e n t e r i n g
service in 1938, a n d t h e 6-pdr first g u n s were delivered
SPECIFICATIONS
in S e p t e m b e r 1941. T h e Mk I first g u n was n o t r e t a i n e d
in service a n d was r e p l a c e d by t h e short-barrel Mk II that
QF 6-PDR
was t h e n r e p l a c e d by t h e longer-barrel Mk IV ( t h e Mks
III a n d V were tank g u n s ) . medium towed AT gun n/a
W i t h i n a year t h e 6 - p d r n e e d e d a successor as it c o u l d
n o t tackle t h e f r o n t a l a r m o u r of t h e PzKpfw VI Tiger Calibre: Road range:
57mm (2.244in) n/a
heavy tank, a n d f r o m 1943 it was s u c c e e d e d in t h e Royal
Artillery's anti-tank batteries by t h e 17-pdr a n d r e l e g a t e d Vehicle length: Range:
to i n f a n t r y use, in which it lasted to t h e e n d of World n/a unknown
War II. S o m e were passed over to t h e Soviets a n d t h e
A m e r i c a n s built a copy as t h e 5 7 m m Anti-tank G u n M I .
2.44m ( l O l i n ) 2.84kg (6.21b)
T h e r e were few carriage m o d i f i c a t i o n s as t h e Carriages 6-
p d r 7 cwt Mks I, IA, a n d II d i f f e r e d only in detail, a n d Weight travelling: Armour:
the Mk III i n t e n d e d f o r use by a i r b o r n e divisions was 1112kg (24711b) n/a
thus lighter. Self-propelled m o u n t i n g s were t h e Carrier,

AEC, 6-pdr G u n , Mk I ( D e a c o n ) , t h e Morris Mk II n/a n/a
(Firefly) a n d t h e SP 6-pdr G u n Alecto Mk II. T h e 6 - p d r
was c a p a b l e of p e n e t r a t i n g 6 9 m m (2.7in) of a r m o u r at a Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-5° to +15° 823mps (2700fps)
r a n g e of 9 1 5 m (1000 yards). This p e r f o r m a n c e was
satisfactory against light a n d m e d i u m e n e m y tanks, b u t Traverse arc: Speed:
was woefully i n a d e q u a t e against s u c h vehicles as t h e 90° n/a
Tiger, w h i c h h a d a r m o u r at least 1 0 0 m m (4in) thick.
QF 31N AA
SPECIFICATIONS T he 3in 20 cvvt anti-aircraft gun was a long-lived type

that e n t e r e d service in 1914 a n d disappeared f r o m
service only in 1946. In this 33-year period the type was
QF 3IN AA steadily improved, with the result that on the outbreak of

World War II in 1939 the g u n was still moderately
effective, especially against Luftwaffe m e d i u m bombers.
medium towed AA gun 7165m (23,500ft)
T h e pace of the i m p r o v e m e n t p r o g r a m m e m e a n t that in
S e p t e m b e r 1939 t h e r e were eight marks of gun in
Calibre: Road range: service, some of t h e m with a sliding breech block
76.2mm (3in) n/a
a r r a n g e m e n t a n d others with an interrupted-screw
breech block a r r a n g e m e n t , but by the same date
n/a n/a most of the g u n s had barrels with loose liners. T h e
m o u n t i n g s on which the g u n s were installed were also
very varied: some were located statically on concrete or
3.42m (134.8in) 7.26kg (161b)
steel beds, while others were installed on two- or four-
Weight travelling: Armour: wheeled (three marks) carriages, a n d others still were
977kg (17,5851b) n/a e m b a r k e d on lorries.
Many anti-aircraft g u n n e r s p r e f e r r e d the 3in gun to
unknown n/a its p l a n n e d successor, the 3.7in g u n , as the older weapon
was easier to move a n d handle. Many examples of the
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: f o r m e r were also employed for training, and guns seized
-10° to +90° 610mps (2000fps)
by the G e r m a n s in 1940 were used with the revised
Traverse arc: Speed: designation 7.5cm Flak Vickers(e). T h e g u n saw service
360° n/a in most theatres of the war, proving a reliable weapon in
varying climatic conditions.
G R E A T B R I T A I N
ARCHER
T he four-man Archer self-propelled anti-tank g u n was

based on the chassis of the Valentine infantry tank
a n d was highly unusual in the fact that the 17-pdr anti-
SPECIFICATIONS
tank gun, a Sin weapon provided with 39 rounds, faced
to the rear. T h e idea b e h i n d this novel feature was that
ARCHER
the vehicle could position itself in o r d e r to ambush
e n e m y tanks, t h e n escape with speed o n c e the trap h a d self-propelled AT gun n/a
b e e n sprung.
T h e g u n was originally a towed e q u i p m e n t (large Calibre: Road range:
shield, split trail a r r a n g e m e n t and two wheels) designed
to succeed the 6-pdr, e n t e r e d service in August 1942, a n d Vehicle length: Range:
fired a 7.65kg (171b) shot at 884m (2900ft) per second 6.68m (21ft l l i n ) n/a
to p e n e t r a t e 130mm (5.12in )• of a r m o u r at 915m (1000
yards) at 30°. This m a d e the 17-pdr o n e of the linest
n/a n/a
anti-tank g u n s of World War II. Possessing an elevation
arc between -7° a n d +15° a n d a traverse arc of 45°, the Weight travelling: Armour:
Archer's gun was installed in an a r m o u r e d super- n/a 8-60mm (,3-2.36in)
structure at the extreme front of the vehicle. This

superstructure was usually open-topped, but later 16,257kg (35,8401b) one G M C diesel
production vehicles had a light steel roof. An order for
800 such vehicles was placed with Vickers-Ai mstrongs Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
n/a n/a
(Elswick), a n d the vehicles entered service early in 1944,
and production was terminated at the e n d of hostilities in Traverse arc: Speed:
1945 after the completion of 665 vehicles that served with n/a 24km/h (15mph)
anti-tank regiments in northwestern E u r o p e a n d Italy.
QF 25-PDR
SPECIFICATIONS D uring 1936 the Royal Artillery issued a r e q u i r e m e n t

for an improved g u n / h o w i t z e r providing a range of
12,345m (13,500 yards) or m o r e . This was beyond the
QF 25-PDR capability of the c u r r e n t 18/25-pdr Mk I conversion f r o m

18-pdr standard, so the 25-pdr Mk II was designed, o n e
of the most f a m o u s artillery pieces of World War II. This
medium gun/howitzer n/a
was at first to have possessed a split-trail carriage, but
finally a p p e a r e d with a h u m p e d box trail c o m b i n e d with
Calibre: Road range: a 360° firing platform.
87.6mm (3.45in) n/a
T h e new e q u i p m e n t e n t e r e d service in mid-1940, a n d
by 1945 m o r e t h a n 12,000 h a d been c o m p l e t e d . Strong,
n/a 12,255m (13,400 yards) reliable a n d handy, the 25-pdr served in every British
a n d C o m m o n w e a l t h theatre, a n d in North Africa
d o u b l e d as an anti-tank g u n (until the advent of the 17-
2.35m (92.5in) 11.34kg (251b)
pdr) with a telescopic sight a n d double-baffle muzzle
Weight travelling: Armour: brake. T h e 25-pdr g u n r e m a i n e d essentially u n a l t e r e d
1801kg (39681b) n/a t h r o u g h o u t its p r o d u c t i o n life, but a narrower Mk II
carriage was developed for jungle and a i r b o r n e service,
n/a n/a while the Mk III carriage h a d a hinged trail for increased
elevation capability in m o u n t a i n o u s regions. T h e
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: G e r m a n s e q u i p p e d several artillery regiments with
-5° to +40° 532mps (1745fps)
c a p t u r e d 25-pdr guns, which they designated as the
Traverse arc: Speed: 8.76cm F e l d k a n o n e 280(e). British self-propelled
8°- 360° n/a m o u n t i n g s included the Carrier, Valentine, 25-pdr Gun,
Mk I, Bishop a n d the 25-pdr, SP, Tracked, Sexton.
GREAT B R I T A I N
QF 3.7IN AA
I n 1933, a f t e r a delay d a t i n g f r o m 1920, t h e British

finally issued a r e q u i r e m e n t f o r a 3.7in anti-aircraft
g u n , a n d Vickers-Armstrongs c o m p l e t e d a p r o t o t y p e
SPECIFICATIONS
d u r i n g 1936. T h e new g u n e n t e r e d service in 1938, b u t
deliveries were slow b e c a u s e t h e m a n u f a c t u r e of t h e QF 3.7IN AA
c o m p l e x carriage was considerably slower t h a n that of
t h e s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d g u n . T h e g u n was p r o d u c e d i n t h r e e
heavy towed AA gun 9755m (32,000ft)
m a r k s a n d was of m o d e r n design with a loose liner, a n d
t h o u g h t h e four-wheel m o u n t i n g was i n t e n d e d t o m a k e Calibre: Road range:
t h e w e a p o n fully m o b i l e , its weight m e a n t that t h e 94mm (3.7in) n/a
e q u i p m e n t c o u l d be classified only as semi-mobile.
With g u n m a n u f a c t u r e o u t s t r i p p i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n o f n/a n/a
t h e Mks I, IA, III a n d IIIA m o b i l e m o u n t i n g s , o t h e r
c o m p a n i e s were called i n t o t h e p r o g r a m m e t o p r o d u c e
4.7m (185in) 12.96kg (28.561b)
the less c o m p l i c a t e d Mks II a n d I I A / C fixed m o u n t i n g s
f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n of high-priority targets. T h e design Weight travelling: Armour:
was later simplified to ease m a n u f a c t u r e , p o w e r r a m m e r s 9317kg (20,5401b) n/a
a n d a u t o m a t i c fuse setters were a d d e d , a n d p r e d i c t o r s
a n d data-transmission systems were u p g r a d e d to m a k e unknown n/a
t h e 3.7in g u n m o r e reliable a n d m o r e capable. T h e
G e r m a n s used c a p t u r e d e x a m p l e s with t h e d e s i g n a t i o n Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
9.4cm FlaK Vickers M . 3 9 ( e ) , f o r which they -5° to +80° 793mps (2600fps)
m a n u f a c t u r e d 100,000 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n early in
1943. T h e d a t a in t h e specifications b o x refers to t h e Mk 360° n/a
III g u n on Mk III m o u n t i n g .
4.5IN GUN MK II
SPECIFICATIONS I n the later part of the 1930s, when it was appreciated

that the c u r r e n t p r o g r a m m e of adapting existing 60-
p d r gun carriages to take a new 4.5in g u n barrel would
4.5IN GUN MK II not satisfy the full r e q u i r e m e n t of the Royal Artillery's

m e d i u m regiments, the British Army decided to create a
new e q u i p m e n t that c o m b i n e d a new 4.5in g u n on the
carriage being p l a n n e d f o r the new 5.5in howitzer.
heavy towed gun n/a
T h e design a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of the new g u n was
Calibre: Road range: complete by 1940, but the p r o g r a m m e was then checked
114.3mm (4.5in) n/a
by problems with the new carriage. In fact, the design
was developed a n d built by 1940, but difficulties with the
n/a 18,745m (20,500 yards) new carriage m e a n t that it was 1941 b e f o r e the
e q u i p m e n t e n t e r e d service. T h e task of the 4.5in gun was
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: long-range interdiction a n d counter-battery fire, but
4.764m (187.55in) 24.97kg (551b)
experience soon revealed that capability in these tasks
Weight travelling: Armour: was h a m p e r e d by the modest 1.76kg (3.8751b) high
15,251kg (33,6001b) n/a explosive load of the shell. Production priority was t h e n
switched to the 5.5in howitzer, a n d the last 4.5in guns
were pulled out of service after the e n d of World War II
5842kg (12,8801b) n/a
in 1945. T h e g u n was conventional in c o n c e p t a n d
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: average in p e r f o r m a n c e but notable for its strength,
-5° to 45° 686mps (2250fps) while the two carriage variants, which differed only in
modest detail, were of the split-trail type a n d f e a t u r e d
60° n/a very p r o m i n e n t equilibrators. It served the British Army
well in its various campaigns.
GREAT B R I T A I N
5.5IN GUN MK III
I t was in t h e m i d d l e of the 1930s that the British Army

d e c i d e d t h a t t h e Royal Artillery r e q u i r e d a t h o r o u g h l y
m o d e r n l o n g - r a n g e g u n f o r the counter-battery a n d
SPECIFICATIONS
i n t e r d i c t i o n roles. T h e result was to e x c e e d all
expectations, a n d would c r e a t e a g u n that was to have a
5.5IN GUN MK III
c a r e e r of s o m e 40 years.
A r e q u i r e m e n t was accordingly issued f o r a 5in heavy towed gun n/a
( 127mm) g u n to (ire a 45.4kg (1001b) shell over a r a n g e
of 14,630 m (16,000 yards). T h e r e q u i r e m e n t was altered Calibre: Road range:
in 1939 to cover a g u n of 140mm (5.5in) calibre, a n d 139.7mm (5.5in) n/a
p r o t o t y p e g u n s were successfully evaluated in 1940. Vehicle length: Range:

D e s i g n e d f o r the originally s c h e m e d 5in w e a p o n , the n/a 14,815m (16,200 yards)
carriage was too light f o r t h e larger-calibre w e a p o n , so a
new carriage h a d t o b e c r e a t e d a n d the new e q u i p m e n t
4.176m (164.4in) 36.32kg (801b)
t h u s e n t e r e d service only in 1941. F r o m this time
o n w a r d , however, the 5.5in g u n s proved to be a m a j o r Weight travelling: Armour:
success, a n d t h e type r e m a i n e d in service with s o m e n/a n/a
armies i n t o t h e early 1980s.

Firing a heavier shell (with a p r o p o r t i o n a l l y g r e a t e r 5792kg (12,7701b) n/a
high explosive load f o r g r e a t e r destructive effect) to a
slightly s h o r t e r r a n g e , t h e 5.Sin g u n was generally Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-5° to +45° 762mps (2500fps)
s u p e r i o r to t h e 4.5in g u n , a n d was used as m u c h as a
howitzer as a g u n . T h e n o r m a l projectile weight was Traverse arc: Speed:
45.4kg (1001b), t h o u g h the g u n also fired a lighter 60° n/a
r o u n d that w e i g h e d 36.32kg (801b).
61N GUN MK VII
SPECIFICATIONS T he Gin G u n Mk VIII saw only the most limited a n d

specialized service in the course of World War II.
T h e e q u i p m e n t had been created in World War I as the
6IN GUN MK VII combination of a 6in g u n surplus to naval a n d coastal

d e f e n c e requirements, on the carriage of the 8in
Howitzer Mks VII a n d VIII.
heavy towed gun n/a
T h e weapon saw only limited service with the British,
but there were sufficient e q u i p m e n t s on h a n d when the
Calibre: Road range: USA e n t e r e d World War I in April 1917 for that country,
152.4mm (6in) n/a
which had an acute lack of heavy artillery suitable for
Vehicle length: Range: service on the Western Front, to buy substantial n u m b e r s
n/a 16,595m (18,150 yards) for service with the revised designation Bin G u n M1917.
T h e surviving e q u i p m e n t s were shipped to the P a n a m a
Canal Zone after the e n d of the war a n d t h e r e became
5.58m (219.7in) 45.4kg (1001b)
coast-defence weapons on special concrete "Panama
Weight travelling: Armour: M o u n t " firing platforms (similar to those in the above
unknown n/a p h o t o g r a p h ) . These weapons were never used in anger
against an enemy.
10,999kg (24,2501b) n/a By 1939 the weapons had b e e n fitted with large
p n e u m a t i c tyres for improved mobility but were
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: nonetheless completely obsolete a n d on the verge of
0° to +38° 770mps (2525fps)
being scrapped when Brazil b o u g h t just u n d e r 100 to
Traverse arc: Speed: improve h e r coastal defences. As the G e r m a n s never
8° n/a l a u n c h e d an a m p h i b i o u s invasion of the British Isles, the
guns were never called u p o n to fulfil their duty.
GREAT B R I T A I N
6IN GUN MK XIX
T he first p a t t e r n of 6in g u n s f o r service with tlie

British Army were c r e a t e d f o r t h e long-range
b o m b a r d m e n t role in World War I, a n d of t h e very m a n y
SPECIFICATIONS
m a r k s only the 6in G u n Mk XIX survived in first-line
service at the b e g i n n i n g of World War II in 1939. World
6IN G U N M K XIX
War I h a d seen a h u g e rise in heavy artillery s t r e n g t h s
d u e to t h e d e m a n d s of t r e n c h warfare. Ironically, as the heavy towed gun n/a
m a j o r powers t h o u g h t that t h e n e x t war would be similar,
large n u m b e r s of heavy artillery pieces h a d b e e n h e l d in Calibre: Road range:
152.4mm (6in) n/a
reserve. G r e a t Britain was no d i f f e r e n t , a n d stockpiled
pieces up to 18in in calibre. Vehicle length: Range:
T h e 6in G u n h a d originally b e e n installed o n the n/a 17,145m (18,750 yards)
carriage of t h e 8in Howitzer with large-diameter traction
e n g i n e wheels a n d a substantial b o x trail. But m o d e s t
5.33mm (210in) about 45.4kg (1001b)
i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e 1930s h a d i n c l u d e d m o r e m o d e r n
wheels with p n e u m a t i c tyres f o r high-speed traction. Weight travelling: Armour:
W h e n G e r m a n y attacked F r a n c e in May 1940, t h e British 10338kg (22,7901b) n/a
E x p e d i t i o n a r y Force h a d only 13 e x a m p l e s of this

obsolescent w e a p o n in its inventory. T h e G e r m a n s seized unknown n/a
all of these w e a p o n s as they were t o o heavy f o r
evacuation f r o m D u n k i r k ( o n e of t h e disadvantages of Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
0° to +38° 733mps (2405fps)
heavy artillery pieces), a n d t h e n s c r a p p e d t h e w e a p o n s
for t h e i r steel. T h e few such e q u i p m e n t s still in G r e a t Traverse arc: Speed:
Britain were installed at carefully surveyed sites as coast- 8° n/a
defence weapons.
61N HOWITZER MK I
SPECIFICATIONS W ork on the design of the weapon that became the

Bin 26 cwt Howitzer started in 1915. T h e weapon
e n t e r e d service later in the same year, a n d large-scale
6IN HOWITZER MK I m a n u f a c t u r e m e a n t that by the war's e n d in 1918 m o r e

than 4000 such weapons were in use. Few changes were
ever effected in the weapon, a n d the carriage was
heavy towed howitzer n/a
u p d a t e d only in the late 1930s with the a d o p t i o n of the
Mks IP a n d IR carriages characterized by p n e u m a t i c
Calibre: Road range: tyres. In 1939 the 6in howitzer was the most n u m e r o u s
152.4mm (6in) n/a
item of artillery in the Royal Artillery regiments of the
British Expeditionary Force despatched to France after
n/a 10,425m (11,400 yards) the start of World War II.
Most of these 220 or so weapons were c a p t u r e d by the
G e r m a n s a n d later placed in service as 15.2cm schwere
2.027m (79.8in) 45.48kg (100.191b)
Feldhaubitze 412(e) pieces. T h e weapons left in British
Weight travelling: Armour: h a n d s were used mainly for training, although some saw
4468kg (98501b) n/a service d u r i n g 1941 in North Africa a n d Eritrea. In the
early 1920s weapons of this type had b e e n e x p o r t e d to
unknown n/a f o u r o t h e r countries, but the Soviet e q u i p m e n t s h a d
b e e n phased o u t of service by 1941 <md those of the
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: o t h e r three (together with their final G e r m a n
0° to +45° 430mps (1410fps)
designations) were the Belgian Obusier de 6in (15.2cm
Traverse arc: Speed: schwere Feldhaubitze 410[b]), the Dutch Houwitzer 6in
8° n/a (15.2cm sFH 407[h]) and the Italian Obice da 1 5 2 / 1 3
(15.2cm sFH 412[i]).
GREAT B R I T A I N
7.2IN HOWITZER
MK V
B y t h e mid-1930s t h e British Army h a d perceived t h e

n e e d for a w h o l e n e w r a n g e of m o d e r n artillery, but
lacked the f u n d i n g for large-scale design, d e v e l o p m e n t
SPECIFICATIONS
a n d p r o d u c t i o n . T h u s a f t e r its e x p u l s i o n f r o m m a i n l a n d
E u r o p e in J u n e 1940, w h e n all heavy w e a p o n s h a d to be
7.2IN HOWITZER MK V
a b a n d o n e d as they were too heavy to get to the C h a n n e l
b e f o r e the G e r m a n s overtook t h e m , the British Army was heavy towed howitzer n/a
woefully short of m o d e r n e q u i p m e n t (it was a small
c o m f o r t that t h e G e r m a n s s c r a p p e d most of t h e large Calibre: Road range:
182.9mm (7.2in) n/a
pieces a n d recycled t h e m e t a l ) .
A m o n g t h e m a n y e x p e d i e n c i e s now f o r c e d o n the Vehicle length: Range:
army was t h e c r e a t i o n of a "new" howitzer: old Sin n/a 15,455m (16,900 yards)
howitzer barrels were fitted with a new 183mm (7.2in)
liner to p r o d u c e t h e 7.2in Howitzer. T h i s i n t e r i m
4.092m (161.1in) 91.7kg (2021b)
w e a p o n p r o v e d very useful a n d s o o n t h e r e were
d e m a n d s f o r m o r e such w e a p o n s despite t h e fact t h a t Weight travelling: Armour:
t h e w e a p o n recoiled s o heavily that w o o d e n r a m p s h a d 10,387kg (22,9001b) n/a
to be a d d e d b e h i n d t h e wheels to c h e c k the recoil,

which r e q u i r e d the howitzer to be re-laid b e f o r e b e i n g n/a n/a
fired o n c e m o r e . A m o n g t h e several barrel variants were
t h e Mks I, I*, II, III, IV a n d V that d i f f e r e d only in t h e Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
0° to +45° 518mps (1700fps)
type of 8in b a r r e l f r o m which they were c r e a t e d .
E n t e r i n g service in 1941, t h e 7.2in Howitzer r e m a i n e d in Traverse arc: Speed:
w i d e s p r e a d service to 1945. It gave sterling service to t h e 8° n/a
British Army.
7.2IN HOWITZER
MK VI
SPECIFICATIONS T he 7.2in Howitzer Mks I to V weapons were created

in 1940 by relining Sin (203mm) howitzer barrels to
create very useful weapons firing an effective shell, but
7.2IN HOWITZER MK VI were tactically h a m p e r e d by their obsolete carriage of

the box trail type with large-diameter wheels only
marginally improved by the use of p n e u m a t i c tyres.
In 1944, therefore, a significantly longer L / 3 4 . 4 barrel
was introduced in succession to the original L / 2 3 . 7
Calibre: Road range: barrel to create the G u n Mk VI, a n d this was installed
182.9mm (7.2in) n/a
on an altogether m o r e m o d e r n carriage, namely that
c o m m o n to the American 155mm G u n Ml a n d Sin
n/a 17,990m (19,675 yards) I lowitzer M1.
This carriage was of the split-trail type with f o u r pairs
of pneumatically tyred wheels on two axles. T h e new
6.30m (248in) 91.7kg (2001b)
carriage provided far better firing stability a n d thus
Weight travelling: Armour: m u c h improved range without loss of accuracy to
n/a n/a create a very useful weapon. T h e earlier weapons were
Weight in action:
withdrawn as the new c o m b i n a t i o n b e c a m e available.
Engine:
13,211kg (29,1251b) n/a It is worth n o t i n g that modest n u m b e r s of Mks I a n d I*
barrels were also installed on the US carriage to
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: b e c o m e Mk V* weapons, a n d repaired examples of the
-2° to +65° 497mps (1630fps)
Mk VI g u n were known as Mk V I / 1 weapons.
Traverse arc: Speed: T h e g u n was used t h r o u g h o u t E u r o p e between 1944 a n d
60° n/a 1945. Massed in batteries it proved very effective in
breaching a n d r e d u c i n g G e r m a n defensive positions.
ITALY
GUN 75/27 MO 11
T he general poverty of Italian artillery design

capability in the first part of the twentieth century is
attested by the fact that the two standard 75mm
SPECIFICATIONS
field guns a d o p t e d in the period before World War l's
beginning in 1914 were of non-Italian design, for in
GUN 75/2.7 MO 11
addition to the German-created modello 06 there was
the French-designed C a n n o n e da 7 5 / 2 7 modello 11. light towed gun n/a
This latter offered m u c h the same p e r f o r m a n c e as the
modello (Hi, b u t in some respects was a m o r e advanced Calibre: Road range:
75mm (2.95in) n/a
battlefield weapon.
T h e most impressive features were the use of a split- Vehicle length: Range:
trail a r r a n g e m e n t with the spade plates that were t h e n n/a 10,240m (11,200 yards)
b e c o m i n g accepted as a m e a n s of improving the
e q u i p m e n t s stability as the gun was fired, a n d a recoil
2.132m (83.9in) 6.35kg (141b)
m e c h a n i s m that r e m a i n e d fixed regardless of the barrel's
elevation. T h e modello 1 1 was s c h e m e d as a cavalry Weight travelling: Armour:
support weapon, but was so successful that it was also 1900kg (41891b) n/a
issued to batteries of standard field artillery. In June

1940 the Italian Army still had some 1800 75mm guns on 1076kg (23721b) n/a
strength, and a large p r o p o r t i o n of these were modello
11 weapons. Those that survived to 19 13 were then Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-15° to +65° 502mps (1647fps)
seized by the G e r m a n s for service with the revised
designation 7.5cm F e l d k a n o n e 244(i). However, bv this Traverse arc: Speed:
stage of the war they were of little use apart f r o m in 52°9' n/a
anti-partisan operations.
GUN 90/53
SEMOVENTE
SPECIFICATIONS B y 1939, the Italian Army h a d recognized the n e e d for

an anti-aircraft gun of larger calibre than its c u r r e n t
7 5 m m mainstay. Ansaldo completed the first C a n n o n e da
GUN 90/53 SEMOVENTE

9 0 / 5 3 GA later in the same year. Test firing revealed that
this was a good weapon, a n d it was rapidly o r d e r e d into
p r o d u c t i o n in three versions.
SP anti-tank n/a
T h e four-man Semovente modello 41M da 9 0 / 5 3 self-
propelled anti-tank g u n was a very effective e q u i p m e n t
Calibre: Road range: a n d comprised the C a n n o n e da 9 0 / 5 3 gun on a
90mm (3.54in) 200km (124 miles) modified Carro Armato modello 1 4 / 4 1 tank chassis. T h e
e q u i p m e n t was p l a n n e d to provide the Italian forces on
5.2m (17ft l i n ) n/a the Eastern Front with a means to "kill" the Soviet T-34
m e d i u m tank, but in the event n o n e was ever sent to this
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: theatre: 24 of the 30 modello 41M vehicles that were
n/a n/a
eventually completed were used in the Sicilian campaign
Weight travelling: Armour: of July 1943 with Italian crews u n d e r G e r m a n tactical
n/a 10-40mm (.39-1.58in) c o m m a n d . T h e gun was installed over the rear of the
vehicle b e h i n d a substantial a r m o u r e d shield offering
17,275kg (38,0841b)
lateral as well as frontal protection, a n d the long barrel
SPA 15 T M 4 1
was s u p p o r t e d in the travelling position by a lock over
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: the f r o n t of the vehicle. T h e gun possessed an elevation
-2° to +85° n/a arc between -5° a n d +24° as well as a traverse arc of 80°.
Six r o u n d s were carried on the vehicle, with a n o t h e r 26
360° 35km/h (21.75mph)
on an accompanying a r m o u r e d a m m u n i t i o n carrier that
towed an trailer with a f u r t h e r 40 rounds.
ITALY
GUN 149/40 M 0 35
D esigned to provide the Italian Army with a

r e p l a c e m e n t f o r its ancient C a n n o n e da 149/35
heavy g u n dating f r o m the turn of the 19th century, the
SPECIFICATIONS
prototype of a new 149mm weapon was completed by
Ansaldo in 1934 a n d t h e n o r d e r e d into p r o d u c t i o n as
GUN 149/40 M0 35
the C a n n o n e da 1 4 9 / 4 0 modello 35 in the following
year. By the time of Italy's entry into World War II heavy towed gun n/a
some 590 such e q u i p m e n t s had b e e n o r d e r e d but by
S e p t e m b e r 1941 only slightly m o r e than 50 were in Calibre: Road range:
149.1mm (5.87in) n/a
first-line service.
T h e modello 35 had an advanced design that ensured Vehicle length: Range:
that the weight of the g u n was off the wheels when fired, n/a 23,700m (25,920 yards)
but the large split trails were a n c h o r e d by h a m m e r e d
trail spikes and, to ensure stability when the g u n was
5.964m (234.8in) 46kg (101.41b)
fired, the wheels were n o t removed. T h e r e is little d o u b t
that the modello 35 was a m o n g the best pieces of Weight travelling: Armour:
artillery used by the Italians in World War II, but the n/a n/a
i m p o r t a n c e of the type was greatly diminished by the

small n u m b e r of e q u i p m e n t s completed. For m o v e m e n t 11,340kg (25,0001b) n/a
the modello 35 was divided into two loads towed by
tractors. In 1943 the G e r m a n s seized all of the weapons Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
0° to +45° 800mps (2625fps)
that they could for service with the designation 15cm
Kanone 408(i), a n d Ansaldo p r o d u c e d a f u r t h e r 12 Traverse arc: Speed:
specifically for G e r m a n service, indicating that the 60° n/a
G e r m a n Army liked the weapon.
GUN 149/19 MO 41
SPECIFICATIONS I t was in the late 1920s that the Italian Army decided it
n e e d e d a m o d e r n heavy howitzer. Although work on a
new weapon began in 1930 with the Direzione Servizio
GUN 149/19 MO 41 Tecnici Armi e Munizioni supervising the efforts of the

Ansaldo a n d O T O design teams, it was 1938 b e f o r e the
first 16 prototype a n d service trial examples of the Obice
da 1 4 9 / 1 9 modello 37 (specification at left) a p p e a r e d .
T h e Italian Army o r d e r e d 1392 p r o d u c t i o n examples
Calibre: Road range: f r o m Ansaldo a n d O T O , but only just u n d e r 150
149.1mm (5.87 in) n/a
weapons h a d been delivered by S e p t e m b e r 1943, the
date Italy effectively quit the war on the Axis side, after
n/a 14,250m (15,585 yards) which t h e r e was a modest increase in the p r o d u c t i o n
rate f o r the three variants of this howitzer, namely the
modelli 37, 41 a n d 42 (greater elevation arc a n d range)
2.90m (114in) 14,250m (15,585 yards)
that differed f r o m each o t h e r only in m i n o r details.
Weight travelling: Armour: All three variants were of o r t h o d o x design a n d
6700kg (14,7711b) n/a m o u n t e d on an u n a d v e n t u r o u s two-wheeled carriage of
the split-trail type, a n d were t h o u g h t by the Italians to be
5500kg (12,1251b) n/a superior to equivalent Allied weapons. T h e p r o d u c t i o n
line was located in n o r t h e r n Italy, so after the partition
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: of Italy following the armistice of S e p t e m b e r 1943, the
+5° to +60° 600mps (1969fps)
G e r m a n s were able to keep the weapon in p r o d u c t i o n
Traverse arc: Speed: for their own use with the revised designation 15cm
50° n/a schwere Feldhaubitze 404(i). This weapon was a reliable
and robust heavy artillery piece.
ITALY
GUN 210/22 MO 35
C reated at the same time as the C a n n o n e da 1 4 9 / 5 0

gun in the mid-1980s in an effort to provide the
Italian Army's artillery a r m with heavy e q u i p m e n t of
SPECIFICATIONS
m o d e r n capability, the Obice da 2 1 0 / 2 2 was designed by
the army's own Servizio Tecnici Armi e Munizioni a n d
GUN 210/22 M0 35
m a n u f a c t u r e d by Ansaldo, although O T O was also
involved at a later date. O r d e r s for 346 such e q u i p m e n t s heavy towed howitzer n/a
had b e e n placed by 1940, but by S e p t e m b e r 1942 only 20
were in operational service. T h e modello 35 was o n e of Calibre: Road range:
210mm (8.269in) n/a
the finest items of Italian artillery as it offered an
excellent c o m b i n a t i o n of mobility, accuracy a n d weight Vehicle length: Range:
of fire. T h e carriage was of the split-trail type and all f o u r n/a 15,400m (16,840 yards)
main wheels were lifted off the g r o u n d for firing, a n d
o n c e the trail spades h a d b e e n lifted, the carriage a n d
5m (196.9in) 133kg (2931b)
platform could be traversed t h r o u g h 360°. For
m o v e m e n t the modello 35 was generally transported as Weight travelling: Armour:
two loads (barrel a n d carriage), but the e q u i p m e n t unknown n/a
could be f u r t h e r broken down into f o u r primary a n d

o n e secondary loads, the latter for ancillary a n d assembly 15,885kg (35,0201b) n/a
e q u i p m e n t . A n u m b e r of these fine weapons were sold to
H u n g a r y f o r service with the local designation 21cm Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
0° to +70° 560mps (1837fps)
39.M. An u p g r a d e d d e v e l o p m e n t m a d e u n d e r licence
were the 40.M a n d finally 40.aM standards, a n d after Traverse arc: Speed:
1943 the G e r m a n s kept the 2 1 0 / 2 2 in Italian p r o d u c t i o n 75-360° n/a
as the 21cm Haubitze 520(i).
37MM GUN TYPE 94
SPECIFICATIONS W hen it was i n t r o d u c e d to service in 1934 (the

Japanese year 2594, h e n c e the designation), the
3 7 m m Type 94 was m e a n t to be an infantry weapon for
37MM GUN TYPE 94 use in the anti-tank a n d s u p p o r t roles. Bv 1941 the

weapon's anti-tank capability was realized as wholly
insufficient (it was capable of p e n e t r a t i n g 2 4 m m [.94in]
of a r m o u r at a range of 900m [985 yards]), but the
light AT and support gu n n/a
weapon was retained in service for lack of any
Calibre: Road range: replacement. T h e J a p a n e s e Army t h e r e f o r e used the
37mm (1.46in) n/a weapon increasingly in the s u p p o r t role, t h o u g h even
then its p e r f o r m a n c e was a d e q u a t e at best.
n/a 4550m (4975 yards) In c o m m o n with most o t h e r J a p a n e s e guns that
e n t e r e d service b e f o r e World War II, the Type 94 was
notably low in silhouette, light e n o u g h for easy
1.6865m (66.4in) n/a
m a n h a n d l i n g on the battlefield (as can be seen above),
Weight travelling: Armour: although it was towed over longer distances by a vehicle
n/a n/a or d r a u g h t animals, a n d basically o r t h o d o x in its design.
T h e large-diameter wheels were of the wooden-spoked or
320kg (705.51b) n/a
metal disc types, a n d the g u n was a n c h o r e d in firing
position by spades h a m m e r e d into the g r o u n d at the
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: rear e n d s of the split trails, the split trails were a n c h o r e d
-10° to +27° 700mps (2297fps) by spades which were driven down into the g r o u n d . T h e
horizontally sliding breech block was of the semi-
60° n/a automatic type, a n d the g u n was manually loaded. T h e
above p h o t o g r a p h shows a captured m o d e l in US use.
JAPAN
47MM ANTI-TANK
GUN TYPE 1
T he only anti-tank gun of wholly indigenous design to

e n t e r p r o d u c t i o n for ihe Imperial J a p a n e s e Army,
the 4 7 m m Anti-tank G u n Type 1 was standardized for
SPECIFICATIONS
service d u r i n g 1941 (hence the Type 1, or year 2601
designation). Designed by the army's own o r d n a n c e
47MM ANTI-TANK GUN
d e p a r t m e n t and m a n u f a c t u r e d by its Osaka Arsenal, the
Type 1 weapon had a fairly m o d e r n a p p e a r a n c e but, by light towed AT gun n/a
comparison with the anti-tank g u n s fielded by o t h e r
world powers at this time, was somewhat lacking in Calibre: Road range:
47mm (1.85in) n/a
overall p e r f o r m a n c e as the Japanese themselves faced
little a r m o u r e d opposition in their war in China a n d felt Vehicle length: Range:
that possible o p p o n e n t s of the f u t u r e , most notably the n/a 460m (500 yards)
Americans, British a n d Dutch, would o p e r a t e only light
tanks offering capabilities no better than the a r m o u r e d
2.527m (99.5in) 1.4kg (3.081b)
vehicles of the J a p a n e s e Army. T h e Type 1 weapon had a
semi-automatic breech block, which automatically Weight travelling: Armour:
o p e n e d a n d ejected the spent case after a r o u n d had n/a n/a
b e e n fired, a n d a m o n g its o t h e r features were a split-trail

carriage with a shield and two wheels that were at first of 750kg (16531b) n/a
the spoked w o o d e n type with steel tyres but t h e n of the
steel type with p n e u m a t i c tyres. T h e J a p a n e s e used the Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-11° to +19° 825mps (2707fps)
Type 1 g u n in most theatres, but most notably in
Southeast Asia, and also developed the weapon as the Traverse arc: Speed:
Tank G u n Type 1 as the main a r m a m e n t of the Type 97 60° n/a
CHI-HA M e d i u m Tank.
75MM PACK GUN
TYPE 94
SPECIFICATIONS T he J a p a n e s e 7 5 m m Mountain G u n Type 94, which

was a pack weapon designed for easy breaking down
into loads that could be carried by pack animals, was
75MM PACK GUN TYPE 94

based on the Regimental Gun Type 41, a n o t h e r pack
g u n which the m o r e m o d e r n weapon succeeded in
service with the m o u n t a i n artillery regiments of the
Imperial Japanese Army f r o m 1934.
light pack gun n/a
By comparison with its predecessor, the Type 94 g u n
Calibre: Road range: i n t r o d u c e d a revised trail a n d a longer barrel
75mm (2.95in) n/a characterized by a sliding breech block. T h e overall
design was neatly conceived along m o d e r n lines, a n d the
n/a 8175m (8940 yards) gun possessed considerable strength while it was also
capable of being b r o k e n down, in a time of some 3 to 5
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: minutes, into 11 loads for carriage on 6 d r a u g h t animals
1.56m (61.5in) 6.18kg (13.621b)
or by m e n : 18 m e n were a d e q u a t e to move the loads
Weight travelling: Armour: over easy country, but m o r e were necessary in difficult
n/a n/a conditions. O n c e all 11 loads had arrived at the new
firing position, the Type 94 g u n could be put back
together in some 10 minutes.
535kg (11791b) n/a
T h e Type 94 r e m a i n e d in service with the Imperial
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: J a p a n e s e Army right to e n d of World War II in 1945. T h e
-10° to +45° 355mps (1165fps)
weapon was also i n t e n d e d for use by the army's a i r b o r n e
Traverse arc: Speed: arm, but appears n o t to have b e e n employed in this task.
40° n/a T h e a i r b o r n e arm was, in any case, deficient in troop-
a n d equipment-carrying aircraft.
JAPAN
75MM AA GUN
TYPE 88
D ating f r o m 1928, the 75mm Mobile Field Anti-

Aircraft Gun Type 88 was possibly p r o d u c e d in
larger n u m b e r s than any o t h e r m e d i u m anti-aircraft g u n
SPECIFICATIONS
75MM AA GUN TYPE 88
for the Imperial Japanese Army. T h e weapon was
allocated to virtually every anti-aircraft artillery field
r e g i m e n t to provide campaign forces with a high level of
protection against medium-altitude air attack. medium towed AA gun 7200m (23,620ft)
However, as World War II c o n t i n u e d many of these
e q u i p m e n t s were withdrawn f r o m field units a n d Calibre: Road range:
75mm (2.95in) n/a
reallocated to regiments tasked with the d e f e n c e of the
J a p a n e s e h o m e islands against air attack and, Vehicle length: Range:
increasingly m o r e probable f r o m 1945 onwards, n/a n/a
a m p h i b i o u s assault. Despite the i m p o r t a n c e of the
weapon, the Type 88 gun was in fact p r o d u c e d only in
3.315m (130.5in) 6.58kg (14.51b)
m o d e s t n u m b e r s , for it was similar to o t h e r Japanese
m e d i u m - a n d large-calibre weapons in being Weight travelling: Armour:
m a n u f a c t u r e d in a process requiring extensive 2750kg (60631b) n/a
machining. In overall capability the Type 88 g u n was in

no way exceptional, a n d for use was installed on a 2445kg (53901b) n/a
pedestal m o u n t i n g stabilized on the g r o u n d by f o u r
outrigger legs. H a d the weapons r e m a i n e d with g r o u n d Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
0° to +85° 720mps (2362fps)
f orces they may have taken a large toll of American
aircraft, but as it was they m a d e little difference when it Traverse arc: Speed:
came to d e f e n d i n g the h o m e islands, which were being 360° n/a
p o u n d e d by massive American air fleets.
75MM FIELD GUN
TYPE 38
SPECIFICATIONS T he origins of the 7 5 m m Field G u n Type 38

(Improved) can be f o u n d in 1905, when the
Imperial J a p a n e s e Army selected a light field g u n of
75MM FIELD GUN TYPE 38

K r u p p design as the basis of its Field G u n Type 38 that
was m a n u f a c t u r e d at the army's own Osaka Arsenal for
service f r o m 1906.
light towed gun n/a
During World War I, in which the only extensive use
of J a p a n e s e artillery took place in the siege and capture
Calibre: Road range: of the G e r m a n treaty p o r t of Tsingtao in China, most of
75mm (2.95in) n/a the e q u i p m e n t s were cycled t h r o u g h a modernization
p r o g r a m m e at the Osaka Arsenal to re-emerge as m u c h
n/a 11,975m (13,095 yards) m o d e r n i z e d Type 38 (Improved) guns in which the
original type of box trail gave way to an o p e n box trail
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: giving a greater m a x i m u m elevation angle, a n d the gun's
2.285m (90in) 6.025kg (13.271b)
m o u n t i n g on its carriage was m u c h improved. T h e Type
Weight travelling: Armour: 38 (Improved) g u n was still in large-scale army service as
1910kg (42111b) n/a J a p a n entered World War II in D e c e m b e r 1941, having
apparently proved its c o n t i n u e d viability d u r i n g the
o n g o i n g campaign in China. Experience soon revealed
1135kg (25021b) n/a
that the Type 38 (Improved) g u n was decidedly inferior
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: to American a n d British field artillery, however, but for
-8° to +43° 605mps (1985fps) lack of a d e q u a t e n u m b e r s of m o r e m o d e r n weapons, it
c o n t i n u e d in service as the standard g u n of divisional
7° n/a
artillery regiments right t h r o u g h to the e n d of World
War II in 1945.
JAPAN
75MM FIELD GUN

TYPE 90
T he most advanced item of light field artillery

e q u i p m e n t available to the J a p a n e s e Army in World
War II was the 75mm Field Gun Type 90. This e n t e r e d
SPECIFICATIONS
service in 1950 u n d e r conditions of great secrecy as the
J a p a n e s e t h o u g h t that the weapon would confer
75MM FIELD GUN TYPE 90
significant tactical advantages against enemies who knew
n o t h i n g of the type. light towed field gun n/a
In design the Type 90 was akin to the C a n o n de 85
m o d e l e 1927 supplied to Greece by the French Calibre: Road range:
75mm (2.95in) n/a
a r m a m e n t s m a n u f a c t u r e r Schneider, a n d it is probable
that the basic concept of the gun was copied by the Vehicle length: Range:
J a p a n e s e r a t h e r than p r o d u c e d u n d e r licence. n/a 15,000m (16,405 yards)
M a n u f a c t u r e was the responsibility of the J a p a n e s e
Army's own Osaka Arsenal, a n d while the first examples
2.855m (112.4in) 6.025kg (13.271b)
used the Schneider type of b r e e c h , the later weapons
were revised with a b r e e c h of the sliding wedge type. T h e Weight travelling: Armour:
e q u i p m e n t was also p r o d u c e d with large-diameter 2000kg (44051b) n/a
wooden spoked wheels that were later succeeded by

smaller wheels with p n e u m a t i c r u b b e r tyres to suit the 1400kg (30861b) n/a
Type 90 to m o t o r towing. T h e first knowledge of the
Type 90 outside J a p a n came to light d u r i n g 1940, when Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-8° to +43° 700mps (2297fps)
the weapon was first used in China. Although C h i n a and
Manchuria were the theatres that absorbed most of Type Traverse arc: Speed:
92 p r o d u c t i o n , the weapon was also used in Malaya 50° n/a
d u r i n g 1942.
105MM HOWITZER
TYPE 91
SPECIFICATIONS A s part of J a p a n ' s policy of assessing the best of

foreign weapons to ensure that it kept abreast of
the latest technical developments in the world's most
105MM HOWITZER TYPE 91

advanced industrial nations, a J a p a n e s e mission in
France d u r i n g the later part of the 1920s o r d e r e d for
evaluation a limited batch of Schneider 105mm field
gun/howitzers. W h e n delivered to J a p a n , these
medium towed howitzcsr n/a
g u n / h o w i t z e r s were thoroughly evaluated in their
Calibre: Road range: tactical a n d technical aspects, a n d the J a p a n e s e then
105mm (4.13in) n/a e m b a r k e d on the design of a g u n that e m b o d i e d all the
best features f o u n d in the French weapon. T h e result
n/a 10,775m (11,785 yards)
was the 105mm Howitzer Type 91, which was
m a n u f a c t u r e d at the army's own Osaka Arsenal to e n t e r
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: prototype trials in 1929 a n d full service f r o m 1931.
2.54m (lOOin) 15.77kg (34.71b)
Despite the fact that the weapon was notably
Weight travelling: Armour: unsophisticated in its finish (a feature of all Osaka-
1980kg (43651b) n/a p r o d u c e d weapons), it was structurally light without
sacrificing sturdiness a n d reliability, qualities that would
150kg (33071b) n/a stand it in good stead d u r i n g the army's campaigns in
the j u n g l e s of Southeast Asia. As a result of its durable
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: qualities, the weapon proved p o p u l a r with the m e n of
-5° to +45° 545mps (1788fps)
the J a p a n e s e Army's artillery regiments, a n d served as a
standard piece of divisional artillery e q u i p m e n t right
45° n/a t h r o u g h World War II, also proving a s o u n d weapon on
the battlefield.
S W E D E N
40MM BOFORS GUN
W ithout d o u b t the 4 0 m m Bofors gun, designed in a

country that r e m a i n e d neutral, was the most widely
employed anti-aircraft g u n of World War II. T h e first
SPECIFICATIONS
40MM BOFORS GUN
weapon a p p e a r e d in 1930 after the Bofors company had
received financial backing f r o m the Swedish g o v e r n m e n t
for a design of 1928, a n d the first weapons were
p r o d u c e d as single m o u n t i n g s on wheeled carriages for medium towed AA gun 7200m (23,600ft)
land service, a n d twin m o u n t i n g s on fixed m o u n t i n g s for
naval service. Fed f r o m an overhead h o p p e r loaded by Calibre: Road range:
40mm (1.575in) n/a
means of four-round clips, the weapon was e x p o r t e d a n d
built u n d e r licence f r o m 1932, a n d by 1939 the Bofors Vehicle length: Range:
gun was in service with some 18 countries, some of which n/a n/a
i n t r o d u c e d significant changes a n d also exported the
revised weapon.
2.249mm (88.58in) 0.89kg (1.961b)
T h e British p r o d u c e d t h r e e marks of the g u n for use
on six m o u n t i n g s a n d five firing platforms, a n d there Weight travelling: Armour:
were also one-, two- a n d four-barrel naval mountings. 2460kg (54231b) n/a
T h e USA a d o p t e d the weapon in 1941 as the 4 0 m m Anti-

aircraft G u n M1 that was installed on a n u m b e r of unknown n/a
mountings, a n d also developed manually o p e r a t e d single
m o u n t i n g s as well as power-operated m o u n t i n g s with two Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-5° to +90° 854mps (2800fps)
a n d four barrels (sometimes with radar control) for
naval use. T h e specification applies to the British G u n Traverse arc: Speed:
Mk 1 on Mk 3 M o u n t i n g a n d Mk 2 Platform. T h e British 360° n/a
version is shown above.
37MM AA GUN Ml
SPECIFICATIONS I t was in 1921 that the celebrated designer J o h n

Browning began work on the d e v e l o p m e n t of a 3 7 m m
anti-aircraft g u n , but this effort came to a halt with the
37MM AA GUN Ml designer's death in 1926. It was only in 1935 that work
was re-started to finalize the weapon that served with the
US Army Air Forces as the 3 7 m m Aircraft Automatic
light towed AA gun 5670m (18,600ft)
G u n M4 a n d M10, the US Navy as the 3 7 m m M4, a n d
the US Army as the Anti-aircraft G u n M 1 that was later
Calibre: Road range: developed into the M1A2.
37mm (1.457 in) n/a
These guns differed f r o m each o t h e r only in m i n o r
details. T h e Ml e n t e r e d service in 1940 a n d t h o u g h ,
n/a n/a soon after this, the Americans decided to standardize the
Bofors as the 4 0 m m G u n M l , p r o d u c t i o n of this superior
weapon could not m e e t d e m a n d . As a result Colt
1.9m (78in) 0.61kg ( l i b 5.5oz)
c o n t i n u e d production of the 3 7 m m M l , of which 7278
Weight travelling: Armour: were completed. This Browning g u n thus served right
2778kg (61251b) n/a t h r o u g h the USA's involvement in World War II, a n d saw
action on every American front.
unknown n/a T h e weapon was supplied with a m m u n i t i o n f r o m the
left in the f o r m of single r o u n d s or 10-round clips, a n d
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: could fire either single r o u n d s or in automatic m o d e .
-5° to +90° 853mps (2800fps)
T h e carriage was a straightforward platform which could
Traverse arc: Speed: be lowered f r o m its four wheels a n d stabilized by two
360° n/a folding. It h a d a rate of fire of 120 r o u n d s per m i n u t e
a n d fired high explosive a m m u n i t i o n .
U N I T E D STATES
37MM AT GUN M3
T he USA's 3 7 m m Anti-tank G u n M3 was derived f r o m

t h e 3.7cm PaK 3 6 / 3 6 p r o d u c e d in G e r m a n y bv
Rheinmetall-Borsig, b u t i n t r o d u c e d a n u m b e r of c h a n g e s
SPECIFICATIONS
t h o u g h t desirable by t h e US Army. C o n s i d e r i n g that t h e
G e r m a n w e a p o n b e c a m e obsolete q u i t e quickly following
37MM AT GUN M3
t h e o u t b r e a k of World War II this was very p r u d e n t .
The M3 was lighter t h a n t h e PaK 3 5 / 3 6 as a result of light towed AT gun n/a
its Carriage M4 (later M4A1), a n d to h e l p c o n t r o l t h e
recoil forces a five-baffle muzzle b r a k e was a d d e d . Calibre: Road range:
37mm (1.46in) n/a
A l t h o u g h it was s o o n l e a r n e d that the muzzle b r a k e was
n o t n e e d e d , all b u t t h e first few g u n s were fitted f o r — if Vehicle length: Range:
n o t with - such a b r a k e to c r e a t e the M3A1 s t a n d a r d . n/a 915m (1000 yards)
After 1941 t h e 3 7 m m calibre was n e x t to useless in
E u r o p e a n c o m b a t , so most of t h e 18,702 such w e a p o n s
1.9m (78in) 0.87kg ( l i b 14.75oz)
were used in the Pacific t h e a t r e , w h e r e they were used
f o r infantry s u p p o r t firing H E a n d canister r o u n d s . Weight travelling: Armour:
T h e M3A1 served with t h e US forces r i g h t t h r o u g h 414kg (9121b) n/a
World War II. a n d was widely allocated to Allied n a t i o n s

d u r i n g a n d a f t e r the war. T h e g u n was widely u s e d as the unknown n/a
p r i m a r y a r m a m e n t o f light tanks a n d a r m o u r e d cars, a n d
was also tested in a n u m b e r of self-propelled m o u n t i n g s Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-10° to +15° 884mps (2900fps)
n o n e of which was s t a n d a r d i z e d for f ull service. T h a t it
was still in service at t h e e n d of t h e war indicates that t h e Traverse arc: Speed:
c h a n g e s m a d e at t h e b e g i n n i n g of its life paid dividends 60° n/a
in later years.
57MM ANTI-TANK
GUN M l
SPECIFICATIONS A s its experts watched the progress of operations in

E u r o p e a n d North Africa in 1941, when the USA was
still neutral, the USA decided that its 3 7 m m anti-tank
57MM ANTI-TANK GUN Ml g u n was obsolete (as the G e r m a n s discovered with their
own weapon of the same calibre when the r o u n d s
b o u n c e d off the hulls of enemy tanks) a n d that the
medium towed AT gun n/a
surest way to get an effective weapon into service was the
licensed p r o d u c t i o n of the British 6-pdr weapon.
Calibre: Road range: From February 1941 the American revised the British
57mm (2.244in) n/a
plans to suit US p r o d u c t i o n practices, a n d the result was
the 5 7 m m Anti tank G u n Ml - Carriage M l . T h e carriage
n/a 915m (1000 yards) differed f r o m the British original principally in using a
wheel-operated traverse system, but was t h e n modified,
firstly by fitting combat tyres to p r o d u c e the M1A1,
2.97m (117in) 2.8kg (6.281b)
secondly by reverting to the British shoulder-operated
Weight travelling: Armour: free traverse to p r o d u c e the M1A2, a n d thirdly by
1225kg (27001b) n/a making changes to the towing eye to create the M1A3.
Weight in action:
T h e 5 7 m m g u n was used on a large scale t h r o u g h o u t
Engine:
unknown n/a Wrorld War II, but its most i m p o r t a n t application was as a
self-propelled g u n supplied u n d e r the terms of the
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: Lease-Lend Act to the British a n d the Soviets on the
-5° to +15° 823mps (2700fps)
Eastern Front, where it filled a large gap created by the
Traverse arc: Speed: loss of thousands of guns c a p t u r e d by the Germans. This
90° n/a was the G u n Motor Carriage T48 on the M3 halftrack
vehicle, a n d 962 guns were p r o d u c e d for this task.
U N I T E D STATES
75MM PACK
HOWITZER Ml
W ork on the item that m a t u r e d as the 7 5 m m Pack

Howitzer M1A1 started d u r i n g 1920, a n d the
weapon was standardized as the Ml in 1927. Slight
SPECIFICATIONS
75MM PACK HOWITZER Ml
changes to the breech ring and block were then effected
to create the M1A1. T h e barrel was installed on the
Carriage Ml with tyreless spoked wheels a n d designed
for m o u n t a i n warfare, a n d the e q u i p m e n t could be
light towed howitzer n/a
b r o k e n down into six loads.
In overall terms the e q u i p m e n t was m o d e r n in design Calibre: Road range:
a n d strong in construction, a n d an unusual aspect was 75mm (2.95 in) n/a
provided by the fact that the traverse handwheel worked Vehicle length: Range:
directly on the axle, allowing the cradle to carry only the n/a 8915m (9750 yards)
elevation gear. A slow initial p r o d u c t i o n rate m e a n t that
just u n d e r 100 such e q u i p m e n t s were in service by the Length of barrel: Projectile weight:
1.19m (47in) 6.242kg (13.761b)
middle of 1940, but by the time of the USA's entry into
World War II in D e c e m b e r 1941 t h e r e were slightly m o r e Weight travelling: Armour:
than 450 in service and total p r o d u c t i o n was 4939 by the 588kg (12961b) n/a
e n d of the war. Modernization of the carriage with
pneumatically tyred wheels a n d provision for
unknown n/a
p a r a d r o p p i n g (nine loads) created the Carriage M8,
whose overall weight was 608kg (13401b). T h e M8 Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
gradually replaced the Ml carriage, a n d the type was -5° to +45° 381mps (1250fps)
issued to many Allied forces including the British, who

o p e r a t e d a version for a m p h i b i o u s forces as the 75mm 6° n/a
Pack Howitzer Mk I.
HELLCAT
SPECIFICATIONS S tandardized in February 1944, the five-man 76mm
G u n Motor Carriage Ml8, which gained the
HELLCAT nickname Hellcat in service, was o n e of the most

successful tank destroyers to see operational service in
World War II. Although it was only lightly protected by
76mm SP AT gun n/a
armour, the M18 was fast a n d mobile, a n d was greatly
aided by its low silhouette. T h e primary a r m a m e n t ,
Calibre: Road range: c o m p l e m e n t e d by a single 0.5in Browning M2HB
n/a 241km (150 miles) m a c h i n e gun for local d e f e n c e , was the 76mm M1A1 or
M1A2 high-velocity gun. This was installed in an open-
5.38m (17ft 4in) n/a t o p p e d turret providing 360° traverse, a n d the m o u n t i n g
allowed an elevation arc between -10° to +19°.
A m m u n i t i o n capacity was 45 r o u n d s for the main
n/a n/a
g u n and 1000 r o u n d s for the m a c h i n e gun. T h e M62
Weight travelling: Armour: armour-piercing projectile fired by the main g u n
n/a 7-12mm (,28-.47in) left the barrel at 792m (2600ft) p e r second a n d could
p u n c t u r e 102mm (4in) of a r m o u r at 90m (100 yards).
17,999kg (39,6801b) Continental R-975-C4 T h e chassis of the G u n Motor Carriage M18 was
based on what was basically a new type of light tank
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: chassis with torsion-bar suspension that was
n/a n/a
considerably superior in many respects to the
Traverse arc: Speed: vertical volute suspension typical of American
n/a 80km/h (50mph) m e d i u m tanks of the period a n d used in the G u n
Motor Carriages M10 a n d M36 using the chassis of the
M4 S h e r m a n tank.
U N I T E D STATES
31N ANTI-TANK GUN

M5
L ate in 1942 the US Army sought to create an

indigenous weapon to replace the obsolescent 5 7 m m
Ml gun that was a licence-built version of the British 6-
SPECIFICATIONS
p d r anti-tank gun. Rather than attempt the lengthy
process of creating an entirely new weapon, the
3IN ANTI-TANK GUN M5
Americans o p t e d for the expedient of c o m b i n i n g
elements of the hardware e m b o d i e d in o t h e r guns. T h u s medium towed AT gun n/a
the barrel was that of the 76.2mm M3 anti-aircraft gun,
while the breech, recoil system a n d carriage were those Calibre: Road range:
of the 105mm \12A1 howitzer. In its new guise the 76.2mm (3in) n/a
carriage became the Sin G u n Carriage M l , which was Vehicle length: Range:
later developed into the 3in Gun Carriage M6. T h e Anti- n/a 915m (1000 yards)
tank Gun M5 - Carriage Ml that resulted f r o m this
process was large a n d somewhat unwieldy weapon that,
4.023m (158.4in) 6.94kg (15.431b)
in c o m m o n with a n u m b e r of o t h e r improvised weapons
that a p p e a r e d in World War II, could be developed and Weight travelling: Armour:
p r o d u c e d without delay a n d had the m a j o r attribute of 2654kg (58501b) n/a
working well. T h e M5 anti-tank gun was employed in

every theatre in which American troops fought, a n d for n/a n/a
its reliability a n d good p u n c h became a well-liked
weapon. T h e same basic gun was adapted as the M7 for Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-5° to +30° 792mps (2600fps)
use in the G u n Motor Carriage MIO, which was a very
successful tank destroyer. Overall production a m o u n t e d Traverse arc: Speed:
to some 2500 examples of the M5 a n d a n o t h e r 6824 46° n/a
examples of the M10.
M10 TANK
DESTROYER
SPECIFICATIONS T he five-man 3in (.11 n Motor Carriage MK) was the

first tank destroyer developed for the US Army on
the basis of a fully tracked r a t h e r than halftracked
M10 TANK DESTROYER chassis. Work 011 the creation of this i m p o r t a n t weapon
began in April 1942, a n d progressed so well that the
resulting M10 was standardized in J u n e of the same year.
medium tank destroyer n/a
T h e Gun Motor Carriage MK) comprised the 3in Anti-
tank G u n M7 m o u n t e d in a 360° traverse turret with an
Calibre: Road range: only partially covered top 011 the chassis of the Medium
Tank M4A2 S h e r m a n .
T h e anti-tank gun could be elevated in an arc
5.97m (19ft 7in) n/a between -10° a n d +19°, a n d was provided with 54 r o u n d s
of APC a n d HE a m m u n i t i o n , the f o r m e r firing its
projectile with a muzzle velocity of 792m (2600ft) p e r
n/a n/a
second to p e n e t r a t e 102mm (4in) of face-hardened
Weight travelling: Armour: a r m o u r at 915m (1000 yards). T h e turret also carried
29,699kg (65,4751b) 12-37mm (.47-1.96in) o n e 12.7mm (0.5in) Browning M2HB m a c h i n e g u n (300
r o u n d s ) for local d e f e n c e and protection against attacks
n/a GM 6-71-6046 X 2 by low-flying warplanes. T h e MIO's a r m o u r protection
could be increased by attaching auxiliary a r m o u r of
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: differing thickness to the basic armour.
n/a n/a
T h e M10A1 variant was a training vehicle used only in
Traverse arc: Speed: the USA a n d differed f r o m the MK) in being based 011
n/a 48km/h (30mph) the chassis of the M4A3 S h e r m a n tank with a single Ford
GAA engine.
U N I T E D STATES
90MM AA GUN Ml
S c h e m e d a s ihe m o d e r n r e p l a c e m e n t f o r t h e
o b s o l e s c e n t 3in Anti-aircraft G u n M3, t h e 9 0 m m Anti-

SPECIFICATIONS
90MM AA GUN Ml
aircraft G u n Ml was placed in d e v e l o p m e n t d u r i n g J u n e
1938 as the 9 0 m m Anti-aircraft G u n T2, work on t h e
c o m p l e m e n t a r y M o u n t T1 starting only a s h o r t time
later. Both the g u n a n d t h e m o u n t were s t a n d a r d i z e d f o r heavy towed AA gun 12,040m (39,50 ft)
US Army service in t h e c o u r s e of M a r c h 1940.
T h e 9 0 m m Anti-aircraft G u n Ml was p l a n n e d as a Calibre: Road range:
d e d i c a t e d air d e f e n c e w e a p o n with n o dual-role 90mm (3.54in) n/a
capability to allow use in t h e anti-tank role as was Vehicle length: Range:

possible with w e a p o n s such as t h e G e r m a n s ' 8.8cm FlaK n/a n/a
w e a p o n s . T h e g u n was t h e r e f o r e installed on a p l a t f o r m
m o u n t with a c r u c i f o r m a r r a n g e m e n t of stabilizing
4.737m (186.5in) 10.62kg (23.4151b)
o u t r i g g e r legs which c o u l d b e f o l d e d f o r t r a n s p o r t o n
only two r o a d wheels. T h e M1A1 was identical to the Ml Weight travelling: Armour:
a p a r t f r o m its provision f o r installation of t h e S p r i n g 8618kg (19,0001b) n/a
R a m m e r M8 to facilitate loading.
Drawing up plans f o r this w e a p o n was easier t h a n t h e unknown n/a
actual m a n u f a c t u r e , a n d p r o d u c t i o n o f t h e M l a n d
M1A1 was initially slow, largely as a result of the g u n ' s Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
0° to +80° 823mps (2700fps)
complexity a n d t h e f i n e t o l e r a n c e s n e e d e d i n t h e
c r e a t i o n of t h e all-important fire-control system. Despite Traverse arc: Speed:
t h e w e a p o n ' s c r e a t i o n f o r single-role service, s o m e M l 360° n/a
g u n s were installed on M3 m o u n t s a n d u s e d as coast
defence weapons.
105MM FIELD
HOWITZER M2
SPECIFICATIONS T he core of the US Army's field artillery capability in

World War II was the 105mm Howitzer M2. This was
o n e of the weapons r e c o m m e n d e d bv the board that was
105MM FIELD HOWITZER M2 established in 1919 to assess artillery p e r f o r m a n c e in

World War I a n d make r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s for across-the-
b o a r d improvements, but progress toward the creation
of new weapons was slowed by the financial
medium towed howitzei n/a
r e t r e n c h m e n t that followed World War I, the world
Calibre: Road range: financial crisis of the late 1920s a n d early 1930s, and the
105mm (4.13in) n/a USA's increasing isolationism. T h u s it was only in 1939
that the design of the new howitzer was completed by
n/a 11,430m (12,500 yards)
the Bureau of O r d n a n c e , a n d p r o d u c t i o n of the weapon
began in 1940 at the start of a p r o g r a m m e that saw the
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: delivery of 8536 such 105mm Howitzer M2A1
2.574m (101.35in) 14.97kg (331b)
e q u i p m e n t s in the course of World War II. T h e Carriage
M2A2 was of the split-trail type with two pneumatically
1932kg (42601b) n/a tyred wheels, a n d was of notably reliable design and
srin ch' manufacture. T h e barrel of this successful a n d
Weight in action: Engine: p o p u l a r weapon, which was used in all American
n/a n/a
theatres, could be used to fire 13 types of a m m u n i t i o n , a
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: fact that greatly e n h a n c e d its tactical flexibility. T h e
-5° to +65° 472mps (1550fps) howitzer was also installed on a n u m b e r of mobile
mounts, the most notable combination being the 105mm
46°
Howitzer Motor Carriage M7, known to the British as the
n/a
Priest, on the chassis of the M3 and M l m e d i u m tanks.
U N I T E D STATES
105MM HOWITZER
M7
O ne of the most i m p o r t a n t developments in artillery

d u r i n g World War II was the fielding of self-
propelled g u n s a n d howitzers to s u p p o r t a r m o u r e d a n d
SPECIFICATIONS
motorized formations. Such e q u i p m e n t s were based on
chassis types capable of providing the same cross country
105MM HOWITZER M7
p e r f o r m a n c e a n d the forces they were designed to aid,
a n d the 105mm Howitzer M2A1 (known to the British as medium SP howitzer n/a
the Priest) remains a classic example. T h e seven-man
105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 was based on the Calibre: Road range:
chassis of the M3 m e d i u m tank. This was standardized in
April 1942 and, after the M3 tank h a d b e e n p h a s e d o u t Vehicle length: Range:
of p r o d u c t i o n , f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t was centred on the 6.02m (19ft 9in) n/a
M7B series using the chassis of the closely related M l
m e d i u m tank. T h e two models were the M7B1 based on
n/a n/a
the M4A3 with the Ford GAA e n g i n e a n d the M7B2
based on the M4A4 with the Chrysler 5-521 multi-bank Weight travelling: Armour:
engine. T h e tank t u r r e t was omitted a n d the n/a 12.7-114mm (.5-4.5in)
superstructure was raised to create an o p e n - t o p p e d

fighting c o m p a r t m e n t , with a "pulpit" m o u n t i n g on its 22,967kg (50,6341b) Continental R-975
right-hand forward c o r n e r for a 0.5in Browning M2HB
local d e f e n c e m a c h i n e g u n with 300 rounds. Supplied Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
n/a n/a
with 69 rounds, the howitzer was in the f r o n t of the
fighting c o m p a r t m e n t on a m o u n t i n g that allowed Traverse arc: Speed:
elevation t h r o u g h an arc between -5° a n d +33° as well as n/a 42km/h (26mph)
traverse 12° left a n d 25° right of the centreline.
155MM HOWITZER
Ml
SPECIFICATIONS I t was in 1939 that work began on the design a n d

d e v e l o p m e n t of a new heavy howitzer for the US Army,
this 155mm Howitzer Ml being created at the Rock
155MM HOWITZER M l
Island Arsenal. For obvious reasons of standardization
and r e d u c e d spares holdings, it was p l a n n e d that the
new e q u i p m e n t should use the carriage as that for the
4.5in G u n M l , a n d as events t u r n e d o u t the howitzer was
m a n u f a c t u r e d in considerably greater n u m b e r s than the
Calibre: Road range: tactically less useful gun.
155mm (6.1in) n/a
T h e Ml howitzer e n t e r e d service in 1942, a n d by the
e n d of World War II in 1945 some 4035 such e q u i p m e n t s
n/a 14,630m (16,000 yards) had been built. T h e Ml howitzer was a highly successful
a n d very p o p u l a r weapon that possessed an enviable
r e p u t a t i o n f o r accuracy. In basic design the howitzer was
3.81m (150in) 43.14kg (951b)
conventional, a n d for firing the Carriage Ml (of the
Weight travelling: Armour: split-trail type) was stabilized by a jack u n d e r the axle.
5428kg (11,9661b) n/a Improved versions of the e q u i p m e n t were the Carriages
M1A1 and M1A2 with different firing jacks, while a later
unknown n/a version of the howitzer was the 155mm Howitzer M1A1
m a d e of a stronger steel. T h e sole self-propelled
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: m o u n t i n g was the 155mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M41
-2° to +65° 564mps (1850fps)
"Gorilla". Like most American heavy artillery pieces, the
Traverse arc: Speed: M 1 howitzer was robust a n d reliable, a n d packed a
53° n/a powerful p u n c h . Such weapons aided the victories over
both Germany a n d J a p a n .
U N I T E D STATES
8IN HOWITZER Ml
L ike the 1 5 5 m m G u n M l , t h e 8in Howitzer Ml was a

d e v e l o p m e n t of an existing w e a p o n , specifically t h e
Sin Howitzer Mks VI to VIII, which were British
SPECIFICATIONS
8IN HOWITZER Ml
e q u i p m e n t s initially p r o v i d e d to t h e US Army by the
British in 1917 a n d 1918 d u r i n g World War I, a n d t h e n
m a n u f a c t u r e d u n d e r licence in t h e USA.
By 1940 the original-pattern w e a p o n s were decidedlv heavy towed howitzer n/a
long in the t o o t h a n d b e i n g p h a s e d o u t of service with
t h e US A r m y that was in the process of p r e p a r i n g for Calibre: Road range:
service a new 2 0 3 m m (Sin) howitzer u n d e r d e v e l o p m e n t 203.2mm (8in) n/a
f r o m t h e original w e a p o n b y t h e H u g h e s Tool C o m p a n y .
T h e new Sin Howitzer Ml in fact e n t e r e d service d u r i n g n/a 16,915m (18,500 yards)
i n 1942, a n d t h e e q u i p m e n t used t h e s a m e b r e e c h
m e c h a n i s m a n d carriage a s t h e 1 5 5 m m G u n M l . Length of barrel: Projectile weight:
n/a 90.8kg (2001b)
M a n u f a c t u r e o f 1006 such e q u i p m e n t s h a d b e e n
c o m p l e t e d b e f o r e t h e e n d of World War II in 1945. In Weight travelling: Armour:
service t h e Sin Howitzer Ml was a p o p u l a r w e a p o n that 14,515kg (32,0001b) n/a
was especially n o t a b l e f o r its accuracy a n d capability in
tasks such as t h e r e d u c t i o n of fortifications, qualities that
13,4672kg (29,7001b) n/a
were especially n e e d e d in n o r t h w e s t E u r o p e against the
Siegfried L i n e a n d in Italy, w h e r e t h e G e r m a n s built a Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
n u m b e r o f s t r o n g d e f e n c e lines a m o n g t h e m a n y hills -2° to +64° 594mps (1950fps)
a n d in the m o u n t a i n o u s terrain. T h e only self-propelled
version of this impressive w e a p o n was t h e Sin Howitzer 60° n/a
M o t o r Carriage M43.
81N GUN M l
SPECIFICATIONS T he lessons of World War I on the Western Front, as

they pertained to long-range artillery work, were
reflected in the USA by the recommendations of the
8IN GUN M l
Calibre Board established in 1919 to consider the US
Army's artillery needs. T h e board considered that a
thoroughly m o d e r n long-range gun of 203mm (Sin)
calibre was needed, but the USA's worsening economic
heavy mobile gun n/a
situation meant that work on the new weapon was
Calibre: Road range: suspended in 1924 and resumed only in 1939 for the first
203.2mm (8in) n/a firing of the T2 prototype weapon in 1941, the year in
which the new weapon was standardized for service as the
n/a 32,005m (35,000 yards)
8in Gun M l . This was planned for use of the same
Carriage Ml as the 240mm Howitzer M l , but the need for
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: limited modifications m e a n t that the carriage for the gun
10.401m (409.5in) 109.13kg (240.371b)
became the Carriage M2. T h e 8in Gun Ml entered service
during 1942, and only 139 such equipments had been
31,434kg (69,3001b) n/a completed before the e n d of World War II in 1945 as the
weapon was very large, heavy and costly. Movement was
Weight in action: Engine: possible only on special wagons (one for the gun and its
unknown n/a
mounting, and another for the split trail required to
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: handle the recoil forces) generally towed by converted M3
-10° to +50° 899mps (2950fps) tanks, and the equipment had to be assembled in firing
position with the aid of a truck-mounted crane. T h e Ml
had an initial rate of fire of one r o u n d per minute,
40° n/a
declining to one r o u n d per two minutes after 10 minutes.
USSR
45MM ANTI-TANK
GUN 1942
T he 45nun Anti-Tank G u n Model 1932 was in essence

a scaled-up version of the 3.7cm 1'aK 3 5 / 3 6 . T h e
L / 4 6 gun was installed on either of two carriages (for
SPECIFICATIONS
45MM ANTI-TANK GUN 1942
horse and m o t o r traction) with two wire-spoked wheels.
Despite its lightness, the Model 1932 was a capable
weapon, a n d the G e r m a n s used captured examples with
the designation 4.5cm PaK 184(r). T h e improved Model
1937 was almost identical a n d in G e r m a n use became
the 4.5cm PaK 1 8 4 / l ( r ) . A d e v e l o p m e n t of the Model Calibre: Road range:
1937 was the Model 1938 tank g u n which, in an effort to 45mm (1.77in) n/a
create m o r e anti-tank guns in the disastrous days of
1941-43 on the Eastern Front, was installed on an n/a unknown
interim carriage to create a weapon known to the
G e r m a n Army as the 4.5cm PaK 1 8 4 / 6 ( r ) . Length of barrel: Projectile weight:
2.967m (116.8in) 1.43kg (3.151b)
To m e e t the problem of defeating the increasing
thickness of tank a r m o u r in the early 1940s, the Soviets Weight travelling: Armour:
opted in the shorter term not to a d o p t a larger calibre unknown n/a
but to increase the length of the 4 5 m m barrel as a
means of boosting muzzle velocity a n d this a r m o u r 570kg (12571b) n/a
p e n e t r a t i o n f r o m the Model 32 family's figure of 3 8 m m
(1.5in) at 915m (1000 yards) at 30°. T h e breech block Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
was also s t r e n g t h e n e d a n d disc wheels were i n t r o d u c e d -8° to +25° 820mps (2690fps)
in the 4 5 m m Anti-Tank G u n Model 42 (specifications at

right), which r e m a i n e d in Soviet service until well after 60° n/a
World War II.
76.2MM AA GUN
1931 AND 1938
SPECIFICATIONS T he 76.2mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Model 1931 was o n e of

the oldest anti-aircraft guns still in service with the
Soviet forces at the time of the G e r m a n invasion in June
76.2MM AA GUN 1931 1941 and, in c o m m o n with many o t h e r such guns of the
period, incorporated a n u m b e r of design features
related to Vickers' design thinking f r o m the late 1920s.
T h e gun was installed on a two-wheeled carriage for
medium towed AA gun 9300m (30,510ft)
relatively good mobility, and was essentially
Calibre: Road range: straightforward in its h a n d l i n g and firing requirements.
76.2mm (3in) n/a
T h e G e r m a n s captured large n u m b e r s in 1941 a n d
1942, a n d these e n t e r e d G e r m a n h o m e d e f e n c e
n/a n/a service with the revised designation 7.62cm FlaK M31 (r):
when stocks of Soviet a m m u n i t i o n were exhausted,
a few of the guns were r e b o r e d for G e r m a n 8 8 m m
4.19m (165in) 6.61kg (14.5751b)
a m m u n i t i o n as 7.62/8.8cm F l a K M 3 1 ( r ) weapons, the
Weight travelling: Armour: last being scrapped in 1944. During 1938 the Soviets
4210kg (92811b) n/a introduced a revised a n d u p d a t e d version as the Anti-
Aircraft Gun Model 1938 (specification at left) with a
3050kg (67241b) n/a
d e t a c h m e n t of 11 ( c o m m a n d e r a n d 10 m e n ) , a
two-axle carriage, a n d detail improvements to the gun
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: and its controls. C a p t u r e d examples of the Model 38
-3° to +82° 815 mps (2674fps) e n t e r e d service as 7.62cm F l a K M 3 8 ( r ) or, after being
rebored, 7.62/8.8cm FlaK MBS (r) weapons. Both the
360° n/a Soviet a n d G e r m a n weapons r e m a i n e d in service to the
e n d of World War II.
USSR
76.2MM INFANTRY
GUN 1943
T he 76.2mm Infantry G u n Model 1927 (76-27) was a

notably capable Soviet e q u i p m e n t that was p r o d u c e d
in large n u m b e r s . T h e design was simple b u t efficient,
SPECIFICATIONS
like m u c h Red Army hardware that saw service in World
War II, a n d the large-diameter wheels provided a
76.2MM INFANTRY GUN 1943
measure of lateral protection for the gun's d e t a c h m e n t .
Between 1941 a n d 1942 large n u m b e r s of these medium support gun n/a
weapons were c a p t u r e d by the G e r m a n s a n d placed in
service with the designation 7.62cm Infantriekanone- Calibre: Road range:
76.2mm (3in) n/a
haubitze 290(r). T h e Red Army lost literally thousands of
artillery pieces, many of which were t u r n e d against their Vehicle length: Range:
f o r m e r masters. Vast a m o u n t s of a m m u n i t i o n for the n/a 8550m (9350 yards)
guns also fell into the h a n d s of the G e r m a n s d u r i n g the
early phase of O p e r a t i o n Barbarossa, the G e r m a n
1.257m (49.5in) 6.21kg (13.691b)
invasion of the Soviet U n i o n in June 1941.
In 1943 the Soviets introduced an u p d a t e d gun as the Weight travelling: Armour:
76.2mm Infantry G u n Model 1943 (76-43) that was in n/a n/a
essence a modified 76-27 g u n on the carriage of the

4 5 m m anti-tank gun. T h e revised carriage resulted in a 600kg (13231b) n/a
considerable lowering of weight f r o m the 76-27's figure
of 780kg (17201b), with c o n s e q u e n t advantages in Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-8° to +25° 387mps (1270fps)
general mobility a n d speed into a n d out of action, a n d
also increased the traverse arc f r o m the 76-27's figure of Traverse arc: Speed:
6°. This improved the 76-43's capability in the anti-tank 60° n/a
role, for which a hollow-charge projectile was provided.
76.2MM FIELD GUN
1941
SPECIFICATIONS T he 76.2mm calibre h a d been standard for Russian

and, f r o m 1917, Soviet m e d i u m field artillery since
the e n d of the e i g h t e e n t h century. W h e n the G e r m a n
76.2MM FIELD GUN 1941 j

invasion of 22 J u n e 1941 drew the Soviet U n i o n into
World War II. the Soviet Red Army still n u m b e r e d in its
inventory a n u m b e r of older weapons in this calibre,
including the obsolescent Field G u n Models 00/02P,
light towed gun n/a
0 2 / 2 6 a n d 0 2 / 3 0 together with the interim Model
Calibre: Road range: 1933 a n d the m o r e m o d e r n Models 1936 (76-36)
76.2mm (3in) n/a and 1939 (76-39).
By the e n d of 1941 the Soviets h a d suffered h u g e
n/a 13,000m (14,215 yards) losses to the Germans, these losses including a high
p r o p o r t i o n of their field artillery. U r g e n t replenishment
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: was the o r d e r of the day, a n d the first result was the
3.194mm (125.76in) 6.21kg (13.691b)
76.2mm Field G u n Model 1941/SiS 3 (76-41). This was
Weight travelling: Armour: the o r d n a n c e of the Model 1939 m o u n t e d on the 5 7 m m
1110kg (24471b) n/a Anti-tank G u n Model 1941/SiS 3's carriage as this was
strong e n o u g h to h a n d l e the recoil of the larger-calibre
unknown
but lower-velocity field g u n , especially after the field g u n
n/a
h a d b e e n fitted with a double-baffle muzzle brake and
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: h a d its recoil system adapted.
-10° to +18° 680mps (2231fps)
T h e weapon was essentially an interim type, and only
Traverse arc: Speed: a comparatively small n u m b e r were completed. T h e
56° n/a G e r m a n s used c a p t u r e d examples with the designation
7.62cm F e l d k a n o n e 2 8 8 / l ( r ) .
USSR
76.2MM FIELD GUN

1942
B y 1942 the threat of i m m i n e n t defeat had b e e n lifted

f r o m the USSR following the defeat of the G e r m a n
Army b e f o r e the gates of Moscow in D e c e m b e r 1941 a n d
SPECIFICATIONS
the general Soviet offensive along the whole of the
Eastern Front that followed. T h e Soviet authorities were
76.2MM FIELD GUN 1942
now f r e e to plan the creation a n d m a n u f a c t u r e of the
definitive weapons with which to encompass the total light towed gun n/a
defeat of Germany.
By this time the Soviet Army had considerable Calibre: Road range:
76.2mm (3in) n/a
e x p e r i e n c e in the use of 76.2mm field artillery,
including older weapons as well as the extemporized Vehicle length: Range:
Model 1941/SiS 3 (76-41) a n d less capable Model n/a 13,300m (14,545 yards)
1939/42 ( 7 6 - 3 9 / 4 2 ) on a new but lighter carriage, a n d
this e x p e r i e n c e was c o m b i n e d into the 76.2mm Field
2.994m (117.87in) 6.21kg (13.691b)
G u n Model 1942/SiS 3 (76-42). This was basically the
Model 1939 g u n modified with a double-baffle muzzle Weight travelling: Armour:
brake a n d installed on a new carriage with a shield a n d 1120kg (24691b) n/a
split pole trails.

T h e 76-42 e n t e r e d service late in 1942 a n d soon unknown n/a
proved itself a reliable a n d capable light field gun that
gained quick popularity with its users. Large-scale Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-5° to +37° 680mps (2231fps)
p r o d u c t i o n was u n d e r t a k e n , a n d the G e r m a n s were only
too happy to take c a p t u r e d examples of the e q u i p m e n t Traverse arc: Speed:
into their own service with the designation 7.62cm 54° n/a
F e l d k a n o n e 288(r).
SU-76
SPECIFICATIONS A ppreciating the u r g e n t n e e d for a weapon to defeat

G e r m a n vehicles such as the PzKpfw 111 a n d PzKpfw
IV tanks, the Soviets rightly decided that in the short
SU-76 term their best bet lay with the installation of a powerful
gun on a light chassis to create a nimble yet hard-hitting
tank destroyer that could be developed quickly a n d
medium SP AT gun n/a
placed in production early e n o u g h to help stem the
G e r m a n invasion.
Calibre: Road range: Such a weapon e n t e r e d service in 1942 as the four-
man 76mm Self-Propelled Gun (SU-76). This was
essentially the 76.2mm Model 1942/SiS-3 g u n m o u n t e d
5.03m (16ft 6in) n/a in a fixed a r m o u r e d superstructure on a l e n g t h e n e d T-70
light tank chassis. However, the increasing a r m o u r
thickness of G e r m a n tanks soon c o m b i n e d with the
n/a n/a
vulnerability deriving f r o m its own thin a r m o u r to make
Weight travelling: Armour: the SU-76 better suited to the infantry support role.
n/a 15-25mm (.59-lin) T h e g u n could fire HE, APHF., HVAP and HEAT
Weight in action:
r o u n d s at muzzle velocities between 325 a n d 965m
Engine:
10,990kg (24,2281b) two GAZ 202 (1065 and 3167ft) per second, a n d carried 60 mixed
r o u n d s for the gun that could be elevated in an arc
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: between -3° a n d +25°, a n d traversed 32°. An improved
n/a n/a
model, the SU-76M with two u p r a t e d GAZ-203
Traverse arc: Speed: engines, a n d a r m o u r protection over the fighting
n/a 45km/h (28mph) c o m p a r t m e n t , a p p e a r e d late in the war. T h e vehicle
p e r f o r m e d well in combat.
USSR
85MM AA GUN 1944
B y the later 1950s the Soviets had b e c o m e keenly

aware that their standard m e d i u m anti-aircraft gun,
the 76.2mm Model 1951, was scarcely up to the task of
SPECIFICATIONS
tackling a n d defeating m o d e r n warplanes operating at
altitude. A m a j o r u p g r a d e p r o g r a m m e was l a u n c h e d , the
85MM AA GUN 1944
first two weapons to a p p e a r being the 76.2mm Anti-
aircraft G u n Model 1958 that was a significantly u p d a t e d medium towed AA gun 10,500m (34,450ft)
d e v e l o p m e n t of the Model 1951, a n d the 8 5 m m Anti-
aircraft Gun Model 1959 (the specifications for which Calibre: Road range:
85mm (3.346in) n/a
are listed in the table at right). This latter was basically a
scaled-up development of the Model 1958 weapon a n d Vehicle length: Range:
was alternatively known as the KS-12. It was a very n/a n/a
capable weapon.
By 1959 all Soviet guns were being designed as dual-
4.693m (184.76in) 9.2kg (20.291b)
role weapons with a m a j o r anti-tank capability, a n d this
m a d e it feasible later to employ variants of the weapon as Weight travelling: Armour:
the a r m a m e n t of the SU-85 tank destroyer/assault g u n 4220kg (93031b) n/a
a n d the T-54/85 m e d i u m tank.

T h e G e r m a n s used c a p t u r e d weapons with the 3060kg (67461b) n/a
designation 8.5cm FlaK M.59(r): in c o m m o n with o t h e r
c a p t u r e d Soviet guns many were rebored, in this instance Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
2° to +82° 800mps (2625fps)
to b e c o m e 8 . 5 / 8 . 8 c m FlaK M.S9(r) weapons. T h e 8 5 m m
Anti-aircraft G u n Model 1944, or KS-18, was a refined Traverse arc: Speed:
version of the Model 1959 with changes to the recoil 360° n/a
m e c h a n i s m to cater for a m o r e powerful propellant load.
SU-85
SPECIFICATIONS I n t r o d u c e d to service in 1943, the 8 5 m m Self-Propelled

(.nil, generally known as the SU-85, was developed in
haste as a powerful tank destroyer to c o m b a t the latest
SU-85 G e r m a n tanks, the PzKpfw V P a n t h e r m e d i u m a n d

PzKpfw VI Tiger heavy vehicles that were a p p e a r i n g in
increasing n u m b e r s on the Eastern Front.
heavy SP AT gun n/a
T h e four-man SU-85 was of typical Soviet self-
propelled g u n configuration a n d based on the chassis of
Calibre: Road range: the classic T-34 m e d i u m tank. This was revised with a
fighting c o m p a r t m e n t over the forward part of the hull
Vehicle length: Range: in place of the turret, a n d this fighting c o m p a r t m e n t was
8.15m (26ft 9in) n/a of sloped a r m o u r including a large f r o n t plate. T h e first
SU-85 vehicles had an unsophisticated cupola over the
n/a
fighting c o m p a r t m e n t , but a m o r e advanced cupola was
n/a
introduced later in the war. Provided with 48 r o u n d s of
Weight travelling: Armour: a m m u n i t i o n , the 8 5 m m g u n was the D-S85 (later D-5S)
n/a 20-45mm (,79-1.77in) adaptation of the high-velocity Anti-aircraft G u n Model
Weight in action:
1939, a n d this was an L / 5 2 weapon firing two types of
Engine:
29,600kg (65,2561b) one Model V-2-34 a m m u n i t i o n : APHE a n d HVAP types with muzzle
velocities of 790 a n d 1030m (2592 a n d 3379ft) per
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: second respectively. To maintain its capability against
n/a n/a
G e r m a n tanks as a r m o u r thickness increased, the basic
Traverse arc: Speed: vehicle was later developed into the SU-100 with a
n/a 50km/h (31mph) 100mm Model 1944 (D-10S) gun. This vehicle was a
potent tank killer.
USSR
100MM ANTI-TANK
GUN 1944
U nlike a n u m b e r of o t h e r countries, which stepped

up f r o m light/medium-calibre anti-tank guns in
5 7 m m calibre or similar to large-calibre guns via the
SPECIFICATIONS
i n t e r m e d i a t e stage of weapons with a calibre in the o r d e r
of 75mm, the Soviets o p t e d to omit this stage a n d move
100MM ANTI-TANK GUN 1944
straight f r o m the 5 7 m m calibre to a heavy weapon of
100mm calibre. This resulted in the 100mm Anti-Tank heavy towed AT gun n/a
G u n Model 1944 that was certainly o n e of the finest
weapons of its type to see service in World War II, a n d Calibre: Road range:
100mm (3.94in) n/a
took a heavy toll of G e r m a n a r m o u r d u r i n g the
titanic tank battles on the Eastern Front in the later Vehicle length: Range:
stages of the war. n/a 21,000m (22,965 yards)
T h e gun was derived f r o m a piece of naval o r d n a n c e ,
like all weapons of its type designed for a high muzzle
5.97m (235in) 15.6kg (34.41b)
velocity a n d t h e r e f o r e a flat trajectory, a n d installed on a
heavy carriage of the split-trail type with a small but Weight travelling: Armour:
effective shield with slightly backward-angled side n/a n/a
sections, a n d a single axle carrying two pairs of

pneumatically tyred wheels. T h e weapon was fitted 3460kg (76281b) n/a
with a double-baffle muzzle brake a n d possessed a well-
designed b r e e c h that c o n t r i b u t e d to the excellent Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-5° to +45° 900mps (2952fps)
m a x i m u m fire rate of between 8 a n d 10 r o u n d s p e r
minute. T h e m a x i m u m range was 21,000m (22,965 Traverse arc: Speed:
yards), a n d the a r m o u r p e n e t r a t i o n of its heavy 58 n/a
projectile was very good.
SU-100
SPECIFICATIONS O therwise known as the SU-100, the 100mm Self-

Propelled Gun was the last of the USSR's tank
destroyers to be based on the chassis of the T-34 m e d i u m
tank, a n d was a four-man e q u i p m e n t that e n t e r e d service
SU-100 in 1944 to give the Soviet Army a weapon capable of
defeating the latest G e r m a n tanks but maintaining an
edge on p e r f o r m a n c e a n d agility over its o p p o n e n t s . T h e
heavy SP AT gun n/a
SU-100 was derived fairly closely f r o m the SU-85, a n d
Calibre: Road range: thus h a d its e n g i n e at the rear a n d , in place of the tank's
n/a 320km (200 miles) rotating turret, a forward firing c o m p a r t m e n t m a d e of
well-sloped armour.
9.45m (31ft) n/a T h e gun, which p r o t r u d e d t h r o u g h the f r o n t plate
slightly to the right of the centreline (with a large
mantlet to protect the a p e r t u r e ) alongside the driver's
n/a n/a
hatch, was the 100mm Model 1944 (otherwise D-10S)
Weight travelling: Armour: high-velocity weapon. This long-barrel gun was the same
31,600kg (69,6651b) 20-54mm (.79-2.13in) o r d n a n c e as later carried by the T-54 tank, a n d was
supplied with 34 r o u n d s of mixed HVAP a n d APHE
n/a Model V-2-34
a m m u n i t i o n : the 19.5kg (431b) HVAP r o u n d left the
muzzle at 1000m (3281ft) p e r second, while the 16kg
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: (35.3kg) APHE r o u n d left the muzzle at 920m (3018ft)
n/a n/a p e r second a n d possessed a m a x i m u m range of 19,200m
(20,995 yards). T h e g u n could be elevated in an arc
n/a 48km/h (30mph) between -2° to +17°. It could knock out all b u t the
heaviest G e r m a n tanks.
USSR
122MM FIELD GUN

A-19
T he 122mm Field G u n Model 1931 m a r k e d an

i m p o r t a n t step in the modernization of the Soviet
Army's artillery arm, a n d c o m b i n e d a new barrel with an
SPECIFICATIONS
existing carriage, that of the 152mm G u n / H o w i t z e r
Model 1934 i n t r o d u c e d to service at about the same
122MM FIELD GUN A-19
time. T h e Model 1931 (or 122-31) was a completely
o r t h o d o x b u t highly effective weapon of great reliability, heavy towed gun n/a
a n d the G e r m a n s used c a p t u r e d examples with the
designation 12.2cm K a n o n e 3 9 0 / 1 (r). During 1937 the Calibre: Road range:
121.92mm (4.8in) n/a
Model 1931's barrel was m o u n t e d on the carriage of the
152mm G u n / H o w i t z e r Model 1937 to b e c o m e the Vehicle length: Range:
Model 1 9 3 1 / 3 7 (otherwise 122-31/37 or A-19). n/a 20,870m (22,825 yards)
This u p d a t e d m o d e l differed in a p p e a r a n c e f r o m its
p a r e n t only in the rearward rather than forward slope of
5.483m (215.86in) 25kg (55.11b)
the equilibrators on each side of the barrel.
T h e G e r m a n s o p e r a t e d this version of the 122mm Weight travelling: Armour:
g u n as the 12.2cm K a n o n e 3 9 0 / 2 (r) and, as was the case 7800kg (17,1961b) n/a
with the K 3 9 0 / l ( r ) , shifted significant n u m b e r s to the

West f o r inclusion in their "Atlantic: Wall" defences of 7100kg (15,6531b) n/a
France, where they totally failed to prevent the Allied
invasion or inflict serious d a m a g e on the forces that Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
-4° to +45° 800mps (2625fps)
p o u r e d ashore on D-Day. T h e A-19S version of the later
g u n was carried in the SU-122 heavy tank destroyer, Traverse arc: Speed:
where it gave good service against the depleted units of 56° n/a
Hitler's panzer divisions.
A R T I L L E R Y OF W O R L D WAR II
SU-122
SPECIFICATIONS T he 122mm Self-Propelled Gun, usually known by the

SU-122 abbreviation of its full Soviet designation,
should not be c o n f u s e d with an identically designated
SU-122 self-propelled assault g u n based on the chassis of the

T-34 m e d i u m tank. T h e intention of the design
p r o g r a m m e , which was initiated d u r i n g 1943, was the
creation of the most powerful possible tank destroyer on
heavy SP AT gun n/a
the basis of an existing tank chassis, that of the KV heavy
Calibre: Road range: tank. First thoughts were centred on the use of the KV-2
n/a 340km (211 miles) with the 122mm Model 1944 (D-25S) gun in the turret,
but then the attraction of the standard tank destroyer
9.80m (32ft 2in) n/a
configuration (fixed fighting c o m p a r t m e n t with a
limited-traverse gun) b e c a m e too strong to ignore, a n d
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: the four-man SU-122 a p p e a r e d in 1944 with a rear-
n/a n/a
m o u n t e d engine a n d forward-set f i g h t i n g c o m p a r t m e n t
of well-sloped armour.
44,350kg (97,7731b) 22-75mm (.87-2.95in) A feature of Soviet a r m o u r e d fighting vehicles was
their lack of space for a m m u n i t i o n . T h e SU-122 was no
n/a one Model V-2-K different: it had 25 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n , the 122mm
Model 1931-37 gun was offset slightly to the right of the
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: centreline a n d e m e r g e d f r o m the f r o n t plate via an
n/a n/a
a p e r t u r e protected by a large mantlet. Only 100 of these
large e q u i p m e n t s h a d b e e n completed b e f o r e
n/a 45km/h (28mph) p r o d u c t i o n switched to the ISU-122 based on the chassis
of the m o r e advanced Josef Stalin heavy tank.
USSR
152MM FIELD GUN

BR-2
T he 152mm Field Gun Model 1935, otherwise known

as the 152-35 or BR-2, remains an obscure weapon
about which little reliable information has ever b e c o m e
SPECIFICATIONS
152MM FIELD GUN BR-2
available. T h e type was clearly i n t e n d e d for the counter-
battery role in succession to the obsolescent 152mm
Field G u n Model 1910/30. T h e r e were evidently fears
that so massive a weapon would lack a d e q u a t e mobility
across country as well as on many of the USSR's unpaved
roads, which b e c a m e m u d tracks in the a u t u m n rains Calibre: Road range:
a n d spring thaws, so the type was installed on a carriage 152.4mm (6in) n/a
with caterpillar tracks rather than wheels (it is a
misconception that the Soviets were unaffected by the n/a 27,000m (29,530 yards)
m u d a n d snow on the Eastern Front; their troops a n d
vehicles got just as stuck as those of the enemy, a n d Length of barrel: Projectile weight:
many Red Army winter offensives failed because the 7.62m (300in) 48.5kg (106.91b)
heavy artillery pieces could not be moved forward in the Weight travelling: Armour:
d e e p snow a n d / o r m u d ) . Stability in the firing position n/a n/a
was aided by the use of a split-trail a r r a n g e m e n t , and this
was reflected in moderately good accuracy to a Weight in action: Engine:
18,200kg (40,1231b) n/a
considerable range. Only a comparatively small n u m b e r
of these powerful g u n / h o w i t z e r e q u i p m e n t s was Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
m a n u f a c t u r e d , a n d although the type was a c c o r d e d the 0° to +60° 880mps (2887fps)
G e r m a n designation 15.2cm Kanone 440(r) there is no
evidence tin it any of the type were ever used by the
8° n/a
G e r m a n s after being captured.
152MM HOWITZER
ML-20
SPECIFICATIONS T he 152mm G u n / H o w i t z e r Model 1937, generally

known as the 152-37 a n d later as the ML-20, was
vital to Soviet counter-battery efforts in World War II
152MM HOWITZER ML-20

and, in c o m m o n with many o t h e r effective Soviet
weapons, was s o m e t h i n g of a hybrid. T h e Red Army
viewed artillery as being the God of War, a n d in this
weapon it possessed pieces that could be considered to
be a m o n g the m a j o r deities.
Calibre: Road range: T h e e q u i p m e n t thus comprised the barrel of the
152.4mm (6in) n/a
152mm G u n / H o w i t z e r Model 1910/34r on versions of
the carriage initially created for the 122mm Field Gun
n/a 17,250m (18,865 yards) Model 1931/37: o n e carriage had spoked wheels a n d was
i n t e n d e d for horse traction, while the o t h e r h a d tyred
Length of barrel: Projectile weight: d o u b l e steel wheels f o r m o t o r traction. In each case the
4.404m (173.4in) 43.56kg (96.031b)
e q u i p m e n t was towed as a single load. T h e success of the
Weight travelling: Armour: combination is attested by the very large n u m b e r of
7930kg (17,4821b) n/a weapons that were completed, a n d the power of this
weapon fire is also suggested by the fact that the ML-20S
7130kg (15,7191b)
version of the g u n was used in the SU-152 and ISU-152
n/a
heavy assault guns. T h e G e r m a n s were highly impressed
Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity: with the weapon a n d used captured examples with the
-2° to +65° 655mps (2149fps) designation 15.2cm Kanonehaubitze 4 3 3 / l ( r ) , o f t e n
emplaced in coastal defences. Ironically, they were
58° n/a largely wasted in such places, but they looked good on
p r o p a g a n d a newsreels.
USSR
203MM HOWITZER
B-4
T he 2 0 3 m m Howitzer Model 1931 was a very

distinctive piece of heavy artillery, most notably for
its e m p l o y m e n t of a tracked rather than wheeled
SPECIFICATIONS
carriage a n d also for the fact that the weapon was
p r o d u c e d in no fewer than six variants (known only by
203MM HOWITZER B-4
their G e r m a n designations 20.3cm Haubitze 503[r] to
5 0 3 / 5 [ r ] ) all transported in two loads. These variants heavy towed howitzer n/a
differed f r o m each o t h e r in their type of barrel carriage
a n d the carriage's suspension: the first five variants had a Calibre: Road range:
203.2mm (8in) n/a
wheeled transporter (different wheel sizes) for the
barrel, while the sixth had a tracked transporter. Vehicle length: Range:
Moreover, the first a n d last three variants h a d an L / 2 2 n/a 16,000m (17,500 yards)
a n d L / 2 5 barrel respectively, a n d it is t h o u g h t that most
of the earlier weapons were later refitted with the
4.915m (193.53in) 100kg (220.51b)
average L / 2 5 o r d n a n c e .
T h e first variant fired a 98kg (216.051b) shell to Weight travelling: Armour:
12800m (14,000 yards), but the others fired a heavier n/a n/a
shell to a somewhat longer range. It appears that the last

such weapons were delivered in 1937, a n d the G e r m a n s 17,700kg (39,0211b) n/a
used c a p t u r e d examples of these powerful pieces of
artillery (only the last three variants with the longer Elevation arc: Muzzle velocity:
0° to +60° 610mps (2001fps)
barrel) only on the Eastern Front against their erstwhile
owners. By all acounts they p e r f o r m e d well, and their Traverse arc: Speed:
tracks provided t h e m with good mobility in a theatre 8° n/a
that was notorious f o r its poor roads.
INDEX
Anti-aircraft g u n s Canon de 155 Grand Puissance 11 Infantry s u p p o r t g u n s
3 7 m m AA G u n Ml 68 F e l d k a n o n e 38 22 le IG 18 20
4 0 m m Bofors G u n 67 G u n 7 5 / 2 7 mo 11 55 s IG 33 38
7 5 m m AA G u n Type 88 63 G u n m o 35 57 Italy
76.2mm AA G u n 1931 82 K a n o n e 44 37 Anti-tank g u n s 56
8 5 m m AA G u n 1944 87 K a n o n e 39 39 Field g u n s 55, 57
9 0 m m AA G u n Ml 75 Howitzers 58, 59
C a n o n de 75 1933 8 France
FlaK 38 13 Anti-aircraft guns 8 M o u n t a i n guns
Flakvierling 38 14 Anti-tank guns 6 75mm Pack G u n Type 94 62
F l a k p a n z e r I V 15 Field guns 7, 11 7 5 m m Pack Howitzer Ml 71
Flakpanzer Wirbelwind 16 Howitzers 9, 10, 12 Gebirgsgeschiitz 36 21
FlaK 3 6 / 3 7 17
FlaK 3 6 / 3 7 28 Germany
FlaK 3 8 / 3 9 Anti-aircraft guns 13, 14, 15, 16, Self-propelled anti-tank guns
QF 3in 44 17, 28, 32 Archer 45
QF 3.7in 47 Anti-tank g u n s 18, 19, 23, 29 G u n 9 0 / 5 3 Semovente 56
Assault guns 27, 35 Hellcat 72
Anti-tank guns Field g u n s 20, 21, 22, 37, 38, 39
3in Anti-tank G u n M5 73 Howitzers 33, 34, 40 Self-propelled howitzers
37mm AT G u n M3 69 Self-propelled tank h u n t e r s 24, 105mm Howitzer M7 77
3 7 m m G u n Type 94 60 25, 26, 30, 31, 36 B r u n n n b a r 41
4 5 m m Anti-tank G u n 1942 81 H u m m e l 40
4 7 m m Anti-tank G u n Type 1 61 Great Britain Wespe 34
5 7 m m Anti-tank G u n Ml 70 Anti-aircraft g u n s 44, 47
100mm Anti-tank G u n 1944 89 Anti-tank guns 42, 43, 45 Tank h u n t e r s / d e s t r o y e r s
C a n o n de 47 6 Field guns 48, 49, 50, 51 Jagdtiger 36
PaK 3 5 / 3 6 18 Howitzers 46, 52, 53, 54 J a g d p a n t h e r 31
PaK 38 19 J a g d p a n z e r 38 (t) 24
PaK 41 23 Howitzers J a g d p a n z e r IV 25
PaK 43 29 6in Howitzer Mk I 52 M10 74
QF 2-pdr 42 7.2in Howitzer Mk V 53 Marder III 26
QF 6-pdr 43 7.2in Howitzer Mk VI 54 Nashorn 30
Sin Howitzer Ml 79 SU-76 86
Assault guns 105mm Field Howitzer M2 76 SU-85 88
StuG III 7.5cm 27 105mm Howitzer Type 91 66 SU-122 92
StuG III 10.5cm 35 152mm Howitzer ML-20 94 SU-100 90
155mm Howitzer Ml 78
Field guns 2 0 3 m m Howitzer B-4 95 United States
4.5in G u n Mk II C a n o n de 105 9 Anti-aircraft guns 68, 75
5.5in G u n Mk III 49 C a n o n de 155C 10 Anti-tank guns 69, 70, 72, 73, 74
6in G u n Mk VII 50 C a n o n de 155 1932 12 Field guns 71, 80
6in G u n Mk XIX 51 G u n 1 4 9 / 1 9 mo 41 58 Howitzers 76,77, 78, 79
8in G u n M l 80 G u n 2 1 0 / 2 2 mo 35 59
7 5 m m Field G u n Type 38 64 le FH 18/40 33 USSR
7 5 m m Field G u n Type 90 65 QF 25-pdr 46 Anti-aircraft g u n s 82, 87
76.2mm Field G u n 1941 84 Anti-tank guns 81, 86, 88, 89, 90,
76.2mm Field G u n 1942 85 Japan 92
76.2mm Infantry G u n 1943 83 Anti-aircraft g u n s 63 Field g u n s 83, 84, 85, 91, 93
122mm Field G u n A-19 91 Anti-tank guns 60, 61 Howitzers 94, 95
152mm Field G u n BR-2 93 Field guns 62, 64, 65, 66
C a n o n de 75 1897 7

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In World War I the main role of artillery

consisted of preparing the battlefield for

Artillery of World War II contains the

In addition to the text and photographs,

Front cover: A British 25-pounder (Robert Hunt

Back cover: British Ordnance QF 3.7in (Robert

Printed in Hong Kong

© 2001 Brown Partworks Limited

All rights reserved. This book is protected by copyright. No

Editorial and design:

Editor: Anne Cree

Printed in Hong Kong

SPECIFICATIONS T he two smallest-calibre towed anti-tank guns

CANON DE 47 modeles 1934 and 1937, these being L / 7 2 a n d L / 7 7

T he C a n o n de 75 m o d e l e 1897 can lay claim to being

the French guns, of which several thousands were still in

SPECIFICATIONS L ike many French artillery pieces in service on the

CANON DE 75 1933 World War I, specifically the C a n o n de 75 anti-aerien

E arly in the 1930s the French Army realized that it

lack of any radical features, a n d p r o d u c t i o n was then

SPECIFICATIONS T he n a t u r e and intensity of the warfare f o u g h t on the

CANON DE 155C static fighting, a n d o n e French result was the C a n o n de

T he C a n o n de 155 G r a n d Puissance Fillonx (GPF)

designation 15.5cm K 417(1) until all ammunition had

SPECIFICATIONS A characteristic of the guns a n d howitzers developed

T he capability of the FlaK 30 was h a m p e r e d by the

Flak 30 a n d had the same d e t a c h m e n t , a n d was also

FLAKVIERLING 38 Flakvierling 38 e n t e r e d p r o d u c t i o n for the army a n d air

T h e r e were two Flakpanzer IV types, namely the

IV m e d i u m tank chassis. A large rectangular fighting

SPECIFICATIONS A tactically i m p o r t a n t weapon that e n t e r e d service in

FLAKPANZER WIRBELWIND aircraft, the five-man Flakpanzer IV (2cm) mit PzFgst

P roduction of Germany's first m o d e r n light anti-

SPECIFICATIONS T he 3.7cm PaK 3 5 / 3 6 e n t e r e d service in 1936. More

PAK 35/36 licence by other countries. Experience proved that by

T he need for an anti-tank g u n with a calibre greater

Later in the war the PaK 38 was adapted for aircraft

SPECIFICATIONS O ne of the pieces of light field artillery used in the

LE IG 18 for such a weapon was perceived in the first half of the

I t was in 1935 thai Rheinmetall-Borsig, working on the

batteries operating it as it was generally easy to h a n d l e

SPECIFICATIONS A piece of light field artillery used by the G e r m a n

FELDKANONE 38 m a n u f a c t u r e d by the arms m a n u f a c t u r e r Krupp in

B uilt in competition with the Rheinmetall-Borsig

h a n d l i n g I lie weapon. But for its particular a m m u n i t i o n

SPECIFICATIONS M a n u f a c t u r e d f r o m 1943 to provide the G e r m a n

JAGDPANZER 38(T) fighting vehicles, the Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer" (baiter)

I n t r o d u c e d late in 1943, the J a g d p a n z e r IV was based

APCBC a m m u n i t i o n a n d 550m (1805ft) per second HE

SPECIFICATIONS D esigned as a tank destroyer on the basis of obsolete

STUG III 7.5CM

O therwise known as ihe 7.5cm Sturmgeschiitz III. the

40 Ausf G, based on the chassis of the PzKpfw III Ausf J

SPECIFICATIONS S uccessor to the p i o n e e r i n g FlaK 18 anti-aircraft g u n ,

FLAK 36/37 as a d e v e l o p m e n t of the FlaK 18 with a barrel of

T he 8.8c:m P a n z e r a b w e h r k a n o n e 43 was a Krupp

Self-propelled m o u n t i n g s for this exceptional weapon

SPECIFICATIONS T he five-man vehicle originally called (he Hornisse

NASHORN 43 gun, and reached operational service d u r i n g

G ermany's first efforts to create a decisive tank

m a x i m u m of 50 r o u n d s of a m m u n i t i o n , the gun could

SPECIFICATIONS A lthough the G e r m a n air force's 8.8cm anti-aircraft

T he 10.5cm le FH 18 was designed a n d developed by

In the period b e f o r e 1938 the type was e x p o r t e d to Vehicle length: Range: