| 10.5 cm leFH 18 | |
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The 10.5 cm leFH 18 howitzer deployed on the Eastern Front |
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| Type | Howitzer |
| Place of origin | Nazi Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1939–1945 |
| Used by | Nazi Germany, Kingdom of Hungary, Spain, Finland, Bulgaria |
| Wars | World War II |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1929-30 |
| Manufacturer | Rheinmetall |
| Produced | 1935-1945 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | combat: 1,985 kg (4,377 lbs) |
| Barrel length | 2.941 m (9 ft 8 in) |
| Crew | 5 |
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| Shell | cased separate-loading (6 charges) |
| Shell weight | 14.81 kilograms (32.7 lb) (HE) 14.25 kilograms (31.4 lb) (AP) |
| Caliber | 105 mm (4.13 in) |
| Breech | horizontal sliding block |
| Recoil | hydropneumatic |
| Carriage | split trail |
| Elevation | -6° 30' to +40° 30' |
| Traverse | 56° |
| Rate of fire | 4-6 rpm |
| Muzzle velocity | 470 m/s (1,542 ft/s) |
| Maximum range | 10,675 m (11,675 yds) |
| Filling | TNT |
| Filling weight | 1.38 kilograms (3.0 lb) |
The 10.5 cm leFH 18 (German: leichte FeldHaubitze "light field howitzer") was a German light howitzer used in World War II.
Contents |
The 10.5 cm leFH 18 was the standard divisional field howitzer used by the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. It was designed and developed by Rheinmetall in 1929-30 and entered service with the Wehrmacht in 1935. Generally it did not equip independent artillery battalions until after the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943. Before 1938 the leFH 18 was exported to Hungary and Spain. 53 were also exported to Finland, where they were known as 105 H 33. 166 leFH were exported to Bulgaria in 1943 and 1944 (until February 1st, 1944)[1]
It had a heavy, simple breech mechanism with a hydro-pneumatic recoil system. The 10.5 cm leFH 18 had wood-spoked or pressed steel wheels. The former were only suitable for horse traction. Initially, it was not fitted with a muzzle brake. In 1941 a muzzle brake was fitted to allow longer range charges to be fired. This increased the range by about 1,800 yards and was known as the leFH 18M. In March 1942 a requirement was issued for a lighter howitzer. This led to a second modification, known as the leFH 18/40. This modification consisted of mounting the barrel of an leFH 18M on the carriage for a 7.5 cm PaK 40 antitank gun. The new carriage increased the rate of fire as well as making the howitzer lighter. Additionally, a more efficient muzzle brake was added, decreasing the recoil. Ballistically, the 10.5 cm leFH 18M and the leFH 18/40 are identical.