152 mm gun M1910/30

152-mm gun model 1910/30
Type heavy gun
Place of origin USSR
Production history
Manufacturer Krasniy Putilovets, Barrikady, Bolshevik
Number built 152
Specifications
Weight 6,500 kg (14,300 lb)
Barrel length 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) L/29
(without muzzle brake)
Caliber 152.4 mm (6.00 in)
Breech interrupted screw
Recoil hydropneumatic
Carriage single trail
Elevation 5° to 40°
Traverse 4°30́
Rate of fire 2-4 rounds per minute
Effective firing range 16,800 m (18,400 yd)

152-mm gun model 1910/30 was a Soviet gun, a modernization of World War I era 152-mm siege gun M1910. The gun was briefly used by RKKA in the German-Soviet War.

Description

M1910/30 was powerful long range gun with big (40°) maximum elevation. It was equipped with interrupted screw breechblock and recoil system consisting of hydraulic buffer and hydropneumatic recuperator. The carriage was of single trail type and had metal wheels with solid tires. The crew was protected by 7 mm shield.

In transportation, the barrel was removed and transported separately. It took some 10–15 minutes to set the gun up for combat and up to 23 minutes to make it ready for transportation.

Development and production history

The gun resulted from a modernization of the 152-mm siege gun M1910, initially developed by Schneider. The upgrading project was prepared by the design bureau of the Main Artillery Directorate, its main purpose was to increase range. The changes included:

In 1930 the modernized gun was adopted as 152-mm gun model 1910/30 (Russian: 152-мм пушка образца 1910/30 годов).

The production began in 1930 at Krasniy Putilovets plant. Later Barrikady and Bolshevik plants joined the production effort. In addition to newly built pieces, all existing M1910 guns were converted to the new standard; the conversion was finished by 1 November 1936.

Since the upgrade of 1930 didn't address a problem of limited mobility, in 1934 additional modernization was performed, resulting in 152-mm gun M1910/34. In 1935 the production of M1910/30 was stopped.

Organization and service

According to RKKA organization, 152-mm guns were employed by corps artillery and by the Reserve of the Main Command, typically instead of 152-mm gun-howitzer M1937 (ML-20). Heavy gun regiments of Reserve of the Main Command had 24 pieces each.

By the outbreak of the German-Soviet War RKKA possessed some 120-150 M1910/30s.[1] They undoubtfully saw combat in the war, though due to their limited number the details of their service are unknown.

One piece was captured by the Finnish Army. That gun is currently on display in Hämeenlinna The Artillery Museum of Finland.

Summary

The M1910/30 was a result of limited modernization of World War I era weapon, which didn't address its insufficient mobility (due to lack of suspension and separate transportation of barrel) and limited traverse.

On the other hand, RKKA liked the ballistic characteristics of the gun. Subsequent modernizations, which concentrated mostly on the gun carriage, resulted in improved M1910/34 and eventually in the famous ML-20.

Ammunition

Available ammunition[2]
Type Model Weight, kg HE weight, kg Muzzle velocity, m/s Range, m
Armor-piercing shells
APHE BR-540 48.8 0.66 600 4,000
APBC (from late 1944) BR-540B 46.5 0.48 600 4,000
Naval semi-AP model 1915/28 51.07 3.2 573 5,000
HEAT BP-540 27.44 680 3,000
Anti-concrete shells
Anti-concrete howitzer shell G-530 / G-530Sh 40.0 5.1 665 15,600
Anti-concrete gun shell G-545 56.0 4.2
High-explosive and fragmentation shells
Gun shells
HE-Fragmentation, steel OF-540 43.6 5.9-6.25 650 16,800
HE-Fragmentation, steel OF-540Zh 43.6 5.9-6.25
HE, old F-542 38.1 5.86 660 13,800
HE, old F-542G 38.52 5.83
HE, old F-542ShG 41.0 5.93
HE, old F-542Sh 40.6 6.06 650 12,800
HE, old F-542ShU 40.86 5.96
HE, old F-542U 38.36 5.77
Howitzer shells
HE-Fragmentation, steel OF-530 40.0 5.47-6.86
HE-Fragmentation, steely iron OF-530A 40.0 5.66
HE, old F-533 40.41 8.0
HE, old F-533K 40.68 7.3
HE, old F-533N 41.0 7.3
HE, old F-533U 40.8 8.8
HE, steely iron, old French F-534F 41.1 3.9
HE for 152-mm mortar model 1931 F-521 41.7 7.7
HE, British, for Vickers 152-mm howitzer F-531 44.91 5.7
Shrapnel shells
Shrapnel with 45 sec. tube Sh-501 41.16-41.83 0.5 (680—690 bullets)
Shrapnel with Т-6 tube Sh-501T 41,16 0.5 (680—690 bullets)
Illumination shells
Illumination, 40 sec. S 1 40.2
Chemical shells
Fragmentation-chemical gun shell OH-540
Chemical howitzer shell HS-530 38.8
Chemical howitzer shell HN-530 39.1
Chemical (post-war) ZHZ
 
Armour penetration table[3]
APHE shell BR-540
Distance, m Meet angle 60°, mm Meet angle 90°, mm
500 105 125
1000 95 115
1500 85 105
2000 75 90
APBC shell BR-540B
Distance, m Meet angle 60°, mm Meet angle 90°, mm
500 105 130
1000 100 120
1500 95 115
2000 85 105
Naval semi-AP model 1915/28
Distance, m Meet angle 60°, mm Meet angle 90°, mm
100 110 136
500 104 128
1000 97 119
1500 91 111
2000 85 105
This data was obtained by Soviet methodics of armour penetration measurement (penetration probability equals 75%).
It is not directly comparable with western data of similar type.

Notes

  1. ↑ 121 according to http://www.soldat.ru/doc/mobilization/mob/table17.html, 150 according to Ivanov
  2. ↑ Shirokorad A. B. - Encyclopedia of the Soviet Artillery
  3. ↑ Shirokorad A. B. - Encyclopedia of the Soviet Artillery

References

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