15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14

15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14

An M.14 in the Heergeschlictes museum, Vienna
Type Heavy howitzer
Place of origin Austria-Hungary
Service history
In service 1915-1945
Used by Austria-Hungary
Austria
Czechoslovakia
Nazi Germany
Hungary
Italy
Romania
Slovakia
Wars World War I, World War II
Production history
Designer Skoda
Designed 1912-14
Manufacturer Skoda
Produced 1914-1918
Variants 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14/16
Specifications
Weight 2,765 kilograms (6,096 lb) (M 14/16)
Barrel length 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) L/14 (M 14)
2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) L/14.1 (M 14/16)

Shell 41 kilograms (90 lb)
Caliber 149.1 mm (5.87 in)
Breech horizontal sliding wedge
Recoil hydro-pneumatic variable recoil
Carriage box trail
Elevation -5° to +70° (M 14/16)
Traverse 6° (M 14/16)
Rate of fire 1-2 rpm
Muzzle velocity 336 m/s (1,102 ft/s) (M 14/16)
Maximum firing range 8,760 metres (9,580 yd) (M 14/16)

The 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14 was a heavy howitzer which served with Austria-Hungary during World War I.

It had two crew seats mounted on the gun shield. It broke down into two loads for transport. The M 14 was modified to improve elevation and range as well as to strengthen the carriage as the M 14/16. Postwar war modifications were common to make it suitable for motor traction and to address other issues.

M 14 and M14/16 howitzers captured by Italy during the war and received as reparations after the war, when they were put into service with the designation of Obice da 149/13. Some 490 were on hand in 1939 and weapons captured by the Germans after the Italians changed sides in 1943 were used as the 15 cm sFH 400(i). Surviving weapons were impressed into German service after 1943 as the 15 cm sFH 401(i). Czech and Slovak weapons were known as the 15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 14 and 14/16.

An Italian Obice 149/13

References

External links

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