15 cm sFH 18

15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 18 150mm sFH18 howitzer base borden 1.jpg 300px Preserved sFH 18 howitzer at CFB Borden, Ontario, Canada Germany Howitzer yes 1934–1945 (Germany) See operators World War IISecond Sino-Japanese WarPortuguese Colonial War KruppRheinmetall 1926–1930 Krupp, Rheinmetall, Spreewerke, M.A.N., Dörries-Füllner and Škoda 40,400 ℛ︁ℳ︁ (1944) 1933–1945 6,756 See variants Travel: 6,304 kg lb onCombat: 5,512 kg lb on 7.849 m ftin on 4.440 m ftin on L/29.5 2.225 m ftin on 1.707 m ftin on 7Jane's pocket book of towed artillery Foss Christopher 1977 Collier 111 0020806000 New York 911907988 149 mm × 260 R Separate loading cased charge 43.52 kg lb on (HE) 149 mm in on 4 rpm 520 m/s ft/s on 9725 m yd 13,250 m yd onRAP: 18,200 m yd on Model 1934 Sighting Mechanism horizontal sliding-block hydro-pneumatic split trail 0° to +45° 60° The 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze 18 or sFH 18 (German: "heavy field howitzer, model 18"), nicknamed Immergrün ("Evergreen"),Hogg 2002 64 was the basic German division-level heavy howitzer of 149 mm during the Second World War, serving alongside the smaller but more numerous 10.5 cm leFH 18. Its mobility and firing range and the effectiveness of its 44 kg shell made it the most important weapon of all German infantry divisions.Engelmann 1995 11 A total of 6,756 examples were produced. It replaced the earlier, First World War-era design of the 15 cm sFH 13, which was judged by the Krupp-Rheinmetall designer team of the sFH 18 as completely inadequate.Engelmann 1995 11 The sFH 18 was twice as heavy as its predecessor, had a muzzle velocity increase of forty percent, a maximum firing range 4.5 km greater, and a new split-trail gun carriage that increased the firing traverse twelvefold.Engelmann 1995 11 The secret development from 1926 to 1930 allowed German industry to deliver a trouble-free design at the beginning of German re-armament in 1933.Engelmann 1995 11 It was the first artillery weapon equipped with rocket-assisted ammunition to increase range. The sFH 18 was also used in the self-propelled artillery piece schwere Panzerhaubitze 18/1 (more commonly known as Hummel). The sFH 18 was one of Germany's three main 15 cm calibre weapons, the others being the 15 cm Kanone 18, a corps-level heavy gun, and the 15 cm sIG 33, a short-barreled infantry gun. Design and development thumb|Rear of Preserved sFH 18 howitzer at CFB Borden Development work on the sFH 18 began in 1926 and the gun was ready for production by 1933.Engelmann 1995 11 The model year was an attempt at camouflage the fact that it was illegally developed after the signing of the Versailles Treaty in 1919.Engelmann 1995 11Zaloga 2023 16 The howitzer was a Rheinmetall gun mounted on a Krupp carriage.Hogg 2002 62,64 The carriage was practically identical to the 10 cm schwere Kanone 18, using a split-trail design with box legs. Spades were carried on the sides of the legs that could be mounted onto the ends for added stability.Hogg 2002 62,64 A horse-towed version which could be broken down into two loads (barrel and carriage) and another version for motorized towing (in a single load) were produced.Zaloga 2023 22 The 43.5 kg shell was heavy enough to demolish field fortifications and disrupt enemy armoured formations, giving the gun greater versatility over the 10 cm sK 18, despite the relatively modest range of 13250 m yd, which in practice was limited to 9725 m yd: while the sFH 18 was provided with eight propellant charges, the last two charges were rarely used since they caused excessive erosion on the chamber, compromising the seal between cartridge and breech. Use of charges 7 and 8 were only allowed in emergency cases with the authorization of the field commander, but no more than ten rounds could be fired consecutively with these charges, and their use had to be written down. In an attempt to remediate this shortcoming, the designers added a replaceable chamber liner and a muzzle brake (to reduce stress on the carriage) in 1942. These modified howitzers received the designation sFH 18M, but the restrictions on the propellant charges remained in place.Hogg 2002 64Gander 1998 28−29 The only remarkable feature of the sFH 18 was that it was the first weapon to make use of rocket-assisted projectiles (RAP), which in theory would give the howitzer a range equal or superior to the 10 cm sK 18, replacing it and freeing up German production capacity for more important weapons; In practice, the Rückstoßgranate 19 (RGr 19) round was overly complex and inaccurate: the blast of the rocket booster disrupted the airflow over the shell body. Another problem was that the booster decreased the space available for the explosive payload. As result, it was withdrawn from service shortly after being introduced in 1941.Hogg 2002 64,273Gander 1998 29−30 The gun was officially introduced into service on 23 May 1935,Haubitzen und Mörser de and by the outbreak of war the Wehrmacht had about 1,353 of these guns in service. Production continued throughout the war, reaching a peak of 2,295 guns in 1944. In 1944, the howitzer cost 40,400 ℛ︁ℳ︁, 9 months and 5,500 man-hours to make.Engelmann 1995 13 During WWII, the guns were produced at four different factories: Spreewerk, in Berlin-Spandau; MAN, in Augsburg; Dörries-Füllner, in Bad Warmbrunn (Cieplice Śląskie-Zdrój, Poland); and Škoda facility in Dubnica, Slovakia.Gander 1998 29 + Production of sFH 18, pcs. Year Pre-War 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total Produced, pcs. 1,353 190 580 516 636 785 2,295 401 6,756 Ammunition The 15 cm sFH 18 used separate-loading, cased charges. Types of ammunition included: High-explosive shells (HE), concrete-piercing, hollow charge, smoke, discarding sabot. The RGr 19 rocket-assisted projectile used a special charge and could only be fired from howitzers fitted with muzzle brakes such as the sFH 18M due to the excessive strain on the recoil system.Hogg 2002 65−67 Experimental rounds included a HE-Fragmentation shell with an inner lining of concrete with metal fragments embedded and filled with low-grade explosive, in order to provide fragmentation comparable to conventional HE-FRAG shells, but with considerable economy of material; a long-ranged shell with a long hollow skirt at the rear to improve stability during flight and a ballistic cap fitted over the nose; and at least two fin-stabilized designs the Flügelminen (winged mines) - these shells were intended to use the extended length provided by the fins to obtain extra stability.Hogg 2002 66−67 + sFH 18 ammunition tableHogg 2002 65−67 Model Type Weight Filling Filling weight Notes 15 cm Gr. 19 HE 43.5 kg TNT Standard HE shell, minor variations existed reflecting the manufacturer production methods, but all had similar ballistic performance. 15 cm Gr. 36 FES HE 38.5 kg TNT Improved high-explosive shell, 150 mm longer than the Gr. 19 but it had thinner walls, making it lighter. 15 cm Gr. 19 Be Concrete-piercing 43.5 kg TNT 4.75 kg Fitted with a round-tip light alloy ballistic cap, the inner walls were lined with a sulphur compound and the base fuse had three settings: long, short, or instantaneous. 15 cm Gr. Be rot Concrete-piercing 43.45 kg TNT 3.25 kg Improved version of the Gr. 19 Be with thicker walls to increase shell body strength. The inner walls were lined with waxed cardboard. 15 cm Gr. 39 FES Hl HEAT 24.55 kg TNT Could also be fired from the 15 cm sFH 13 howitzer. A tracer pellet was fitted in the base. 15 cm Gr. 39 FES Hl A HEAT 24.57 kg TNT Modified version of the Gr. 39 FES Hl with a longer warhead while the internal arrangements were modified to match the 10.5 cm leFH 18 shell. It had a muzzle velocity of 1509 ft/s flip. 15 cm Gr. 19 Nb Smoke 39 kg Oleum and pumice 15 cm Gr. 38 Nb Smoke 43.47 kg Oleum and pumice Improved bursting smoke shell with a larger bursting charge to improve the obscuring capabilities. 15 cm R Gr. 19 FES RAP 45.5 kg TNT Maximum range 19000 m yd. 15 cm Sprgr 42 TS HE, discarding sabot 29.6 kg TNT 4.05 kg Both driving bands became detached during flight.War Office 1944 56 Combat record thumb|right|Rheinmetall FH-18 32/L in Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution Second-Sino Japanese War The first field combat for the 15 cm sFH 18 was with the Chinese National Revolutionary Army against the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). The Chinese planned on purchasing a total of 240 sFH 18/32L guns but only 24 were delivered by 1937 due the lack of funds.Lai 2017 17−18 These guns were used to form the 10th Artillery Regiment. A second order was placed in 1936, but by that time, production of the Rheinmetall gun was discontinued in favor of the sFH 18, which was produced by both Krupp and Rheinmetall. According to Ness and Shih, 48 sFH 18 guns and at least 37,000 rounds of ammunition were delivered between 1937 and 1938 and used to form the 13th and 14th Artillery regiments. By early 1942, the Chinese still had 44 howitzers available, but by May 1945 this number dropped to 15 sFH 18/32L and 18 sFH 18 models.Ness Shih 2016 386 Ammunition supply was a problem for the Chinese: in 1937, the 10th Artillery Division only had 200 rounds per gun (in comparison the IJA forces in Shanghai had 416 rounds per gun).Lai 2018 17 Following the 1937 and 1938 campaigns, ammunition per gun increased to 1,000 rounds but only because the guns weren't used often: after losing a large amount of irreplaceable equipment, the Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek threatened "dire consequences" to any commander who lost artillery pieces to the enemy.Ness Shih 2016 129,386 In late 1944, the Chinese sent the Allies a request for the supply of captured German ammunition. 4,400 HE shells, 1,788 concrete-piercing shells and 11,000 propellant charges were shipped to India in early 1945, but made it no further due the limited transport capacity between the Indian-Chinese border.Ness Shih 2016 386−387 Second World War During combat in the Eastern front, the sFH 18 lack of range became clear as its crews found themselves outranged by certain Soviet guns. The Germans tried to remedy the situation by modifying some howitzers with longer gun barrels, and introducing a RAP round to increase range, but these solutions suffered from poor accuracy and were eventually abandoned in favor of using the 17 cm Kanone 18 for counter-battery fire.Gander 1998 29−30Zaloga 2023 22,26 In late 1944, when the United States Army began advancing faster than its artillery supply lines, captured sFH 18s were used against their former owners along the Franco-German border.Gander 1998 29 Several countries continued fielding the sFH 18 after the war in large numbers including Bulgaria, and Romania. In Czechoslovakia, surviving guns were modified to fire Warsaw Pact-standard 152 mm shells; the last remaining guns were withdrawn from service in the late 1980s. Some guns were sold to Italy while Finland bought 48 howitzers from Germany in 1939.Gander 1998 29 These guns were modernized to increase range and fire 152 mm ammunition under the designation 152 H 88-40. They were used by the Finnish Army as late as 2007.152 H 88-40 http://www.mil.fi/maavoimat/kalustoesittely/index.dsp?level=48&equipment=19 Puolustusvoimat: Kalustoesittely Finnish Army https://web.archive.org/web/20070702103347/http://www.mil.fi/maavoimat/kalustoesittely/index.dsp?level=48&equipment=19 2 July 2007 fi 13 July 2025 live Variants thumb|A sFH 18 of the National Revolutionary Army, 1937 15 cm sFH 18 (Bespg.) – Standard version for horse towing (für Bespannung − "for team towing"), it could be broken down into two loads for transport: barrel and carriage and could be reassembled for combat in 20 minutesZaloga 2023 8,22 15 cm sFH 18 (für Kfz.) – Standard version fitted with solid rubber rims and pneumatic brakes for motorized towing (für Kraftzug)Zaloga 2023 22 15 cm sFH 18/32L − A competing design from Rheinmetall with a 32 caliber barrel. It can be distinguished by the slightly longer barrel and equilibrators. 24 were sold to the Nationalist government in China before production was discontinued in favor of the sFH 18Ness Shih 2016 386, 390 15 cm sFH 36 − A lightened version with a shorter barrel, allowing it to be towed by a single horse team. It was produced in small numbers until 1941, since the short barrel made it even more vulnerable against Soviet counter-battery fire and production required light alloys that were needed to build aircraftZaloga 2023 22Gander 1998 30 15 cm sFH 18M – Modification of the sFH-18 with a muzzle brake (Mündungsbremse) and replaceable chamber liner to allow the use of more propellant chargesHogg 2002 64 thumbnail|152 mm Howitzer M18/46 in Svidnik museum 15 cm sFH 40 − Experimental designs produced by Krupp and Rheinmetall. Prototypes were ready for testing in 1941, but with without production capabilities available, it wasn't accepted for service. According to Gander, some the sFH 40 barrels were mated with the sFH 18 carriages to create the sFH 18/40Gander 1998 30 15 cm sFH 18/40 – Extended range version fitted with a longer 32.5 caliber barrel and a muzzle brake. It had a range of 15,100 m yd, but accuracy was poor. According to Gander, forty-six guns were built in total while Zaloga gives a total of 14 guns in 1941 and 35 in 1942 (under the designation 15 cm sFH 42)Zaloga 2023 22Gander 1998 30 15 cm sFH 18/43 – An experimental sFH 18 featuring a sliding-block breech that could accept bagged propellant charges, it never got past prototype stageGander 1998 30 152 mm Howitzer M18/46 – Post-war Czechoslovak modification with a shorter barrel that was rebored to fire Soviet 152 mm ammunition, a straight topped gun shield and a double-baffle muzzle brakeFoss 1976 11 152 H 88-40 – Post-war Finnish modernization rebored to fire Soviet 152 mm ammunition. Range was extended to 16000 m yd Hummel − Self-propelled version mounted on a tracked chassis using components from the Panzer III and Panzer IV. 714 were produced between 1942 and 1945Gander 1998 181 Operators thumb|German forces with a 15 cm sFH 18 howitzer on the Eastern Front. thumb|152 H 88-40. Finnish modernized version of 15 cm sFH 18. Albania 1946 – Post-war useHogg 2002 64 Foss 1976 28 − sFH 18MFoss 1976 28 Bulgaria 1947 – Post-war useHogg 2002 64 Foss 1976 28 Republic of China (1912–1949) − 24 sFH 18/32L and 48 sFH 18Ness Shih 2016 386Lai 2017 18 Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia – Modified as the Howitzer M18/46. Kept in reserve as late as 1976Foss 1976 11 – 48 pieces,Gander 1998 29 modernized as the 152 H 88-40, it remained in use as late as 2007 Nazi Germany – Designated as the Obice 149/28Hogg 2002 64 – Post-war useFoss 1976 28 − Post-war useGander 1998 29 − Designated as Haubits m/39Foss 1976 28 − Limited use of captured guns during WWIIGander 1998 29 – sFH 18 and sFH 18MFoss 1976 28 See also 152 mm howitzer-gun M1937 (ML-20) – Soviet 152 mm howitzer BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun – British gun of similar size 10 cm schwere Kanone 18 References Citations Bibliography Engelmann J. Johnston D. Deutsche Schwere Feldhaubitzen 1934−1945 German Heavy Field Artillery in World War II: 1934-1945 1995 Schiffer Publishing Atglen, PA 978-0887407598 Foss Christopher F. Christopher F Foss Artillery of the World 1976 Revised Charles Scribner's Sons New York 978-0-684-14787-1 https://archive.org/details/artilleryofworld0000foss/mode/2up?view=theater limited Gander Terry Germany's Guns, 1939−1945 1998 Crowood Press Marlborough, MA 978-1-86126-110-6 https://archive.org/details/germanysguns19390000gand/ registration Hogg Ian V. Ian V. Hogg German Artillery of World War Two 2002 Greenhill Books and Stackpole Books London and Mechanicsburg, PA 978-1-85367-480-8 https://archive.org/details/germanartilleryo0000hogg/ limited Lai Benjamin Shanghai and Nanjing 1937: Massacre on the Yangtze 2017 Bloomsbury Publishing 978-1-4728-1751-8 https://books.google.com/books?id=w8svDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA18 en Lai Benjamin Chinese Soldier vs Japanese Soldier: China 1937–38 2018 Bloomsbury Publishing 978-1-4728-2822-4 https://books.google.com/books?id=-4hoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA17 en Ness Leland Shih Bin Kangzhan: Guide to Chinese Ground Forces 1937–45 2016 Helion & Company Solihull 978-1-912174-46-1 https://books.google.com/books?id=ZYQwDwAAQBAJ en War Office War Office Handbook of Enemy Ammunition − Pamphlet No. 11 − German mines, grenades, gun ammunition, and mortar ammunition 1944 Alabaster, Passmore & Sons, Ltd. London https://stephentaylorhistorian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/handbook-of-enemy-ammunition-pamphlet-11.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20240602232145/https://stephentaylorhistorian.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/handbook-of-enemy-ammunition-pamphlet-11.pdf 2 June 2024 13 July 2025 Zaloga Steven J. Steven J. Zaloga German Field Artillery of World War II 2023 Bloomsbury Publishing 978-1-4728-5399-8 https://books.google.com/books?id=u2rREAAAQBAJ en External links June 2017 Category:150 mm artillery Category:World War II field artillery Category:World War II artillery of Germany Category:World War II artillery of Italy Category:World War II weapons of China Category:Krupp Category:Rheinmetall Category:World War II howitzers Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1930s