Page 291 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

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Shell loaded into ▼ 7.58CM LIGHT MORTAR
muzzle of rifled barrel NEW MODEL
Date 1916
Origin Germany
Recoil recuperator Weight 430lb (195kg) FIELD GUNS,
Length (Barrel) 16in (41cm)
Caliber 2.9in
Range 0.8 miles (1.3km)
Manufactured by Rheinmetall,
this relatively lightweight
mortar could be broken down
and carried by a team of six. Its
turntable platform allowed the
gun to be rotated through
▲ 15CM HEAVY FIELD a 360° traverse, while its SIEGE GUNS,
HOWITZER M1914/16 wheels and trail allowed
it to be employed in
Date 1916
a direct-fire role. It
Origin Austria-Hungary was also used as an
Weight 3.05 tons (2.77 tonnes) anti-tank gun.
Interrupted- Length 7ft (2.12m)
screw-type breech
Caliber 149mm
Range 5.43 miles (8.75km) AND HO
The M1914/16 was manufactured
by Skoda for the Austro-Hungarian
army. A skilled crew could fire
1
two 90 ⁄4lb (41kg) shells a minute
for a limited period of action. Firing recoil
Large numbers of the gun were absorbed by trail
handed over to the Italian army WITZERS
in World War II.

Single-pole trail
Crane for loading shells
Screw jack handles for
raising and lowering
the gun carriage

Horizontal
sliding block
breech
Elevation
handwheel
Gunner’s seat

Traverse
turntable
Stabilizing jack
▲ 12IN HOWITZER MARK I Manufactured by the Elswick Ordnance
ON RAILWAY MOUNTING Company for the British Army, 12in ▲ 7.7CM SOCKEL-FLAK The 7.7cm Sockel-flak was responsible
Date 1916 railway howitzers were operated Date 1916 for bringing down many of the 1,600
in pairs by British Royal Garrison Allied aircraft that fell victim to
Origin UK Artillery. The short-barrelled Mark I Origin Germany anti-aircraft guns in World War I.
Weight 64.81 tons (58.81 tonnes) was soon superseded by the longer- Weight 2.27 tons (2.06 tonnes) It fired a 15lb (6.8kg) shell, which a
Length 12ft (3.7m) barrelled Mark III, which had 40 per Length 8 ⁄4ft (2.7m) skilled crew of six could fire at a rate
3
cent greater range, and the Mark V, of more than 20 rounds per minute.
Caliber 12in Caliber 77mm
which had much-improved traverse. The effective ceiling of this gun was
Range 6.31 miles (10.17km) 15,584ft (4,750m).