Krupp 150mm heavy howitzer M. 1893

 

 

 

 

German designation :

schwere Feldhaubitze

Calibre :

149.7mm L/10.8

Calibre between the grooves :

152.3 mm

Weight of the barrel :

1066 kg

Weight of breech block :

66.5 kg

Weight of the carriage :

969 kg

Weight of the two wedges :

77 kg

Weight in action :

2188.5 kg

Weight in marching order :

2725 kg

Weight of the limber :

390 kg (empty) – 640 kg (loaded)

Weight of the ammo wagon :

3100 kg

Barrel length :

1.620 m

Barrel grooves

number :

36

depth :

1.3 mm

width :

9.5 mm

Rifling

length :

1216 mm – 8.1 calibres

twist :

Progressive – 1 turn in 44.9 to 1 turn in 14.8 calibres

inclination :

4° to 12°

Height of the line of fire :

1080 mm

Battering charge :

0.85 kg Würfelpulver 2 + 20 g n.Gew.P. 71

1 kg 10 x 10 x 1.5 Würfelpulver + 20 g n.Gew.P. 71

1.08 kg 10 x 10 x 1.1 Würfelpulver + 20 g n.Gew.P. 71

1.25 kg 12 x 12 x 2 Würfelpulver + 20 g n.Gew.P. 71

Mountain cartridge :

0.35 kg 4 x 4 x 1 Würfelpulver + 20 g n.Gew.P. 71

Shells weight

 

15cm Gr. 83 :

39 kg – charge : 5.89 kg Grf. 88

15cm Gr. 88 :

41.9 kg (with Gr.Z. 82) – charge : 1.5 kg Grf. 88

42.3 kg (with Dopp. Z. 92) – charge : 1.5 kg Grf. 88

15cm Gr. 96 :

39.5 kg – charge : 7.3 kg Grf. 88

15cm Gr. 04 :

40.5 kg – charge : 4.73 kg Fp. 02

15cm Gr. 12 :

40.5 kg – charge : 6.1 kg Fp. 60/40

15cm Gr. 12 (verst.) :

40.5 kg – charge 4.5 kg / 4.6 kg Fp. 55/45 + Di. 60/40

15cm Gr. 12 n/A :

42 kg – charge : 6 kg Fp. 60/40

detonation charge : 60 g Grf. 88

42 kg – charge : 1.9 kg Fp. 60/40 + 4 kg dinitrobenzol

detonation charge : 60 g Grf. 88

15cm Gr. 14 :

42 kg – charge : 2.5 kg Fp. 60/40 + 195 g Grf. 88

15cm Gr. 14 A :

42 kg – charge : 1.5 kg Donarite or Westafalite

15cm Gr. 17

29 kg – charge : 3.2 kg

15 cm Brand-Gr. B :

42 kg – charge : 850 of celluloid + 300 g of black powder

Max. range :

6050 m with 6th (extra) charge (percussion fuze)

6050 m with 6th (extra) charge (time fuze)

5100 m with 5th charge (both percussion and time fuze)

Muzzle velocity :

280 m/s

Elevation :

+ 65° / - 0°

Traversing angle :

=

Height of wheels :

1.23 m

Track :

1.53 m

Transport :

drawn by six horses in one single load

Ammunition :

ammunition wagon – 36 shells

Remarks :

Heavy field howitzer without recoil mechanism and shield, equipped with single-motion wedge breech mechanism. At the beginning, it fired from a wooden platform. To facilitate the returning in firing position, the howitzer was equipped with recoil hydraulic brakes that were attached between the front part of the platform and the carriage’s trail. Later the platform was replaced by pliable reed mats put under the wheels and the carriage tail.

The howitzer was equipped with dial optical sight (Richtkreis). It fired with five different battering charges, plus a 6th extra charge for firing at the extreme range. It could fire also various patterns of gas shells. This howitzer was not used by the Bulgarian Army.