Krupp 150mm heavy howitzer M. 1913

 

 

 

 

Bulgarian designation :

150-мм скорострелна гаубица Д-14 “Круп-13”

German designation :

schwere Feldhaubitze 13

Calibre :

149.7mm L/14

Weight of the barrel :

790 kg

Weight of the breech-block :

95.5 kg

Weight in action :

2200 kg (2135 kg with hydro-springs recoil mechanism)

Weight in marching order :

2990 kg (2820 kg with hydro-springs recoil mechanism)

Weight of the limber :

453 kg (empty)

Barrel length :

2.100 m

Barrel grooves

number :

36

depth :

1.3 mm

width :

9.55 mm

Rifling

length :

11 calibres

twist :

progressive – 1 turn in 35.9 to 1 turn in 17.8 calibres

inclination :

5° to 10°

Height of the line of fire :

1200 mm

Shield

weight :

85 kg

thickness :

3 mm

Cartridge

size :

152 x 113 x 170

weight :

1.8 kg

charge :

1.35 kg Würfelpulver + 20 g n.Gew.P. 71

1.41 kg Würfelpulver + 20 g n.Gew.P. 71

1.52 kg Würfelpulver + 20 g n.Gew.P. 71

590 g R.P. 109+ 630 g Würfelpulver + 20 g n.Gew.P. 71

Shells weight

 

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. 14 (H) :

43.44 kg

charge : 1.96 kg Fp. 55/45 and Di. 65/45 + 125 g Grf. 88

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

Muzzle velocity :

465 m/s

Max. range

ordinary :

8350 m (time) / 8500 m (percussion)

incendiary :

7450 m

Muzzle velocity :

365 m/s

Elevation :

+ 45° / - 0°

Traversing angle :

5°

Recoil :

1565 mm / 1065 mm (hydro-pneumatic recoil mechanism)

1520 mm / 1030 mm (hydro-springs recoil mechanism)

Track :

1.53 m

Height of the wheels :

1.23 m

Transport :

drawn by six horses in one single load

Remarks :

Quick firing heavy field howitzer with hydro-pneumatic recoil system, except 252 of them, that were equipped with counter-recoil springs. During the war Krupp manufactured 2676 howitzers of this model, and Rheinmetall 733. An unknown number were also produced by other firms, such as Spandau. It could fire also various patterns of gas shells.

At beginning of August 1918 the German Army left to the Bulgarian artillery at least 16 - sFH13 from four batteries operating in Macedonia (three from FußAR. 5 and one from FußAR. 9). The crews went back to the Western Front where the batteries were re-armed with new guns. The howitzers were assigned respectively to 4th, 10th, 16th and 14th battery of 2nd heavy artillery regiment.