Schneider-Canet 150mm heavy howitzer M. 1897/05

The Schneider-Canet 150mm L/12 heavy howitzer was built throughout of steel, and was formed by the following parts: a tube in the rear of which was the breech-block seating, and a jacket fitted in the rear with the breech-block hinge, and with a shoulder piece to which were joined the recoil piston and the recuperator rods, the jacket being made with two longitudinal lateral flanges, by which the howitzer was supported and guided in the cradle. In front of the jacket there were two coils. The breech opened out in three actions of the breech-block: the latter was fitted with a plastic obturator, firing being effected by means of obturating friction fuze. A special vent-cover allowed the fuze to be screwed in when the breech-block was opened out and when it was closed, but the firing line could not be adjusted until the breech was completely closed.

The carriage contained the cradle, which rested, through its trunnion, on the trail, and carried the gun through two slides, in which fitted the lateral flanges of the gun; the latter could recoil in the cradle over 450 mm. The two hydraulic recoil cylindres absorbed the recoil of the gun in the cradle; they were in one piece with the cradle and contained two pistons, the rods of which were joined to the shoulder-piece of the gun. During recoil, the liquid flowed from the rear piston through a vent, the opening of which was regulated by a central counter-rod; the section of this rod was designed as to obtain a constant resistance during the whole time recoil lasted. The carriage was provided with a trail spade, which in ordinary ground prevented it almost completely from recoiling.

The distance between the wheels, on tread, was 1300 mm. The wheels were 1270 mm in diameter; the bosses were of brass, the rims of bent wood in three parts, the spokes being joined to the rim by means of steel sockets.

For sighting the gun, an alidade scale was provided; it was placed on the cradle, and therefore did not recoil with the gun. It was arranged in such a way as to enable the laying of the gun, with rectification of the firing angle up to an angle of + 35°. The scale and the sight were mounted on a horizontal spindle, which allowed of maintaining the sight-line in a vertical plane, parallel with the axis of the gun, whatever be the incline the carriage might take, owing to the unevenness of the ground or an unequal setting of the wheels. From + 35° to + 45°, the required elevation was given with the help of an ordinary dial-plate level or of the alidade scale.

The limber carried a chest to hold 5 rounds. It weighted 416 kg empty and 641 kg loaded, carrying 225 kg of ammunition. The ammunition wagon carried 8 rounds in the limber and 16 rounds in the caisson.

For the improvements introduced in 1905 see Siege and fortress artillery.

SOURCE : DREDGE. James: The Works of Messrs. Schneider and Co. London : Bedford Press 1900, part II, pp. 313-314.

The plan of the howitzer presented at the Universal Exhibition in 1900