Putilov 152mm fortress howitzer M. 1909

 

 

 

 

Bulgarian designation :

150-мм руска гаубица Д-15

Russian designation :

6-дм. (152-мм) крепостная гаубица обр. 1909 г.

German designation :

russ. s.F.H. 15,24 cm L/14

Calibre :

152.4mm L/14

Weight of the barrel :

1106 kg

Weight of the breech-block :

61.4 kg

Weight of the carriage :

1519 kg

Weight in action :

2725 kg

Weight of the limber :

325 kg

Weight in marching order :

3050 kg

Barrel length :

2.160 m

Rifling

length :

1.716 m

twist :

progressive for the first 7.25 calibres of the barrel, then uniform

Barrel grooves

number :

36

depth :

1.27 mm

width :

9.47 mm

Height of the line of fire :

1.350 m

Shield

weight :

94 kg

width :

1840 mm

thickness :

3.5 mm

Battering charge :

Powder Г 6

1st charge : 1523 g

2nd charge : 1216 g

3rd charge : 909 g

4th charge : 601 g

Mixture of pyroxilyn powder ПКО and piro-colloidion powder СП

1st charge : 1523 g

2nd charge : 1216 g

3rd charge : 909 g

4th charge : 601 g

H.E. Shell

Steel

length  :

4.14 calibres

weight :

41 kg – charge : 8.8 kg Trotyl

Putilov steel

length  :

3.7 or L 3.6

weight :

41 kg – charge : 7.2 kg Trotyl

Steel

length  :

4 calibres

weight :

41 kg – charge : 8.8 kg Melinite

Steel for mortars

length  :

3.25 calibres

weight :

30.7 kg – charge : 6.45 kg Melinite

Steel

length  :

2.75 calibres

weight :

33.2 kg – charge : 5.42 kg Melinite or Trotyl

Steel for guns

length  :

2.9 calibres

weight :

33.2 kg – charge : 5.1 kg Melinite

Cast iron

length  :

3.3 calibres

weight :

41 kg – charge : 3.3 kg Melinite

Cast iron

length  :

3.3 calibres

weight :

41 kg – charge : 8.8 kg Melinite

Steel with false cap

length  :

3.3 calibres

weight :

41 kg – charge : 8.8 kg Melinite

Muzzle velocity :

381 m/s

Max. range :

8300 m with 41 kg shells

8800 m with shells with false cap (Haube)

Line of sight :

1400 mm with ordinary optical sight

1520 mm with panorama sight

Elevation :

+ 41° / - 0°

Traversing angle :

5°

Recoil :

1150/1250 mm

Wheels

weight :

225 kg

height :

1.220 m

track :

1.525 m

Transport :

drawn by six horses

Remarks :

Quick firing heavy howitzer with hydro-pneumatic recoil system, interrupted screw breech mechanism, traverse on axle. It was equipped with panorama sight. It could fire also the lighter Russian H.E. Shells used by the old field mortars and by the Schneider heavy guns. In German and Bulgarian Army it usually fire the same shells of the German 15cm L/14 and L/17 heavy field howitzers.

At least 56 Russian heavy howitzer were captured by the German Army during the war, and 24 of the fortress model were delivered to the Bulgarian artillery. In 1918, 1st, 2nd and 3rd battery of 1st heavy artillery regiments and 8th and 9th battery of 2nd heavy artillery regiments were armed with these howitzers.