Strength of Serbian Artillery in Macedonia

Serbian troops evacuated to Corfu between 18 January and 23 February 1916 were organized by a French Military Mission commanded by gén. de division Jean Piarron de Mondesir. Serbian Army was organized into six infantry divisions and one cavalry division based on the French model. France had to provide armament, artillery, equipments and animals. Great Britain gave clothing, transport animals and lorries. When Serbian reached Salonika gen. de Mondesir went back to France, but French and British officers remained with them.

Each Infantry Division would have :

one artillery group with three Field Artillery batteries (four 75mm QF guns each);

one artillery group with three Mountain Artillery batteries (four 70mm or 75mm QF guns each);

one artillery group with three Mountain Artillery batteries (four 80mm not QF guns each);

one Field Howitzer battery (four 120mm QF howitzers);

one battery with six 58mm light Mine launchers.

On April-May 1916, when the Serbian Army was assembled in Salonika area, it was almost complete in transport and artillery, having:

9 field artillery groups (75mm Schneider Mle 1912);

9 mountain artillery groups (2 with 75mm Schneider-Danglis, 1 with 70mm Krupp, 6 with 80mm De Bange);

3 field howitzers batteries (120mm Schneider Mle 1915);

some 58mm light Mine launchers.

On September 1918 the Serbian Army had:

116 – 75mm, 70mm and 65mm QF mountain guns;

116 – 75mm QF field guns;

2 – 105mm QF heavy guns (captured);

54 – 120mm guns and howitzers (only a few were quick-firing);

1 – 150mm QF howitzer (captured).

In December 1918 according to the French military attaché, Serbian artillery listed:

57 – 37mm infantry guns (Puteaux Mle 16)

48 – 58mm trench mortars (Batignolles model N° 2)

108 – 65mm mountain guns (Schneider-Ducrest)

4 – 70mm mountain guns (Krupp or old Serbian Schneider-Creusot M.07)

4 – 75mm captured mountain guns (probably Krupp or Skoda guns)

112 – 75mm field guns (Schneider Mle 1907 and Mle 1912)

16 – 120mm short guns Mle 1890 Baquet

16 – 120mm field howitzers Mle 15 Schneider-Canet

16 – 155mm heavy howitzers Mle 15 Schneider-Canet

During the offensive in 1916 and 1917 Serbian Army was supported by French heavy guns.

gen. Jean Piarron de Mondésir

chef of French Military Mission in Serbia (10.02-23.04.1916)