Krupp 150mm long heavy howitzer M. 1913/1902

 

 

 

 

Bulgarian designation :

150-мм скорострелна гаубица Д-17 “Круп”

German designation :

15 cm lange schwere Feldhaubitze 13/02

Calibre :

149.7mm L/17

Weight of the barrel :

832 kg

Weight in action :

2210 kg

Weight in marching order :

3000 kg

Barrel length :

2.550 m

Barrel grooves

number :

32

depth :

1.3 mm

width :

9.7 mm

Rifling

length :

11.7 calibres

twist :

progressive

inclination :

4° to 8°

Shield thickness :

3 mm

Cartridge

size :

152 x 113 x 170

weight :

1.8 kg

charge :

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

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

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

590 g R.P. 109 + 780 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 (Haube) :

43.44 kg

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

15 cm Brand-Gr. B :

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

Max. range

ordinary :

8200 m (time) / 8500 m  (percussion)

mit Haube :

8800 m

incendiary :

7450 m

Muzzle velocity :

1st charge : 192 m/s

7th charge : 349 m/s

8th charge : 365 m/s (377 m/s with Haubengranate)

Elevation :

+ 45° / - 0°

Traversing angle :

5°

Recoil :

950 mm at 0°

1030 mm at 45°

Transport :

drawn by six horses in one single load

Remarks :

Quick firing heavy field howitzer, with hydraulic buffer and springs. Due to the difficulties in manufacturing the lg. s.F.H. 1913 and the limited number of facilities capable of producing a hydropneumatic counterrecoil, Krupp developed an improved version equipped with hydro-spring recoil system. The layer and loader seats and the hinge across the shield were removed, while a one-piece spade and trail plate was introduced to check it from digging too deeply into the earth. The loading lever was eliminated too. It could fire also various patterns of gas shells.