15 cm hruba houfnice vz. 25

Infobox Weapon
name=15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 25


caption=
origin=Czechoslovakia
type=howitzers
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=yes
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=1930-1945
used_by=flag|Czechoslovakia
flag|Nazi Germany
flag|Slovakia
wars=World War II
designer=Skoda
design_date=
manufacturer=Skoda
production_date=1924-34
number=
variants=
weight=convert|3800|kg|lb
length=
part_length=convert|2.7|m|in L/18
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=
caliber=149.1 mm (5.87 in)
action=
rate=1-2 rpm
velocity=450 m/s (1,476 ft/s)
range=
max_range=convert|11800|m|yd
feed=
sights=
breech=
recoil=
carriage=box trail
elevation=-5° to +70°
traverse=7°
blade_type=
hilt_type=
sheath_type=
head_type=
haft_type=
diameter=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
suspension=
vehicle_range=
speed=

The 15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 25 (Heavy howitzer model 25) was a Czech heavy howitzer used in the Second World War. It was taken into Wehrmacht service as the 15 cm sFH 25(t). Slovakia had 126 in inventory [Kliment & Nakládal, p. 123] .

Design & History

Intended to replace the various Austro-Hungarian heavy howitzer that the Czechs had inherited, they began a program to develop a new howitzer shortly after achieving independence in 1919. It didn't reflect many of the lessons of World War I as it retained a box trail and wooden wheels suitable only for horse traction. Its carriage broke down into two loads for transport. It fired a convert|42|kg|lb shell.

References

* Englemann, Joachim and Scheibert, Horst. "Deutsche Artillerie 1934-1945: Eine Dokumentation in Text, Skizzen und Bildern: Ausrüstung, Gliderung, Ausbildung, Führung, Einsatz". Limburg/Lahn, Germany: C. A. Starke, 1974
* Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. "Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939-1945". New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN 0-385-15090-3

* Kliment, Charles K. and Nakládal, Bretislav. "Germany's First Ally: Armed Forces of the Slovak State 1939-1945". Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1997 ISBN 0-7643-0589-1

Notes