15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14

Infobox Weapon
name=15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14


caption=Side view of an Italian Obice 149/12 modello 14
origin=Austria-Hungary
type=heavy howitzer
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=1915-1945
used_by=flag|Austria-Hungary
flag|Austria
flag|Hungary
flag|Romania
flag|Czechoslovakia
flag|Nazi Germany
flag|Slovakia
flag|Italy
wars=World War I, World War II
designer=Skoda
design_date=1912-14
manufacturer=Skoda
production_date=1914-1918
number=
variants=15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14/16
weight=convert|2344|kg|lb (M 14)
convert|2765|kg|lb (M 14/16)
length=
part_length=convert|2.09|m|ft L/14 (M 14)
convert|2.12|m|ft L/14.1 (M 14/16)
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=convert|41|kg|lb
caliber=149.1 mm (5.87 in)
action=
rate=1-2 rpm
velocity=300 m/s (984 ft/s) (M 14)
336 m/s (1,102 ft/s)
(M 14/16)
range=convert|6900|m|yd (M 14)
max_range=convert|8760|m|yd (M 14/16)
feed=
sights=
breech=horizontal sliding wedge
recoil=hydro-pneumatic variable recoil
carriage=box trail
elevation=-5° to 43° (M 14)
-5° to +70° (M 14/16)
traverse=5° (M 14)
6° (M 14/16)
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 schwere Feldhaubitze M 14 was a heavy howitzer which served with Austria-Hungary during World War I.

It had two crew seats mounted on the gun shield. It broke down into two loads for transport. The M 14 was modified to improve elevation and range as well as to strengthen the carriage as the M 14/16. Postwar war modifications were common to make it suitable for motor traction and to address other issues.

M 14 howitzers captured by Italy during the war and received as reparations after the war were put into service with the designation of Obice da 149/12 modello 14. Some 490 were on hand in 1939 and weapons captured by the Germans after the Italians switched sides in 1943 were used as the 15 cm sFH 400(i). M 14/16s in Italian hands were known as the Obice da 149/13. Surviving weapons were impressed into German service after 1943 as the 15 cm sFH 301(i). Czech and Slovak weapons were known as the 15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 14 and 14/16.

References

* Chamberlain, Peter & Gander, Terry. "Heavy Artillery". New York: Arco, 1975 ISBN 0-668-03898-5
* 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
* Ortner, M. Christian. "The Austro-Hungarian Artillery From 1867 to 1918: Technology, Organization, and Tactics". Vienna, Verlag Militaria, 2007 ISBN 978-3-902526-13-7

External Links

* [http://www.landships.freeservers.com/new_pages/15cm_feldhaubitze_m14_walkaround.htm the M 14 on Landships]