- 15 cm Kanone 18
Infobox Weapon
name=15 cm Kanone 18
caption=
origin=Germany
type=heavy gun
is_ranged=
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=yes
is_vehicle=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=flag|Nazi Germany
wars=World War II
designer=Rheinmetall
design_date=1933-38
manufacturer=Rheinmetall
production_date=1938-?
number=
variants=
weight=combat: 12,460 kg
(27,469 lbs)
travel: 18,600 kg
(41,006 lbs)
length=8.2 m (27 ft)
part_length=6.432 m L/55
width=
height=
crew=
cartridge=
caliber=149.1 mm (5.87 in)
action=
rate=
velocity=865 m/s (2,838 ft/s)
range=
max_range=24,500 m (26,793 yds)
feed=
sights=
breech=horizontal block
recoil=
carriage=box trail
elevation=-2°to +43°
traverse=10° on wheels
360° on platform
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 Kanone 18 (15 cm K 18) was a German heavy gun used in the
Second World War .Design & History
In 1933
Rheinmetall began development of a new artillery piece to fulfill a German Army requirement for a replacement of the aged15 cm Kanone 16 , with the first production units received in 1938. It wasn't much of an improvement over the older gun as it weighed more than two tons more than the K 16, but only had a mere convert|2290|m|yd more range. It was easier to use in service as it was mounted on two-piece platform which gave it a full 360° of traverse.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
* Hogg, Ian V. "German Artillery of World War Two". 2nd corrected edition. Mechanicsville, PA: Stackpole Books, 1997 ISBN 1-85367-480-X
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