15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 25

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.

15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 25
15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 25 without barrel
Type	Howitzer
Place of origin	Czechoslovakia
Service history
In service	1930–1945
Used by	Czechoslovakia Nazi Germany Slovakia
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designer	Škoda
Manufacturer	Škoda
Produced	1924-34
Specifications
Mass	3,800 kilograms (8,400 lb)
Barrel length	2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) L/18
Shell	42 kilograms (93 lb)
Caliber	149.1 mm (5.87 in)
Carriage	box trail
Elevation	-5° to +70°
Traverse	7°
Rate of fire	1-2 rpm
Muzzle velocity	450 m/s (1,476 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	11,800 metres (12,900 yd)

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 42 kilograms (93 lb) shell.

References

• Engelmann, Joachim and Scheibert, Horst. Deutsche Artillerie 1934-1945: Eine Dokumentation in Text, Skizzen und Bildern: Ausrüstung, Gliederung, 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