15 cm Autokanone M. 15/16 explained

15 cm Autokanone M. 15/16
Origin:Austria-Hungary
Type:Heavy field gun
Is Artillery:yes
Service:1916—1945
Used By:Austria-Hungary
First Austrian Republic
Czechoslovakia
Nazi Germany
Kingdom of Italy
Wars:World War I
World War II
Designer:Skoda
Design Date:1913—16
Manufacturer:Skoda
Production Date:1916—18
Number:44
Variants:15 cm Autokanone M. 15
Weight:11900kg (26,200lb)
Part Length:6m (20feet) L/39.5
Crew:13
Cartridge:separate-loading, cased charge
Caliber:152.4 mm (6 in)
Rate:1 rpm
Velocity:692 m/s (2,270 ft/s)
Range:16000m (52,000feet) (M. 15)
Max Range:21840m (71,650feet) (M. 15/16)
Carriage:box trail
Elevation:-6° to +45°
Traverse:

The 15 cm Autokanone M. 15/16 was a heavy field gun used by Austria-Hungary in World War I. Guns turned over to Italy as reparations after World War I were taken into Italian service as the Cannone da 152/37. Austrian and Czech guns were taken into Wehrmacht service after the Anschluss and the occupation of Czechoslovakia as the 15.2 cm K 15/16(t). Italian guns captured after the surrender of Italy in 1943 were known by the Wehrmacht as the 15.2 cm K 410(i). Due to their unique ammunition, the Germans did not use them that much, and generally served on coast-defense duties during World War II.

Design

The M. 15 was a thoroughly conventional design for its day with a box trail, iron wheels and a curved gunshield. It was notable as being the first Austro-Hungarian gun to be designed for motor transport, towed behind the M 17 'Goliath' artillery tractor, hence the Autokanone designation. For transport the barrel was generally detached from the recoil system and moved on its own trailer. The original M. 15 weapons had a maximum elevation of only 30°, but an elevation of 45° was demanded early in the gun's production run, mainly to engage high-altitude targets in the mountains. 27 M. 15 guns were completed before production switched to the improved M. 15/16 with greater elevation in the first half of 1917. A total of 44 barrels and 43 carriages were completed by the end of the war.[1] [2]

It seems likely that surviving M. 15 guns were rebuilt after the war to M. 15/16 standards. During the Twenties, guns in Italian service were relined and given new wheels by Vickers-Terni. In June 1940 Italy had 29 Cannone da 152/37 in service. By the time of the Italian capitulation this number had declined to 17.[3]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. https://www.passioncompassion1418.com/Canons/Eng_AfficheCanonGET.php?IdCanonAffiche=794
  2. Ortner, p. 518-519
  3. Book: Chamberlain, Peter. Heavy Artillery . 1975. Arco. Gander . Terry. 0668038985. New York. 2143869.