Published on
September 12, 2010 in
German.
This mobile artillery equipment consists of a French Lorraine chassis, “Tracteur Blinde 38 L,” on which is mounted the 15 cm. s.F.H. 13, a medium howitzer designed for the last war. The chassis type was produced shortly prior to this war as an armored ammunition and personnel carrier.
The chassis is divided into the driving compartment at the front, the engine compartment in the center and an open welled tray at the rear. The piece is mounted on the superstructure at the front of the tray and extends forward over the engine and driving compartments. The gun crew is stationed in the tray and is protected by a 9 mm armored body which is open at the top. At the extreme rear of the hull is a hinged spade which may be lowered when the gun is fired. The original carrier is armored by plates, bolted together of the following thicknesses : Nose of hull, 12 mm; glacis plate, 8 mm; front sloping plate, 9.5 mm; sides, 9 mm; back, 9 mm; top, 6 mm; floor, 5 mm. Except for a band about 12 inches high around the rear half of the sides and the rear of the vehicle there is no overlap in the two armors.
The chassis is suspended from three semi-elliptical leaf springs on each side. The load is transmitted from the central point of each spring through supporting members to each of three pairs of bogies on each side.
The Delahaye 6-cylinder, in line, water-cooled, gasoline engine generates 80 horsepower. The ignition system is Bosch. The transmission provides 5 forward speeds and one reverse.
The piece has a muzzle velocity of 1250 f.s., bore length of 17 calibers, and a maximum range of 9300 yards. Its traverse as mounted is approximately 4 degrees and its elevation -5 to +45 degrees. It utilizes the following ammunition: H.E. shell, 92.4 lb.—Anti-concrete shell, 95.7 lb.—Smoke shell, 85.8 lb.—H.E. shell (streamlined), 84.7 lb.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight in action |
|
9 tons |
| Length |
|
17 ft., 5 ins. |
| Width |
|
6 ft., 2 ins. |
| Height |
|
6 ft., 10 ins. |
| Ground clearance |
|
12 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
4 ft., 4 5/8 ins.
|
| Ground contact |
|
9 ft. |
| Width of track |
|
8.5 ins. |
| Pitch of track |
|
3 3/16 ins. |
| Track links |
|
109 |
| Fording depth |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads |
| Cross-country |
| Speed |
| Roads |
|
21 m.p.h. |
| Cross-country |
| Armor |
| Front plate |
|
12 mm |
| Sides |
|
9 mm |
| Armament |
|
15 cm s.F.H. 13 |
| Ammunition (rds.) |
| Engine |
|
Delahaye 6-cyl., 80 h.p. |
| Transmission |
|
5 forward speeds, 1 reverse |
| Steering |
|
Clutch brake, controlled differential |
| Crew |
|
5 |
German: p. 16
Published on
September 12, 2010 in
German.
The chassis of this vehicle is divided into the driving compartment at the front, the engine compartment in the center and an open-welled tray at the rear. The driving and engine compartments are armored on the sides and top; the rear compartment is armored on the sides only. The superstructure plates over the driving and engine compartments are bolted, whereas the sides of the rear superstructure are of riveted construction. With the exception of the cast nose plate and pressed steel cover, all the plates are flat and are riveted or bolted together over angle sections. There are no formed plates or welded joints. The armor thickness of the original carrier is as follows: Nose of hull 12 mm; front sloping plate 9.5 mm; sides 9 mm; back 9 mm.
The chassis is suspended from three semi-elliptical leaf springs on each side. The load is transmitted from the central point of each spring through supporting members to each of three pairs of bogies on each side. The bogie wheels are of the single, rubber-tired type 17.5 inches in diameter. Adjustment of the outside center guide track is provided by a movable rear idler. The driving sprocket is at the front and the track is returned on four return rollers positioned at the extremities of the semi-elliptical springs.
The power unit is the Delahaye, straight 6-cylinder, water-cooled, gasoline engine rated at 80 h.p. It has a bore of 84 mm and a stroke of 107 mm. The transmission is mounted centrally to the right of the driver. It provides five forward speeds and one reverse, the fifth speed being direct. The steering unit is housed in a large steel casting which forms the front plate of the vehicle. The brakes of external contracting type are mounted on the differential unit and therefore operate in oil.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight |
| Length |
|
12 ft., 6 ins. (approx.) |
| Width |
|
5 ft., 10 ins. |
| Height |
| Ground clearance |
|
7 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
4 ft., 4.6 ins. |
| Ground contact |
|
9 ft. |
| Width of track |
|
8.5 ins. |
| Pitch of track |
|
3.18 ins. |
| Track links |
|
109 |
| Fording depth |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads |
| Cross-country |
| Speed |
| Roads |
|
21 m.p.h. |
| Cross-country |
| Armor |
| Front plate |
|
12 mm |
| Sides |
|
9 mm |
| Armament |
| Ammunition (rds.) |
| Engine |
|
Delahaye, 6-cyl., water-cooled, gasoline, 80 h.p. |
| Transmission |
|
5 speeds forward, 1 reverse |
| Steering |
|
Controlled differential |
| Crew |
German: p. 17
Published on
September 12, 2010 in
German.
The French Lorraine tank chassis, in addition to being utilized as a self-propelled mount for the German 15 cm heavy field howitzer and the 15 cm heavy infantry gun, is also used for the high-velocity antitank gun, 7.5 cm Pak 40.
The Lorraine suspension arrangement consists of six small bogie wheels on each side, sprung in three pairs on three semi-elliptical springs. The driving sprocket is at the front, the track-adjusting idler at the rear, and four return rollers, located at the ends of the suspension springs, return the track, which is of the dry-pin type with outside center guides.
The power plant of this vehicle is the six-cylinder, in-line, water-cooled Delahaye engine rated at 70 hp. The ignition system is Bosch. Its main and reserve gasoline tanks hold 20 gallons and 5 1/2 gallons respectively.
The semi-automatic gun of monobloc construction is mounted within a high, open top, box-like shield, constructed of sloping 10 mm plate, well back on the chassis. The original gunshield overlaps the superstructure shield at the front. The gun is 134 inches in length and its muzzle with brake extends beyond the front of the chassis. The piece has the following muzzle velocities: H.E., 1800 f/s; A.P.C., 2525 f/s. Its appropriate elevation is -5° to +22°; traverse 65°. At 1000 yards, firing A.P.C. shell, it will defeat 3.6 inches of homogeneous armor at 30° obliquity, and 4.3 inches at normal.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Weight |
|
8 tons (approx.) |
| Length |
|
17 ft. (approx.) |
| Width |
|
6 ft., 2 ins. |
| Height |
|
7 ft. (approx.) |
| Ground clearance |
|
12 ins. |
| Tread centers |
|
4 ft., 4 5/8 ins. |
| Ground contact |
|
9 ft. |
| Width of track |
|
10 ins. |
| Track links |
|
107 (approx.) |
| Pitch of track |
|
3 3/16 ins. |
| Fording depth |
| Theoretical radius of action |
| Roads |
| Cross-country |
| Speed |
| Roads |
|
21 m.p.h. |
| Cross-country |
| Armor |
| Front plate |
|
12 mm |
| Sides |
|
9 mm |
| Armament |
|
7.5 cm Pak 40 |
| Ammunition |
| Wt. of Projectiles |
| A.P.C. |
|
15.0 lb. |
| H.E. |
|
12.6 lb. |
| Engine |
|
Delahaye, 70 hp. |
| Transmission |
|
5 speeds forward, 1 reverse |
| Steering |
|
Controlled differential |
| Crew |
|
5 |
German: p. 15
Published on
August 28, 2010 in
German.
The 7.5 cm Pak 97/38, introduced by Germany in 1942, consists of the 7.5 cm French Model ’97 equipment which was modified in 1940 as an antitank gun, and the German 5 cm Pak 38 carriage. The built-up tube, to which a Solothurn type perforated muzzle brake is fitted, has four hoops sweated on for additional strength.
The breechblock is the Nordenfeld eccentric screw type commonly used in the French 75 mm tube. The high-pressure, hydropneumatic recoil mechanism contains a floating piston with nitrogen gas in the recuperator cylinder which brings the gun back into battery. The recoil cylinder is of smaller diameter and contains the piston rod which recoils with the tube and forces the recoil oil into the recuperator cylinder where throttling checks the rearward movement of the tube.
The elevating and traversing mechanisms are located on the top carriage; the elevating handwheel is slightly in front of and to the left of the traversing handwheel. There is a single hydropneumatic equilibrator at the right trunnion. The protecting armor consists of two sheets of 4 mm steel plate curved to envelop the front of the weapon. Below the spaced armor is an 8 mm hinged apron. There is also a small shield above the apron that moves with the tube in elevation.
The sighting gear, which is the same as that used with the 5 cm Pak 38, is situated on an arm and bracket which move with the left trunnion. An opening in the shield allows vision for sighting instruments.
The low-slung, light-weight carriage has relatively short split trails of tubular steel. The wheels are of small diameter spokes made of compressed steel and entirely covered with buna rubber tires 4 inches wide. They are independently mounted to absorb traveling shock by free wheeling action. When the trails are spread, however, the free wheel movement is locked by a bracket so the gun will not bounce on firing. A third wheel supports the rear of the trails for transportation.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Caliber |
|
75 mm (2.95 ins.) |
| Weight (complete) |
|
2,870 lb. |
| Length of tube & breech ring |
|
8.8 ft. |
| Length (overall) |
|
15 ft. |
| Breech mechanism |
|
Eccentric screw |
| Firing mechanism |
|
Percussion hammer |
| Recoil mechanism |
|
Hydropneumatic |
| Rifling |
|
20 lands and grooves; R.H. twist |
| Muzzle velocity (reported) |
|
2,100 f/s |
| Elevation |
|
18° |
| Depression |
|
10° |
| Traverse |
|
60° |
| Ammunition |
|
H.E.; A.P.-H.E.; Hollow charge
Also some Polish types of ammunition |
| Penetration |
|
60 mm @ 900 yds., 30° |
German: p. 121
