Finnish 122mm howitzers

[kluz]

Hi.
Can anybody explain What is the purpose of the conical shape ring, which is screwed onto the muzzle of the barrel. May be it is reinforcement? Then why upgraded Soviet howitzers 122mm M1909/37 don't have it,

but its finnish associates (122 H 09-30) have this device.

And Finnish (not Russian) perforated muzzle brake

[Esa Muikku]

Only a guess: The barrel in the center photo has already the threads made for the muzzle brake but due to lack of the brakes the thread has been protected with a ring.

[kluz]

Only a guess: The barrel in the center photo has already the threads made for the muzzle brake but due to lack of the brakes the thread has been protected with a ring.

May be, don't know. Today most of survive examples of the 122 H/09-... howitzers have this conical ring. The only known with perforated muzzle brake is situated in Tykistömuseo, if I'm not mistaken.

[Esa Muikku]

Mr. Paulaharju in his books writes a bit unclearly about this issue. However, I get the understanding that the Soviet upgrade of 122 H 09 and 122 H 10 resulted in models 122 H 09-30 (Finnish marking, should be 09-37 acc. to Soviet nomenclature) and 122 H 10-30. Finns then modified the original 09s and 10s according to these Soviet model and added some new features (e.g. muzzle brake) resulting 122 H 09-40 and 122 H 10-40.

At the moment I can not comment, if any more 122 H 09-40s (with muzzle brake) exist somewhere.

Maybe other members here can inform about their findings. Barrel and carriage numbers with factory data and manufacturing and modification year would be excellent information.

[kluz]

I've information about 10 122 H/09... howitzers in Finland. Photos of 5 of them I took last years with markings. I'll post this information soon after putting in order a little. But now can anybody says meaning such barrel marking as "PUTKITETTO 1933"?

[Esa Muikku]

The correct word is PUTKITETTU which translates as 're-barrelled' meaning that the inner barrel has been changed (due to damage in rifling or somewhere else in the bore).

[kluz]

Thank you, Esa. Do you know meaning of the marking circled in red in my photo of the RUK-museo' 122 H/09-40?

[Juha Tompuri]

Re-lined

Regards, Juha

[kluz]

Re-lined

Regards, Juha

Has this type of howitzer liner?
1- barrel itself
2- mystery conical ring

[John T]

Re-lined

Regards, Juha

Has this type of howitzer liner?
1- barrel itself
2- mystery conical ring

Could the conical ring be a "locking ring" ?

Contract between Bofors and Finnish Armed forces,
A
1. Removal of old liner and "locking ring" , adding new parts and assemble
2. Trials in mounting ...

B. Delivery within 8 months of arrival at Bofors.

C. Delivery terms

Relined1.png (482.72 KiB) Viewed 1544 times

barrel numbers for second bach of barrels to be relined at Bofors.


Cheers
/John

[kluz]

Could the conical ring be a "locking ring" ?

Contract between Bofors and Finnish Armed forces,
A
1. Removal of old liner and "locking ring" , adding new parts and assemble
2. Trials in mounting ...

B. Delivery within 8 months of arrival at Bofors.

C. Delivery terms

Relined1.png

barrel numbers for second bach of barrels to be relined at Bofors.


Cheers
/John

Wow! John, it is very interesing documet! it is necessary to be carefully examined. May be this contract contains some technical sketches? Repair finnish howitzers by Bofors in 1928!

[Esa Muikku]

The marking in the photo is AV 1, standing for Asevarikko 1 (Weapon Depot 1). The depot in question, located in Helsinki, had this name since 9 November 1930 until the Winter War.

[kluz]

The marking in the photo is AV 1, standing for Asevarikko 1 (Weapon Depot 1). The depot in question, located in Helsinki, had this name since 9 November 1930 until the Winter War.

Esa, thank you once more. Only two howitzers (from 10) have this markings so far.

[Esa Muikku]

No wonder. relining was not that common.

It would be interesting to see what kind of marking, if any, was on those barrels, which were relined at Bofors.

[kluz]

It is simple - find barrels Nos 5141, 3708 and 3679 and see markings
Now we have only 10307, 155, 74, 7664