Belgian artillery in 1940

[YAN]

Hi, did the belgians use the french 75mm mle 1897 or the krupp 75mm GPIII or TR?, and what type of 105mm howitzer did they use, any data and pics welcome apart from the 1897 I've got plenty of info. thanx yan.

[Hans S]

Maybe there is something for you here http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=108332

Cheers

Hans

[PPoS]

IIRC the Belgians used the 75mm Krupp M06 and some Schneider M13 105mm howitzers, that's what I know.

[Ardee]

Hi Yan,

I've been collecting, for some years now, bits of information on the small arms and light artillery used by various nations in WWII. I don't recall ever seeing a reliable reference to the Belgians using the mle 1897. They did use some other other 75mm guns, however: their standard infantry gun was the FRC 75mm "mortar" -- formally, the 75mm mortier FRC -- a weapon that was also capable of direct fire. I have seen numerous refereces to Belgian use of 75mm GPIII or TR; they also used a copy of a Bofors 75mm Mnt gun, and designated Canon de 75 modele 1934. Without digging through notes, I am not sure the Belgians used the Schneider M13 105mm howitzers, though it's certainly possible. I do know they used a Bofors 105mm model, which I *believe* was their standard. I'd have to dig to find the model number, if you need it...I also have a few photos of some of these guns -- is there something in particular you're looking for, and if so, of what guns?

[MickABBL]

Hi Yan,

I've been collecting, for some years now, bits of information on the small arms and light artillery used by various nations in WWII. I don't recall ever seeing a reliable reference to the Belgians using the mle 1897. They did use some other other 75mm guns, however: their standard infantry gun was the FRC 75mm "mortar" -- formally, the 75mm mortier FRC -- a weapon that was also capable of direct fire. I have seen numerous refereces to Belgian use of 75mm GPIII or TR; they also used a copy of a Bofors 75mm Mnt gun, and designated Canon de 75 modele 1934. Without digging through notes, I am not sure the Belgians used the Schneider M13 105mm howitzers, though it's certainly possible. I do know they used a Bofors 105mm model, which I *believe* was their standard. I'd have to dig to find the model number, if you need it...I also have a few photos of some of these guns -- is there something in particular you're looking for, and if so, of what guns?

Hello, I've ask your questions in ABBL forum; I hope an answer as soon as possible,

regards

Mick

[YAN]

Hi Ardee, I need a lot of info and pictures of the 75mm GP III and the 75mm TR, and I still cant find any info on the 105mm Howitzer the infantry used, was it the mle 1913?. Thanks Yan.

[PPoS]

As I told you, I know that they used the 105mm Schneider M13 FH. The designation "mle 1913" can certainly be the same as M13.

[MickABBL]

M13, M1913, Mle13, Mle1913, ../13 Modèle 13, Modèle 1913 is the same

regards

Mick

[Ardee]

Hello, I've attached some images. Yes, PPoS is correct, the Belgians did use the mle 13. Regarding the Bofors gun -- specifically, the 105mm M27 -- I was confusing the Belgians with the Dutch -- the Dutch definately used this Bofors gun (Stuk van 10 per their designation), and the Belgians were only "possible" users. I had mentally switched the two...guess I'm getting older than I thought.

Files names identify the guns. One is of an ex-Belgian Krupp-designed M-05 TR in Germans hands (they designated it the FK 235 (b). I found all the pics on the Internet a long time ago, I no longer know the sources. I have another museum shot of the GP III; let me know if you want it -- there's a limit of three images per posting...

[The Edge]

7.5 cm FK 234 (b) (ex-belgian FK-16nA relined to 7.5)
7.5 cm FK 235 (b) (ex-belgian M-05 TR, Krupp design of 1905)
7.5 cm FK 236 (b) (ex-belgian FK-16 nA, relined to 7.5)
10.5 cm leFH 327 (b) (ex-belgian Obusier de 105 GP, ex-German leFH-16)
10.5 cm FK 333 (b) (ex-belgian M-13, french Mle 13 Schneider)

Source: http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1268

[MickABBL]

Hello, the Two first pictures coming from MRA (Musée Royal de l'Armée) , site du Cinquantenaire, Bruxelles.

In ABBL forum, I invite you to call "Résistant", is an expert in this subject; he is the modeller which created the masters of T-13, ACG1 in 1/35e scale for ADV-Azimut model


http://www.phpshopxml.com/azimut.shop/C ... e/AZI35033

best regards

Mick

[Ardee]

Hello Mick,

Thank you! I've gone and read your posts in the ABBL forum, but I must confess my French is very poor. I am also guessing, since you translated my post into French, that "Résistant" has a similar situation with his English, n'est-ce pas? Because of my interest, I typically have to use an on-line translation site to make sure I'm "getting it right," or at least close to right.

If I have Résistant's message right, it sounds like he is saying the Belgians used neither the 105 mle 13 nor the 105 Bofors. Did they use any howitzer of field gun of 105mm? If so, what?

I'll try posting a message on ABBL, but thought putting an English version here would also be a good idea, in case I make a mess of it....

Appreciatively,

Arde

[Ardee]

Hello All,

This is the reply I obtained from Resistant, which he was kind enough to put into English:

The book is named : L'armée des fonds de tiroir"
Inside there are all guns using by the Belgium artillerie:

- 47 mm anti-tank gun FRC M36
- 75 mm GP gun (10km)
- 75 mm TR gun (9 km)
- 105 mm GP FRC howitzer (10 km)
- 120 mm FRC (Fonderie Royale des Canons) M 1931
- 155 mm howitzer Cockerill M 1924
- 155 mm Long Schneider M 1917
- 75 mm GP III
- 75 mm Bofors M 1934
- 120 mm de Bange M1869
- 120 mm navy guns
- 150 mm L 43 ?
- 150 mm I Krupp M 1917
- 170 mm Krupp ALVF
- 220 mm Schneider TR M 1917
- 280 mm ALVF (Artillerie Lourde sur Voie Ferrée)(Kurse Bruno
de 1914-18 Germans Railways Guns.
- Turret APX²B with the famouse anti-tank gun 47 mm FRC in the
upper of a bunker
- Van Deuren mortar M58 et M70
- 6" Vickers M 1917 howitzer
- 12" Vickers (305 mm)

- In the Belgian Fort : 120 mm FRC M31, 75 FRC M34 in a movable coupola, 60 mm FRC M36anti-tank gun, 75 mm GP in casemate, 47 mm FRC M36, 81 mm M36 mortar

Sorry for my english, because I speek not very well.

[Brossel]

A picture of the 76mm FRC mortar taken at the Brussels Army Museum:

[YAN]

Thanks to all the people who have replied so far, you guys know your stuff, keep em coming, can any one give me some data on the 70mm van duren ? was it used in 1940. Thanx Yan.