Belgian artillery in 1940

[The Edge]

Here is one (new) frontal photo of 40M:

[WAKEN]

Does anyone have any data on the HE projectiles fired by the Belgian 75mm field guns and also by the 120 mm FRC M1931? I'm looking for the amount of explosive filler.

Thanks,

Neil

[JanMasterson]

Hello Waken,

I was about to type a long answer with my books on my knees when I noticed that Daveh already answered that question:

re Eben Emael artillery

120mm cupola guns:
FRC model 31 120mm
Shells:
22kg HE shell. 2.875kg explosive content. contact fuse
20 kg HE shell. 2kg explosive content. airburst
max range 17.5km

75mm in revolving cupola
FRCmodel1934 FRC 75mm
-8 to + 38 degrees
range 10kms
2 HE type rounds
1 canister round

75mm casemated guns

based on Krupp 75mm Model 1905
HE round 8km range, 800gm explosive
HE round 11km range 650gm explosive
canister round

Source
Osprey Fortress 30: Fort Eben Emael

http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 0#p1660211


The 75mm shells were designated "Obus explosif en acier modèle 1900-1915" (HE Shell in steel model..., 800g of tolite, 5.375 Kg, 8000m range) and "Obus explosif en acier modèle 1917" (650g of tolite, 6.125Kg, 11000m range).

No clue about the 120mm shell designations but the 20kg shell was made of "fonte aciérée" (Ductile cast iron I assume) and contained 2kg of TNT while the 22kg shell was made of steel and contained 2.875Kg of TNT.

Source:
La Position Fortifiée de Liège, tome IV Les nouveaux forts, Emile COENEN & Franck Vernier, De Krijger, 2001, ISBN 90-5868-060-6

Cheers

[WAKEN]

That's great!. Thanks Jan.

Neil

[KVS10104119]

Does anyone know of Belgian armored battalions in the 1940 War.

[YAN]

Hi KVS, try this link.

http://niehorster.orbat.com/021_belgium/__belgium.htm

Yan.

[daveh]

re Belgian armored battalions in the 1940 War
The simple answer is there were none.
As http://niehorster.orbat.com/021_belgium/__belgium.htm show the T 13, the main AFV of the Belgian army in May 1940 was organised into companies within active and first reserve Infantry divisions, Cavalry divisions Chasseur Ardennais divisions and Cycliste Frontiere units.

Untitled.png (170.42 KiB) Viewed 3798 times

I

and with T 15s in cavalry units.
The T 15s themselves were organised in platoons.

[daveh]

My earlier post re Belgian "armoured" battalions is not entirely accurate it seems. It is correct that the T 13s, T 15s and ACG-1 were organised in companies allocated to regiments or divisions. However there is one case where 3 companies (2 T13 and 1ACG-1) were grouped together.
The 2nd cavalry division had given a number of its sub units to other divisions and corps during the winter/spring of 1939/40. In response the division on 26/4/40 grouped together

T 13 company 8th Infantry Division
T 13 company P.F.N.
ACG-1 company the armoured car company of the Cavalry Corps

as an armoured battalion with 24 T 13s and 8 ACG-1

This unit was based in Brussels and was used on anti paratroop patrols round the capital from May 10th until the 16th. It was effectively disbanded then as the companies were dispersed when the Army retired from the KW line.

The unit never operated as a battalion.

No units other than the 3 companies joined the battalion as far as I know.

see
http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... ki/changes

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

Two images of an Obusier 105 GP:

Images from Ebay
Sturm78

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

Canon de 76 FRC ??

Sturm78

[Manuferey]

Yes, definitely a 76 mm FRC.

See top pictures here for reference:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 7&start=60

Emmanuel

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

A blurry image of 75mm GPIII belgian guns:

Image from EBay
Sturm78

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

75mm TR M1905 Krupp belgian gun ??

Image from EBay
Sturm78

[Manuferey]

Hi all,

75mm TR M1905 Krupp belgian gun ??

Image from EBay
Sturm78

Stum78,

To be exact, it would be the 75 mm Mle TR, a license-built copy by Cockerill of the 75 M1905 Krupp.

Emmanuel

[Sturm78]

Thank you for the correction, Emmanuel.

Regards Sturm78