Bulgarian Artillery

Discussions on all aspects of the smaller Axis nations in Europe and Asia. Hosted by G. Trifkovic.
dibo
Member
Posts: 386
Joined: 25 Jun 2004, 11:10
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#16

Post by dibo » 22 Apr 2010, 22:14

The Edge wrote:Btw, there is one more issue – during 1930s Bulgaria acquired some Rheinmetall 105mm L/30 gun-howitzers (forerunner of leFH-18). These were more a light howitzers than “guns”, of course, but - because their rather long L/30 barrels - another confusion might emerged.

So, 105mm “long guns” in Bulgarian use (before the supply of “Krupp L/56” and “Skoda L/42” guns) were:
1st option - German Kanone 04 (L/30) & Kanone 14 (L/35) long guns, with possible few ex-Turkish Krupp commercial L/30 guns. (I would go for this one :) )
2nd option – newly acquired 105mm (L/30) Rheinmetall gun-howitzers and still viable 10-cm Kanone 14 (L/35) long guns, with all old (and rather obsolete) 105mm L/30 long guns discarded in 1919, to comply with Allied disarmament comission demands.
You mean this howitzer as 2nd option?:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 0&t=141889

User avatar
The Edge
Member
Posts: 4166
Joined: 28 Nov 2005, 11:18
Location: Serbia

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#17

Post by The Edge » 23 Apr 2010, 10:31

Yes - as said, I'm strongly for "1st option" because there is something fishy with these Rheinmetall guns. :roll:
(First of all, I suspect rather their late arrival to Bulgaria)

Btw, I'm longing to visit this Sophia museum :( - maybe this summer I might get a chance to reach it. :)
(If I found there a "10-cm Kanone 04" - well, problem solved! :D )


adolpheit
Member
Posts: 81
Joined: 10 Oct 2006, 12:50
Location: Italy

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#18

Post by adolpheit » 26 Jun 2010, 21:02

At the beginning of August 1918 the German Army left to the Bulgarian artillery 12 - 105mm L/35 Krupp K 14 from three batteries operating in Macedonia (2., 3., 4 R.FußAR. 16). The crews went back to the Western Front where the batteries were re-armed with new guns. The Krupp long guns were assigned to 1st, 2nd and 3rd battery of 2nd heavy artillery regiment. Previously, at the end of 1917 6th battery of 3rd heavy artillery regiment had been rearmed with 2 - 105mm L/35 Krupp K 14. I don't know wether other guns of the same kind were assigned to the 1st and 4th heavy artillery regiment.

BTW in August 1918 other Germany heavy batteries ceded their guns to the Bulgarian artillery.
s.15cm KnBt. 20 with 2 - 150mm L/40 Krupp to 18th battery/2nd Heavy art. rgt.
s.15cm KnBt. 24 with 2 - 150mm L/40 Krupp to 12th battery/3rd Heavy art. rgt.
s.15cm KnBt. 16 with 2 - 150mm L/40 Krupp to Burgas coast artillery (2nd battery of Northern coast artillery group)

? Bt./FußAR. 5 with 4 - 150mm L/14 FH13 to 4th, 10th and 16th battery/2nd Heavy art. rgt.
? Abt./FußAR. 9 with 4 - 150mm L/14 FH13 to 14th battery/2nd Heavy art. rgt.
an unidentified battery with 4 - 150mm L/17 lange FH13 to 3rd battery/3rd Heavy art. rgt.

I don't know the composition of 1st and 4th Heavy art. rgts., where other ex-German heavy guns might be assigned.

According with Wrisber during the WW1 Germany delivered 13 heavy artillery batteries to the Bulgarian Army. I don't know wether this figure included also the guns ceded by the German batteries at the front, or only the guns shipped directly from Germany.

If you are interested in Bulgarian artillery, you may see: http://www.bulgarianartillery.it

Best, Marco

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#19

Post by Sturm78 » 20 Jul 2010, 19:27

Hi all,

I found this image on Ebay. 5cm Pak 38 bulgarian AT gun

Regards Sturm78
Attachments
5cm Pak 38 bulgarian AT gun.jpg
5cm Pak 38 bulgarian AT gun.jpg (89.55 KiB) Viewed 12420 times

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#20

Post by Sturm78 » 16 Aug 2010, 18:46

Hi all,

I found this wonderful image on LIFE archives. According to photocaption Wehrmacht troops in Bulgaria (March 1941) but I think bulgarian troops with 10.5cm Rh L30 guns:

Regards Sturm78
Attachments
10.5cm Rheinmetall L30 Bulgarian guns. March 1941-.JPG
10.5cm Rheinmetall L30 Bulgarian guns. March 1941-.JPG (77.74 KiB) Viewed 12351 times

User avatar
carius
Member
Posts: 19633
Joined: 14 Apr 2007, 21:15
Location: Bulgaria

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#21

Post by carius » 30 Aug 2010, 20:15

Bulgarian soldiers 100%!!!Thank you Sturm for this unique picture :D !!!

Best regards
George

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#22

Post by Sturm78 » 06 Oct 2010, 10:12

Hi all,

I found these two images on Ebay:

Bulgarian artillery in 1945, in action against their former germans allies:

Can somebody identify the gun of the first image?
In the second image a 10.5cm leFH18-40 ex-german howitzer

Regards Sturm78
Attachments
Bulgarian artillery shoot at the German positions around the village Bac.  07 Feb 1945.jpg
Bulgarian artillery shoot at the German positions around the village Bac. 07 Feb 1945.jpg (61.96 KiB) Viewed 12274 times
Bulgarian artillery is taking the field-guns into position around the village Bac. Feb 1945.jpg
Bulgarian artillery is taking the field-guns into position around the village Bac. Feb 1945.jpg (59.96 KiB) Viewed 12274 times

User avatar
Manuferey
Member
Posts: 4082
Joined: 17 May 2007, 15:52
Location: Virginia

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#23

Post by Manuferey » 07 Oct 2010, 00:42

Hi Sturm78,

The feature near the tip of the barrel makes me think of a 75 mm Schneider. But the barrel elevation is quite high compared to the pictures I've seen of these Schneider guns. :?

Emmanuel

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#24

Post by Sturm78 » 09 Oct 2010, 19:45

Hi all,

I found this image on Ebay.
According to photocaption bulgarian cannon (75mm Skoda M1915) in position near Drava river in 1945. I guess Yugoslavia, no?? :?

Regards Sturm78
Attachments
75mm Skoda M15 Bulgarian cannon in position near river Drava, spring 1945.jpg
75mm Skoda M15 Bulgarian cannon in position near river Drava, spring 1945.jpg (73.63 KiB) Viewed 12203 times

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#25

Post by Sturm78 » 19 Oct 2010, 12:37

Hi all,

Three images from Ebay:

Sturm78
Attachments
's lorry.jpg
's lorry.jpg (63.75 KiB) Viewed 12175 times
Bulgarian artillerymen in action against germans. 07 Feb 1945.jpg
Bulgarian artillerymen in action against germans. 07 Feb 1945.jpg (72.1 KiB) Viewed 12175 times
Bulgarian soldiers and artillery moving to the front positions of Kosovo Pole. Yugoslavia, spring of 1944.jpg
Bulgarian soldiers and artillery moving to the front positions of Kosovo Pole. Yugoslavia, spring of 1944.jpg (64.83 KiB) Viewed 12175 times

User avatar
AVV
Member
Posts: 3849
Joined: 31 Mar 2009, 20:25
Location: Kiev, Ukraine

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#26

Post by AVV » 19 Oct 2010, 20:55

Hello!
Sturm78 wrote:Three images from Ebay:
Central photo - is the soldier kissing the shell? Some sort of prejudice? :?

Best regards, Aleks

dibo
Member
Posts: 386
Joined: 25 Jun 2004, 11:10
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#27

Post by dibo » 19 Oct 2010, 21:28

AVV wrote:Hello!
Sturm78 wrote:Three images from Ebay:
Central photo - is the soldier kissing the shell? Some sort of prejudice? :?

Best regards, Aleks
Yes, probably for luck :roll:

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#28

Post by Sturm78 » 25 Jan 2012, 11:54

Hi all,

I found this interesting image on Ebay. I think a rare variant of the 15cm sFH18 german howitzer
in Bulgarian service.
Any additional information and/or image of this gun will be greatly appreciated


See also viewtopic.php?f=70&t=144738&start=15

Regards Sturm78
Attachments
WWII Bulgaria Germany Artillery Truck 2 Military Photo.jpg

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#29

Post by Sturm78 » 29 May 2012, 09:46

Hi all,

I have not been able so far to find any information about this rare bulgarian howitzer. :(
Any additional information and/or image will be greatly appreciate.


On the other hand, two new images from Ebay: 10cm K14 gun and 15cm Skoda M14 howitzer (I think)

Sturm78
Attachments
10cm K14 bulgarian artillery gun. Sofia, 1930's.jpg
15cm Skoda M14 bulgarian howitzer without barrel.jpg

Sturm78
Member
Posts: 17927
Joined: 02 Oct 2008, 18:18
Location: Spain

Re: Bulgarian Artillery

#30

Post by Sturm78 » 30 May 2012, 10:11

Hi all,

Another image from Ebay. I think the gun is a very rare 10.5cm Rh L30 (mot. version)

Sturm78
Attachments
10.5cm Rh L30 gun-howitzer during funeral of the pro-German general Lukov killed by the communist opposition in Feb 1943.jpg

Post Reply

Return to “Minor Axis Nations”