Finnish Artillery

[Prts]

Paulaharju mentions in page 122 that the wheels of the 152 H/15 were changed into rubber (solukumi) wheels. So the gun in the picture might well be a 152 H/15.

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

I think that the wheels and pneumatics of my image are exactly the same that those of the 120mm M1878-09-31 polish guns.
See http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 0&t=138698

Here, another link with images of the 155mm Mle 1917 french howitzers both his original wooden wheels as with the upgraded metal wheels and pneumatic tyres. The wheels look different
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... f&start=45


Sturm78

[Juha Tompuri]

Paulaharju mentions in page 122 that the wheels of the 152 H/15 were changed into rubber (solukumi) wheels. So the gun in the picture might well be a 152 H/15.

Yep.

I think that the wheels and pneumatics of my image are exactly the same that those of the 120mm M1878-09-31 polish guns.
See http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 0&t=138698

But the wheel hubs are different.

Regards, Juha

[JTV]

Paulaharju mentions in page 122 that the wheels of the 152 H/15 were changed into rubber (solukumi) wheels. So the gun in the picture might well be a 152 H/15.

Nope, the sponge/cellular rubber (solukumi) tires are solid rubber construction, not pneumatic (air-filled) as the ones in the photo.

Attached photos of 105 H/33 and 105 H/37 with sponge/cellular rubber tires.

Jarkko

[Juha Tompuri]

Paulaharju mentions in page 122 that the wheels of the 152 H/15 were changed into rubber (solukumi) wheels. So the gun in the picture might well be a 152 H/15.

Nope, the sponge/cellular rubber (solukumi) tires are solid rubber construction, not pneumatic (air-filled) as the ones in the photo.

I think they are solukumi/sienikumi tires.
A bit thicker because of the weight of the howitzer.


Finns had four 152 H 15 Howitzers and here four howitzers (any other similar known not to have had "hard" tires?) with "non-hard" tires:




SA-photos 22294-22297
Coincidence?

Regards, Juha

[Prts]

Hard rubber tires are solid rubber construction and generally quite small in cross section. "Softrubber" (solukumi) tires are generally like air filler tires, so quite large in gross section. The "air compartment" is filled with softer rubber. Smallest in gross section that come into my mind are those on the 105 H 61-37. For example even 122 H 63 and 130 K 54 have soft rubber tires.

[Juha Tompuri]

155 H 17

http://www.panoramio.com/user/1149188/tags/155%20H%2017

152 H 17

http://www.winterwar.com/Weapons/FinArt ... ecoil2.htm

152 H 15

http://www.winterwar.com/Weapons/FinArt ... ecoil2.htm

[John Hilly]

A bit off topic, but late 40's early 50's we had solukumi tyres in some bicycles. Then called "alipainerenkaat" - low pressure tyres.
They were fatter than normal tyres.

With best, J-P

[JTV]

Okay, 152 H/15 it is. Can't argue with that photo.

I took another angle this morning and tried to figure out which of the two possible units the tractor belonged, but run out of time and had to head to work. Those four photos show that the license plate numbers of the tractors were SA30271 - SA30274. When Finnish military was mobilised for Continuation War, each military district/civil guard district (*) got sequence of license plate numbers to be used in SA-license plates of civilian motor vehicles pressed to military use from its geographic area.

Kanta-Häme district (with town of Hämeenlinna as its gathering point for vehicles) got license plate sequal SA30000 - SA30999 (**). So the tractors originate from its area. Raskas Patteristo 24 was mobilised in Hämeenlinna, while Raskas Patteristo 1 was mobilished in town of Kurikka located in western part of Etelä-Pohjanmaa district (with license plate sequence of SA82000 - SA82999).

(*) At that point military districts and civil guard districts were identical.
(**) List of SA-license plate sequences can be found in page 89 of Puolustusvoimien moottoriajoneuvot 1919 - 1959 (Motor Vehicles of Finnish Armed Forces 1919 - 1959) by Mäkipirtti.

Might be also worthing that according war journal of Raskas Patteristo 24 its 1st Artillery Battery had been issued with Pavesi-tractors, but since those apparently proved immediately unfit for the purpose, they got replaced with three Caterpillar tractors and TD14 tractor taken to military use from company Pellonraivaus Oy: http://digi.narc.fi/digi/view.ka?kuid=3511775

Jarkko

[John Hilly]

Great detecive work Morse!
So the gun must be 152 H 15-17?

With best, J-P

[Juha Tompuri]

So the gun must be 152 H 15-17?

Just 152 H 15.
The 152 H 17 remained slightly different.

Regards, Juha

[Esa Muikku]

Just a short notice: 155 H 17 got those twin wheels only after the war.

[Sturm78]

Hi all,

I think 152mm Canet L45 gun but I am not 100% sure. Anyone?

Images from SA-Kuva archive (24196-25584)
Sturm78

[JTV]

I think 152mm Canet L45 gun but I am not 100% sure. Anyone?

Yes, it seems to be 152/45 C. Only thing that it really can mixed with is 120/45 C and apparently there were no coastal artillery batteries equipped with those guns the particular geographic area (Jomalvik near Hanko Peninsula) at that time.

Jarkko

[Sturm78]

Thank you, again, Jarkko

Sturm78