15.5 cm s.F.H. 414 (f)

[Clive Mortimore]

Here is a picture (ebay.com) of a 15.5 cm sFH414(f) with soldiers that look like Afrika Korps. The landscape matches a North African desert as well.



Emmanuel

Hi Emmanuel

The wheels are for a horse drawn gun. The Afrika Corps did not have any horse drawn artillery, so I do not think it is one they have shipped out from France. It could be an Italian gun with a makeshift German crew or even a French gun acquired from the French forces in Tunisia.

Not only did the Axis forces use the 155mm Howitzer in the desert war but also the 8th Army. Some of the first guns to be sent under the Lend Lease were US version, the 155mm Howitzer M1917 and M1918. I believe they equipped an Australian medium regiment.

[David W]

The Italians didn't use them in North Africa, but I understand that the Commonwealth had over a 100. I have been able to place only a handful of these however.

[Manuferey]

Here is a picture of a 155 mm C M1918 (I think and not M1917 since the shield appears straight) used in Tunisia in March 1943 (press photo). Are the soldiers US or French with US uniforms?

I would assume that the M1917 and M1918 shipped via Lend-Lease to Commonwealth forces were equipped with pneumatic tires.

So, for the gun of my earlier picture, Clive's assumption of a capture from the French Army makes sense.



Emmanuel

[Urmel]

Here is a picture (ebay.com) of a 15.5 cm sFH414(f) with soldiers that look like Afrika Korps. The landscape matches a North African desert as well.



Emmanuel

Hi Emmanuel

The wheels are for a horse drawn gun. The Afrika Corps did not have any horse drawn artillery, so I do not think it is one they have shipped out from France. It could be an Italian gun with a makeshift German crew or even a French gun acquired from the French forces in Tunisia.

Not only did the Axis forces use the 155mm Howitzer in the desert war but also the 8th Army. Some of the first guns to be sent under the Lend Lease were US version, the 155mm Howitzer M1917 and M1918. I believe they equipped an Australian medium regiment.

It's a French gun bought in Tunisia in 1941. They eventually probably acquired the little road-wheel contraptions you can see under the Spanish guns in the pictures on the other side (they requested them in early 42). Until then they probably were not drawn but delivered loaded on the back of a truck, I guess.

http://crusaderproject.wordpress.com/20 ... used-them/

http://crusaderproject.wordpress.com/20 ... revisited/

[Urmel]

The Italians didn't use them in North Africa, but I understand that the Commonwealth had over a 100. I have been able to place only a handful of these however.

David

Where and when did you manage to place them?

[Urmel]

Here is a picture of a 155 mm C M1918 (I think and not M1917 since the shield appears straight) used in Tunisia in March 1943 (press photo). Are the soldiers US or French with US uniforms?

I would assume that the M1917 and M1918 shipped via Lend-Lease to Commonwealth forces were equipped with pneumatic tires.

So, for the gun of my earlier picture, Clive's assumption of a capture from the French Army makes sense.



Emmanuel

They would almost certainly be US soldiers. Re-equipping the French with US kit did not start until after Tunisia as far as I know (it was an issue between the British and the Americans, I believe), so the ex-Vichy forces would have had standard French kit, and the Free French would have had British kit.

[Urmel]

Difficult to tell, but is this a sFH 414(f)?



http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/024727

[Clive Mortimore]

Difficult to tell, but is this a sFH 414(f)?



http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/024727

It is a 4.7 cm Pak 177(i) with its barrel withdrawn, the odd thing between the trail legs. A number were used by the Aussies and Poles as post guns around Torbruk.

[Urmel]

Many thanks!

[JKernwerk]

Maybe a fake, to attract fire.
The spades of the legs are much to big.
JK

[David W]

David

Where and when did you manage to place them?

Thus far...

67th Medium Regiment R.A had 8 in June 1942 I think.
68th Medium Regiment R.A had 8 at about the same time.
They might have had them for a long time before then, I don't know.

Is all I have been able to find.

[Urmel]

Add 16 in 64 Medium Regiment R.A. in February 42, and 16 in 2/13 Medium regiment R.A.A, and you have accounted for half of them.

[David W]

Were 64th Medium Regiment in theatre @ feb 1942? I thought that they did not return until mid-June, but I am probably wrong.

16 in 2/13 Medium regiment R.A.A, and you have accounted for half of them.

TELL ME MORE! I HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS UNIT WAS EVER IN NORTH AFRICA!

[Urmel]

Not sure if they were in Africa, but they were in the Middle East.

http://nigelef.tripod.com/austregt.htm

See here regarding stats on 5 November 41:

http://crusaderproject.wordpress.com/20 ... uary-1942/

[Urmel]

David

Where and when did you manage to place them?

Thus far...

67th Medium Regiment R.A had 8 in June 1942 I think.
68th Medium Regiment R.A had 8 at about the same time.
They might have had them for a long time before then, I don't know.

Is all I have been able to find.

By the way, that would make sense then, with the other battery presumably having 4.5" guns, and the 155mm replacing 6" howitzers?