re: Reported Chinese use of 15cm sFH-18 field howitzer

[SASH155]

It has been reported in a very few sources that China took delivery of some 15cm sFH-18 field howitzers, likely during the German advisory period during the 1930s. I have yet to see any photographic evidence or sales information of these weapons in Chinese service.

[PPoS]

Never heard that they were sent the sFH 18 but I know that they got some 10.5cm leFH 16's, maybe it's just a mix-up ? Look around the net for awhile, I've seen pages that lists all type of German equipment that was sent to China.

[SASH155]

Could you elaborate on the use of the leFH-16 by the Chinese (ie. appr. how many, when they received them etc..., and what the source was); this is the first I have heard of them using that gun. Thanks

[PPoS]

Apparently I was the one who made a mix-up. Actually the Nationalist Revolutionary Army got 24 Rheinmetall 150 mm L/32 sFH 18 howitzers and 24 Krupp 150 mm L/30 sFH 18 howitzers which were brought to China in the mid 1930's there are quite alot of sources (mostly books) that states this, and evidently no leFH-16 guns.
I believe that photographic "evidence" would be hard to get, but it probably exists somewhere in the world. I've never seen a picture of when Oswald fires a rifle at JFK either

There are almost certainly some paperwork still around to find. Just use google and you'll find info on the Sino-German deals, here's are some links:
http://www.swallow.com.tw/military/chinese.htm#c00821
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_R ... #Equipment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-German_cooperation


Good Luck !

[Akira Takizawa]

Chinese Rheinmetall 15cm howitzer was captured by the Japanese. I upload its photo. I cannot identify its model. So, appreciate for the comment from an expert on German artillery.

Taki

[Barovic]

I cannot identify its model. So, appreciate for the comment from an expert on German artillery.

Hmm, me too, breech block and some other features of this gun seem somewhat awkward.

Regards,

Barovic

[SASH155]

This gun does look significantly different from the standard sFH-18 in several significant areas: the long breech ring (it looks alot like that used on the 15cm K-18, also a Rheinmetall design); the equilibrators (long and thin, those of the sFH-18 were short and fat); the recoil buffer (the cylinder on top) is long and narrow, whereas that of the sFH-18 was shorter and of wider diameter; the type and placement of the elevation (or traverse?) hand wheel, and the form of the cradle, which differs in some detail from that on the sFH-18. Perhaps this weapon was simply based on the Rheinmetall prototype of the sFH-18, as the sFH-18 itself was a joint design between Krupp and Rheinmetall. The next question is: did the Chinese receive an export version of the 10.5cm leFH-18 field howitzer as well (similar to that exported to the Dutch), or even an export version of the 10cm (105mm) sK-18 field gun?