15-cm sFH 13 (15-cm schwere Feldhaubitze 13) Heavy Field Howitzer (1914)
The 15-cm sFH 13 began service in 1914 at the start of World War 1 and made it into action during World War 2.
Initial sFH 13 production versions suffered from a fragile recoil system that tended to break from the violent forces inherent in the firing operation, this related to a weak internal spring system. A revised version appeared based on a pressurized air system that added some weight but did little to detract from the required operation. Once in practice, the sFH 13 was initially prone to exploding barrels early in their service lives which could kill the crew in the process. This resulted in the series being fitted with a longer barrel as well as some revision to the internal workings.
With the modifications in place, the sFH 13 went on to prove a major asset to the actions of the German Army, particular in 1914, when her main adversaries - the British and the French - held little in the way of matching such a powerful artillery piece. These gun systems were towed into place by whatever means were available (pack animal, car, tractor, etc...) and operated under the professionalism of trained gunnery crews. The design was typified by its multi-spoked metal wheels straddling the gun mount. The wheels were attached to a tow carriage categorized as a "box trail". The gun mount fitted the large-caliber main armament as well as a thin metal shield for relative protection for the crew. Weight was listed at 4,960lbs while her running length measured in at 8.3 feet with the L/17 series barrel measuring 6.9 feet. The fired projectiles consisted of the shell and a charge with each shell weighing in at 93lbs and was of the High-Explosive (HE) variety for maximum shock effect. The gun operated from a horizontal sliding breech block and recoil was contained by way of a hydro-spring variable system. The main gun featured an elevation limitation of +45 to -4 degrees (up-and-down) and a 9-degree traverse (side-to-side). A trained crew could let off up to three rounds per minute while muzzle velocity was rated at 1,250 feet. Effective range was out to 9,400 yards. It was not wholly uncommon for the service life of a single sFH 13 gun to report the firing of some 25,000 shells before all was said and done.
Belgium and Netherlands both received former German Empire sFH 13s as part of the reparations following World War 1. When Germany conquered both Belgium and the Netherlands in the opening rounds of World War 2, the German Army reconstituted their old sFH 13 guns into German Army service under the respective designations of sFH 409(b) and sFH 406(h). Despite their early usefulness, the sFH 13 led a short existence in World War 2, ultimately outmoded by newer and more powerful offerings.
Despite its obvious firepower and reliability, if the sFH 13 series suffered from one drawback it was in her limited range. Nevertheless, she remained highly mobile and could deliver a lethal dose of artillery against even the most dug-in of enemy troops. German Empire generals certainly considered the sFH 13 series as one of their most important pieces of the First World War. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.
Specifications for the
15-cm sFH 13 (15-cm schwere Feldhaubitze 13)
Heavy Field Howitzer
Country of Origin: Imperial Germany
Manufacturer: Krupp; Rheinmetall; Spandau - Germany
Initial Year of Service: 1914
Production: 3,400
Focus Model: 15-cm sFH 13 (15-cm schwere Feldhaubitze 13)
Crew: 7
Overall Length: 8.33ft (2.54m)
Width: 0.00ft (0.00m)
Height: 0.00ft (0.00m)
Weight: 2.5 US Short Tons (2,250kg; 4,960lbs)
Powerplant: None. This is a towed artillery piece.
Maximum Speed: 0mph (0 km/h)
Maximum Range: 5 miles (9 km)
NBC Protection: None
Nightvision: None
Armament:
1 x 150mm main gun
Ammunition:
Dependent on ammunition carrier. High-Explosive projectiles only.
Variants:
sFH 13 - Base Series Designation; short barrel ("kurz") version.
lg. sFH 13 - Long barrel version
lg. sFH 13/02 - Long barrel version simplified for mass production.
sFH 409(b) - Captured Belgian sFH 13 systems for use by the German Army in WW2.
sFH 406(h) - Captured Dutch sFH 13 systems for use by the German Army in WW2.
Operators: Belgium; Imperial Germany; Nazi Germany; Ottoman Empire; Netherlands
By Decade:
• 1910 to 1919
• 1920 to 1929
• 1930 to 1939
• 1940 to 1949
• 1950 to 1959
• 1960 to 1969
• 1970 to 1979
• 1980 to 1989
• 1990 to 1999
• 2000 to 2009
• 2010 to 2019
• VIEW ALL
• Compare Tanks
By Type:
• 4x4 Military Vehicles
• 6x6 Military Vehicles
• 8x8 Military Vehicles
• Artillery Gun Systems
• Anti-Aircraft (AA) Guns
• Anti-Aircraft (AA) Vehicles
• Anti-Tank (AT) Guns
• Anti-Tank (AT) Vehicles
• Armored Cars
• Armored Personnel Carriers (APC)
• Battlefield Robots
• Halftrack Vehicles
• Heavy Tanks
• Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV)
• Light Tanks
• Main Battle Tanks (MBT)
• Modern Combat Tanks
• Medium Tanks
• Military Motorcycles
• Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)
• Reconnaissance Vehicles
• Special Purpose Vehicles
• Self-Propelled Guns (SPG)
• Tank Destroyers
• General Purpose / Utility Vehicles
By Nation:
• Afghanistan
• Britain
• China
• France
• Germany
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel / Israeli Army
• Italy
• Libyan Army
• North Korea / North Korean Army
• Pakistan
• Russia
• South Korea
• Soviet Union
• Syrian Army
• United States
• VIEW ALL
World War 2:
• Artillery
• Infantry Fighting Vehicles
• Tank Destroyers (All)
• Tanks (All)
• Australian Tanks
• British Tanks
• Canadian Tanks
• Cruiser Tanks (UK)
• Czechoslovakian Tanks
• French Tanks
• German Tanks
• German Tank Destroyers
• German FlaK Guns
• German Reconnaissance Vehicles
• Hungarian Tanks
• Italian Tanks
• Japanese Tanks
• Romanian Tanks
• Soviet Tanks
• Swedish Tanks
• US Tanks
• VIEW ALL
World War 1:
• France WW1 Tanks
• Germany WW1 Tanks
• Britain WW1 Tanks
• US WW1 Tanks
• WW1 Artillery
• WW1 Tanks (all)
• VIEW ALL
Spanish Civil War:
• VIEW ALL
Korean War:
Vietnam War:
• VIEW ALL
Cold War:
• Cold War Tanks
• Cold War American Tanks
• Falklands War
• Post-WW2 British Tanks
• VIEW ALL
Gulf War (1991):
• VIEW ALL
Miscellaneous:
©2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • Content ©2003-2013 MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Site Contact Email: militaryfactory at gmail dot com. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® trademarks and protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws.
Top MF Stuff: 2013 Military Pay Scale | Military Ranks | WW2 Weapons | Sniper Rifles | Kts to Mph | WW1 Aircraft | Automatic Rifles | Aircraft Cockpits | Vietnam War Weapons | Main Battle Tanks | Submachine Guns | Shotguns | French Military Victories
Most photographic images appearing on this site are courtesy of the United States Department of Defense and are approved for public use. Other images acquired through the public domain. Digital art work courtesy of Dan Alex. Business Consulting by Kyle Williams. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information.
