Obice da 149/19 modello 37

Obice da 149/19 modello 37
An Obice da 149/19 modello 37, taken outside Forte di San Leo
Type	Heavy howitzer
Place of origin	Italy
Service history
In service	1939–1951
Wars	World War II
Production history
Designed	1930−1939
Manufacturer	Oto, Ansaldo
Produced	c. 1939 –1945
Specifications
Mass	5,500 kg (12,100 lb)
Barrel  length	3.034 m (9 ft 11 in) L/20.4
Shell	42.55 kg (93 lb 13 oz)
Caliber	149.1 mm (5.87 in)
Carriage	Split trail
Elevation	+5° to +60°
Traverse	50°
Muzzle velocity	597 m/s (1,959 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	14,250 m (15,580 yd)

The Obice da 149/19 modello 37 was a heavy howitzer used by Italy during World War II. It was intended to replace Italy's assortment of World War I-era heavy howitzers, but its prolonged development and slow production hindered this plan. Despite orders for 1,392 weapons, only 147 had been built by September 1942. There were three models—the 37, 41, and 42—differing only in minor details. The standard tractor was the Trattore SPA TM 40. After the Italian surrender in 1943, the Germans continued its production with the designation 15 cm sFH 404(i). Despite having the same weight as the German 15 cm sFH 18, it had a superior range. The Italian army used it until 1974.

Users

•   Italy
•   Germany

References

• Chamberlain, Peter & Gander, Terry. Heavy Artillery. New York: Arco, 1975 ISBN   0-668-03898-5
• Gander, Terry and Chamberlain, Peter. Weapons of the Third Reich: An Encyclopedic Survey of All Small Arms, Artillery and Special Weapons of the German Land Forces 1939−1945. New York: Doubleday, 1979 ISBN   0-385-15090-3

External links

• Media related to Obice da 149/19 modello 37 at Wikimedia Commons