15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14
Encyclopedia
The 15 cm schwere Feldhaubitze M 14 was a heavy howitzer
which served with Austria-Hungary
during World War I.
It had two crew seats mounted on the gun shield. It broke down into two loads for transport. The M 14 was modified to improve elevation and range as well as to strengthen the carriage as the M 14/16. Postwar war modifications were common to make it suitable for motor traction and to address other issues.
M 14 and M14/16 howitzers captured by Italy during the war and received as reparations after the war were put into service with the designation of Obice da 149/13. Some 490 were on hand in 1939 and weapons captured by the Germans after the Italians switched sides in 1943 were used as the 15 cm sFH 400(i). Surviving weapons were impressed into German service after 1943 as the 15 cm sFH 401(i). Czech and Slovak weapons were known as the 15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 14 and 14/16.
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
which served with Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
during World War I.
It had two crew seats mounted on the gun shield. It broke down into two loads for transport. The M 14 was modified to improve elevation and range as well as to strengthen the carriage as the M 14/16. Postwar war modifications were common to make it suitable for motor traction and to address other issues.
M 14 and M14/16 howitzers captured by Italy during the war and received as reparations after the war were put into service with the designation of Obice da 149/13. Some 490 were on hand in 1939 and weapons captured by the Germans after the Italians switched sides in 1943 were used as the 15 cm sFH 400(i). Surviving weapons were impressed into German service after 1943 as the 15 cm sFH 401(i). Czech and Slovak weapons were known as the 15 cm hrubá houfnice vz. 14 and 14/16.