Mortier de 293 Danois sur affut-truck modèle 1914

Mortier de 293 Danois sur affut-truck modèle 1914
Mortier de 293 Danois sur affut-truck modèle 1914
Type	Railway gun; Siege gun
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1915–1945
Used by	France
Wars	World War I; World War II
Production history
Designer	Gun: Schneider; Carriage: St Chamond
Manufacturer	Gun: Schneider; Carriage: St Chamond
Produced	1914
No. built	6+4 spare barrels
Specifications
Mass	50 t (49 long tons; 55 short tons)
Length	9.86 m (32 ft 4 in)
Barrel length	4.39 m (14 ft 5 in) L/15
Shell weight	300 kg (660 lb)
Caliber	293 mm (11.5 in)
Action	Semi-automatic
Breech	Interrupted screw
Recoil	Hydro-gravity double recoil system
Carriage	Dual-gauge rail bogie
Elevation	+20 to +65°
Traverse	14°
Rate of fire	1 round every two minutes
Muzzle velocity	322 m/s (1,060 ft/s)
Maximum firing range	11.2 km (7 mi)

The Mortier de 293 Danois sur affut-truck modèle 1914 was a French railway gun and siege gun used by the French Army during World War I and World War II.

History

Before the First World War, the doctrine of the French Army was geared towards a war of rapid maneuver. Although the majority of combatants had heavy field artillery prior to the outbreak of the First World War, none had adequate numbers of heavy guns in service and once the Western Front stagnated and trench warfare set in the light field guns that the combatants went to war with were beginning to show their limitations when facing an enemy who was now dug into prepared positions. Indirect fire, interdiction and counter-battery fire emphasized the importance of long-range heavy artillery. Since aircraft of the period were not yet capable of carrying large diameter bombs the burden of delivering heavy firepower fell on the artillery. Two sources of heavy artillery suitable for conversion to field use were surplus coastal defense guns and naval guns.^[2]

However, a paradox faced artillery designers of the time; while large caliber naval guns were common, large caliber land weapons were not due to their weight, complexity, and lack of mobility. Large caliber field guns often required extensive site preparation because the guns had to be broken down into multiple loads light enough to be towed by a horse team or the few traction engines of the time and then reassembled before use. Building a new gun could address the problem of disassembling, transporting and reassembling a large gun, but it did not necessarily address how to convert existing heavy weapons to make them more mobile. Rail transport proved to be the most practical solution because the problems of heavy weight, lack of mobility and reduced setup time were addressed.^[2]

Design

The guns - The mle 1914 started life as an order for six coastal defense guns manufactured by Schneider for Denmark. It was a typical built-up gun of the period made from steel with a rifled inner tube and reinforced by layers of external tubes. The recoil system for the gun consisted of a U-shaped gun cradle which held the trunnioned barrel and a slightly inclined firing platform with a hydro-gravity recoil system. When the gun fired the hydraulic buffers below the barrel slowed the recoil of the cradle which slid up a set of inclined rails on the firing platform and then returned the gun to position by the combined action of the buffers and gravity.^[3]
Traverse and Elevation - The gun carriage employed a car traversing or berceau system where the car and trucks were placed on a base plate and could be traversed 14°. The base plate is arranged with a pintle in front and the car has two rollers behind. At the rear of the rail carriage, there was a shell hoist and there was also a small cart which ran on rails to the breech for ammunition handling. The gun could elevate between +20° and +65° and loaded at +45°.^[3]
The breech - The guns had a semi-automatic interrupted screw breech that was tied to the recoil system which opened the breech after firing, loaded the next round, closed the breech, and cocked the firing mechanism. Although this system was complicated it gave the mortar a rate of fire of 1 round every two minutes which is high for a system with heavy 300 kg (660 lb) projectiles.^[2]
Rail Carriage - Rather than being a true railway gun it was more of a multi-mode siege gun because the carriage built by St Chamond could be reconfigured to run on standard gauge rails, narrow gauge rails or fitted with road wheels like the Canon de 240 TR Mle 1903 which was similar in construction and configuration. In the center of the carriage, there were the two standard gauge 4-wheeled railroad bogies that could be raised or lowered. There was also a narrow gauge 4-wheeled bogie at both ends that could also be raised and lowered. Lastly, jackscrews are provided on the car body for transferring from one set of bogies to the other. Road wheels could be substituted for the narrow-gauge trucks and the carriage could be towed by a traction engine. At the front of the carriage, there was a shear leg derrick that could be used to load and unload the gun for transport.^[3] The normal procedure was to transport the gun fully assembled on standard-gauge rails until near the front and then disassemble the gun and transport it on narrow-gauge rails or on its road wheels. Site preparation consisted of creating a level piece of ground by laying a bed of stones and timbers then lowering the carriage onto the base plate. The base plate is prevented from moving by two anchors buried in front of the mount. The gun is then reassembled on the base plate and made ready for action.^[3]

World War I

The six mle 1914 mortars and four spare barrels were assigned to 61st, 62nd and 63rd batteries of the 25th Group of the 3rd RAP of the ALGP (artillerie lourde à grande puissance) on 21 February 1916. On 1 August 1917, the mortars and spares were reorganized into two batteries and assigned to 21st and 22nd batteries of the 11th Group of the 73rd RALGP. They were used during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and two were sent to reinforce the Italian Front during 1917.^[1] All six mortars survived the First world war.^[4]

World War II

The six mle 1914 mortars were placed in reserve between the wars. Four were mobilized and deployed by the 371° Regiment of the ALVF (Artillery lourde sur voie ferrée) to reinforce the Maginot Line defenses.^[5]^[6]

Gallery

A mle 1914 showing its loading and maximum elevation.
A schematic of the similar Canon de 240 mle 1903 showing its Berceau mount.
A Canon de 240 mle 1903 carriage placed on road wheels without gun.
Reassembling a Canon de 240 mle 1903 onsite.

References

^ ^a ^b "293 Danois "Hallouma" - Forum PAGES 14-18". forum.pages14-18.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Hogg, Ian (2004). Allied artillery of World War One. Ramsbury: Crowood. pp. 100–134 & 218. ISBN 1861267126. OCLC 56655115.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Harry W, Miller (1921). "Railway Artillery Guns 1921". eugeneleeslover.com. Retrieved 2019-04-15.
^ "Une montée en puissance improvisée de l'A.L.G.P. de 1914 à 1918". www.artillerie.asso.fr. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
^ Francios, Guy (2013). Titans d´Acier. ?. p. 13.
^ "ALVF:essai de synthèse - Page 3". atf40.1fr1.net (in French). Retrieved 2019-04-21.

[:1-1] "293 Danois "Hallouma" - Forum PAGES 14-18". forum.pages14-18.com. Retrieved 2019-04-21.

[:0-2] Hogg, Ian (2004). Allied artillery of World War One. Ramsbury: Crowood. pp. 100–134 & 218. ISBN 1861267126. OCLC 56655115.

[:2-3] Harry W, Miller (1921). "Railway Artillery Guns 1921". eugeneleeslover.com. Retrieved 2019-04-15.

[4] "Une montée en puissance improvisée de l'A.L.G.P. de 1914 à 1918". www.artillerie.asso.fr. Retrieved 2019-04-21.

[5] Francios, Guy (2013). Titans d´Acier. ?. p. 13.

[6] "ALVF:essai de synthèse - Page 3". atf40.1fr1.net (in French). Retrieved 2019-04-21.

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v t e French artillery of World War I
Anti-aircraft guns	Canon de 75 antiaérien mle 1913-1917
Coastal artillery	Canon de 100 mm Modèle 1891 Canon de 19 C modèle 1870/93 Canon de 19 C modèle 1875 Canon de 24 C modèle 1876 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889
Field artillery	Canon de 75 modèle 1897 Canon de 75 modèle 1912 Schneider Canon de 75 modèle 1914 Schneider De Bange 90 mm cannon Obusier de 120 mm C modèle 1890 Obusier de 120 mm mle 15TR
Infantry guns	Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP
Medium and heavy artillery	Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider Canon de 155 court modèle 1904 Rimailho Canon de 120 mm modèle 1878 Canon de 145 L modele 1916 Saint-Chamond Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1881 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1890 Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 C modèle 1915 St. Chamond Canon de 155 L modèle 1877/14 Schneider Canon de 155 L Modele 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 L modèle 1918 Schneider Canon de 155 mm GPF De Bange 155 mm cannon Canon de 220 L mle 1917 Mortier de 220 modèle 1915/1916 Schneider
Mortars	Cellerier Mortar Mortier de 58 T N°1 Mortier de 58 T N°1 bis Mortier de 58 mm type 2 Mortier de 75 modèle 1915 Schneider Mortier de 150 mm T Mle 1917 Fabry Mortier de 240 mm Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1885 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889
Mountain artillery	Canon de 65 M modele 1906 75 mm Schneider-Danglis 06/09 Canon Court de 105 M modele 1909 Schneider
Railway artillery	Canon de 120 L mle 1878 sur affût-truc Peigné-Canet-Schneider mle 1897 Canon de 140 sur affut-truc mle 1884 Obusier de 155 C mle 1881 sur affût-truc Peigné-Canet-Schneider mle 1897 Materiel de 155 sur affut-truc Schneider Canon de 164 modèle 1893/96 TAZ Canon de 19 C modèle 1875 Canon de 19 modèle 1870/93 TAZ Obusier de 200 "Pérou" sur affût-truck TAZ Schneider 24 cm Canon G modèle 1916 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Canon de 240 modèle 93/96 TAZ Canon de 274 modèle 93/96 Berceau Canon de 274 modèle 87/93 Glissement Canon de 305 modèle 93/96 TAZ Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96 à berceau Canon de 305 modèle 1893/96 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/81 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/84 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/93 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1893 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à berceau Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à glissement Obusier de 370 modèle 1915 à berceau Canon de 370 modèle 75/79 Glissement Obusier de 400 Modèle 1915/1916 Obusier de 520 modèle 1916
Siege artillery	Obusier de 120 mm C modèle 1890 Canon de 120 mm modèle 1878 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1881 Obusier de 155 mm C modèle 1890 Mortier de 220 mm modèle 1880 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Canon de 240 TR Mle 1903 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1885 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889 Mortier de 280 modèle 1914 Schneider Mortier de 293 Danois sur affut-truck modèle 1914 Mortier de 370 modèle 1914 Filloux
Self propelled artillery	Canon de 194 GPF Canon de 220mm L Mle1917 Schneider (FAHM) Mortier 280 mm TR de Schneider sur affût-chenilles St Chamond
Armoured vehicle guns	Puteaux 37 mm SA 18 Canon de 75 modèle 1897

v t e French artillery of World War II
Anti-aircraft guns	Mitrailleuse de 25 mm CA mle 39 Canon de 75 antiaérien mle 1913-1917 Canon de 75 CA modèle 1940 Schneider
Anti-tank guns	25 mm Hotchkiss anti-tank gun 25 mm APX modèle 1937 AC 37 anti-tank gun AC 47 anti-tank gun 47 mm APX anti-tank gun
Coastal artillery	Canon de 100 mm Modèle 1891 Canon de 19 C modèle 1870/93 Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Mortier de 270 mm modèle 1889
Field artillery	Canon de 75 modèle 1897
Infantry guns	Canon d'Infanterie de 37 modèle 1916 TRP
Medium and Heavy artillery	Canon de 105 court mle 1934 Schneider Canon de 105 court mle 1935 B Canon de 105 L mle 1936 Schneider Canon de 105 mle 1913 Schneider Canon de 145/155 L modele 1916 Saint-Chamond Canon de 155 C modèle 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 L modèle 1877/14 Schneider Canon de 155 L Modele 1917 Schneider Canon de 155 L modèle 1918 Schneider Canon de 155mm GPF Canon de 194 GPF Canon de 220 L mle 1917 Mortier de 220 modèle 1915/1916 Schneider Mortier 280 mm TR de Schneider-St Chamond
Mortars	Mortier de 150 mm T Mle 1917 Fabry
Mountain artillery	Canon de 65 M modele 1906 Canon de 75 M modele 1919 Schneider Canon de 75 M modele 1928 Canon Court de 105 M modele 1909 Schneider Canon Court de 105 M modèle 1919 Schneider
Railroad artillery	Canon de 164 modèle 1893/96 TAZ Canon de 19 modèle 1870/93 TAZ Canon de 240 modèle 93/96 TAZ Canon de 305 modèle 1906/10 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/84 à glissement Canon de 32 modèle 1870/93 à glissement Canon de 320 modèle 1917 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1893 à glissement Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à berceau Canon de 340 modèle 1912 à glissement Obusier de 370 modèle 1915 Canon de 370 modèle 75/79 Glissement Obusier de 400 Modèle 1915/1916 Obusier de 520 modèle 1916
Siege artillery	Canon de 240 L Mle 1884 Mortier de 280 modèle 1914 Schneider Mortier de 293 Danois sur affut-truck modèle 1914 Mortier de 370 modèle 1914 Filloux
Tank guns	37 mm SA 18 37 mm SA mle 1938 47mm SA mle 1935 75 mm ABS mle 1929